Become a teacher

Teachers can make a real difference to the lives of young people. Work pathways are available for teachers across early childhood, primary or secondary school settings.

Whether you have just left school, just graduated or want to switch careers, a career in teaching could be for you.

Pathways to teaching

There is more than one pathway to becoming a teacher.

The first step for many is studying teaching as an undergraduate university degree. Find and compare courses at:

Education and Training provides information and advice to help plan your teaching career, no matter your age or circumstances.
CourseSeeker helps you find the course that is right for you. Course Seeker also includes information on financial assistance and applying for courses.
CompareED compares institutions and study areas based on real life student experiences.

Other pathways towards a future career in teaching:

TAFE can help you gain entrance qualifications towards a university pathway and help you prepare for a university degree.
Studying a post graduate qualification in addition to your undergraduate degree.
The Australian Government High Achieving Teachers Program supports two alternative, employment-based pathways into teaching for high achieving individuals, committed to pursuing a career in teaching.

Teaching scholarships, financial incentives and support

The Australian Government’s Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship is available to eligible Australians regardless of where you live.

In addition, teaching scholarships are also offered by state and territory governments.

Australian Capital Territory

The Tertiary Scholarship Program is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students undertaking degree programs in health or education at an ACT university.

The Early Childhood Degree Scholarship Program provides support for individuals working for non-government, non-school approved education and care service providers in the ACT to gain an approved qualification.

New South Wales

Teach NSW offers a range of scholarships and incentives for initial teacher education students and graduate teachers.

Northern Territory

Teach in the Territory provides general information about support for initial teacher education students and graduates.

Queensland

Teach QLD offers a range of scholarships and grants for new initial teacher education students, graduates and mid-career professionals transitioning to teaching.

South Australia

The Country Professional Experience Placement Scholarships provides financial support to assist initial teacher education students undertaking country placements with accommodation, travel, living expenses, induction and networking.

The Amy Levai Aboriginal Teaching Scholarships provides support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander senior secondary school students interested in teaching or current initial teacher education students.

Tasmania

The Teacher Intern Placement Program is available for high achieving final year initial teacher education students.

The Teach Tasmania Scholarship is available for eligible Bachelor of Education and Master of Teaching students at the University of Tasmania.

Victoria

The Scholarships for Secondary Teaching Degrees is available for both undergraduates and post-graduates enrolled in Victorian secondary initial teacher education programs.

Teach for Today and Teach for Tomorrow programs are available for graduates and post-graduates enrolled in Victorian secondary initial teacher education programs.

Rual and Regional Pre-service Teacher Placements provides pre-service teachers with supports and incentives to undertake a practical placement at a rural or regional Victorian government school.

Graduate Teacher Incentive Payments are available to eligible graduate teachers who commence in graduate teacher positions in the 2023–24 financial year.

Western Australia

Teach in WA provides general information about support for initial teacher education students and graduates.

Leap program gives both new and existing teachers opportunities to gain further qualifications to teach in additional specialist areas or move into a new area of teaching.

The Graduate induction program helps individuals make a successful start to their career as a teacher.

Short-courses for pre-service teachers builds on current skills and prepares pre-service teachers for high demand teaching areas.

Education support professional experience provides pre-service teachers with funding and additional support when completing their professional experience in an education support setting in the Perth metropolitan area.

STEM professional experience provides pre-service teachers with funding when completing their professional experience in secondary science, technologies, and mathematics (STEM).

Regional professional experience provides eligible pre-service teachers or school psychologists with funding and additional support when completing a placement in one of our rural, regional or remote schools.

The Bob Hawke Aboriginal Teacher Scholarships provides support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to complete a secondary teaching qualifications in Western Australia.

What financial support is available to me?

StudyAssist provides information for students about government assistance for tertiary study. Visit the links below for more information.

Services Australia provides information about payments when taking the leap to further training or study at university.

Payment and Service Finder – Find out what you might be eligible for from Centrelink e.g. student income support payments (ABSTUDY/AUSTUDY).
Tertiary Access Payment – A one-off payment ($5000) only for Year 12 leavers, to help students with the cost of moving from regional or remote areas for tertiary study.

National Teacher Workforce Action Plan

The National Teacher Workforce Action Plan was agreed by all Education Ministers to improve teacher supply, strengthen initial teacher education, keep the teachers we have, elevate the profession, and better understand future teacher workforce needs.

Implementation is underway, involving collaboration across the Australian Government, states and territories, non-government education authorities, national education agencies and unions.

Learn more about the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan