The Andrews Government is offering an additional 300 scholarships to aspiring kinder teachers, as well as $9,000 incentives to support them to move to areas where three-year-old kinder is rolling out.

Labor MP, Juliana Addison, today encouraged Ballarat residents to consider pursuing careers in early childhood education, with an additional $3.82 million available in scholarships and incentives to start supporting those pursuing careers in this rewarding field.

Early childhood education is one of Victoria’s fastest growing professions, with more teachers and support staff needed as the Labor Government delivers universal three-year-old kindergarten for all children.

Ms Addison said over the next decade, every Victorian child will have access to a full 15 hours of three-year-old kinder.

“Introducing universal three-year-old kindergarten is one of the biggest social reforms in Victoria’s history. There’s never been a better time to be an early childhood teacher, and change children’s lives for the better,” Ms Addison said.

“For Ballarat residents considering a career change into kindergarten teaching, now is the time. These scholarships will help to cover the costs of study and provide incentives to get started in a new career,” she said.

To address the increased demand for kinder teachers, incentive payments of up to $9,000 will be available for early childhood teachers who move to areas where subsidised three-year-old kinder programs will be rolled out first.

This package is part of a $7.2 million investment in workforce initiatives to attract aspiring early childhood teachers and retain them, which includes establishing a pool of mentors to support new teachers and holding four early childhood teacher conferences to support graduate teachers at the start of their careers.

The roll out of three-year-old kinder is expected to create almost 7,000 jobs – more than 4,000 additional kinder teachers and more than 2,000 additional early childhood educators.

To apply, visit:

www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/professionals/profdev/Pages/scholarships.aspx