Approved teachers who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas).

There are 2 pathways for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas). Please see below for the differences in the programs:

Applicants for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Appointed Teachers must:

• be recommended for a permanent teacher librarian, careers adviser or EAL/D teaching position (minimum 0.6 FTE) in a NSW public school following merit selection and be currently undertaking, or planning to enrol in the next semester, in an approved postgraduate qualification in teacher librarianship, career education, EAL/D or TESOL
  
• be permanently appointed to a permanent teacher librarian, careers adviser or EAL/D teaching position (minimum 0.6 FTE) in a NSW public school and be currently undertaking, or planning to enrol in the next semester, in an approved postgraduate qualification in teacher librarianship, career education, EAL/D or TESOL.

Applicants for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Temporary Teachers must:

• be engaged in a temporary role as a teacher librarian, careers adviser or English as an Additional Language/Dialect teaching position at a minimum of 0.6 FTE under a 12-month temporary contract in a NSW public school
  
• be a permanent teacher who holds a substantive permanent position in a KLA other than teacher librarian, careers or English as an Additional Language/Dialect but are relieving in the specialist teaching role at a minimum of 0.6 FTE for 6 months in a NSW public school.

To apply for a Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas), an applicant will need to:

1. download and complete all sections of the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) Application Form for Temporary Teachers or Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) Application Form for Appointed Teachers.
2. email the principal's supporting statement to their principal and request that they complete it electronically and email it back to them.
3. email the referee’s supporting statement to one referee and request that they complete it electronically and email it back to them.
4. submit their completed application form, supporting statements and supporting documents by emailing sponsoredtraining@det.nsw.edu.au.

During the application period, an 'Apply now' button will be available on the Teach and Learn (Specialist Teaching Areas) webpage which will direct applicants to the application forms.

The application forms are in a writable PDF format and can be completed by downloading the Application form to a computer, using Adobe Reader to complete the form. Applicants are advised to please ensure they use the 'download' function and not 'print to PDF and save' as this changes the formatting of the document.

If an applicant has not signed a form using an electronic signature before, the department’s intranet has information regarding setting up an electronic signature. Please view the how-to guide for more information.

Applicants are advised to please ensure that their Adobe is up to date. All latest software is available through the staff portal. For additional support please contact EDConnect on 1300 32 32 32 and select Option 5.

Hand written, photocopied or scanned applications will not be accepted.

Applications for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Temporary Teachers are now closed. You can subscribe to the mailing list for updates about the program.

Applications for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Appointed Teachers are accepted all year round.

Applicants will be required to complete and submit the documents listed below as part of their application:

For Temporary Teachers:

• a current Principal's Supporting Statement for Temporary Teachers on the template provided
• a Referee’s Supporting Statement for Temporary Teachers on the template provided

For Appointed Teachers:

• a current Principal's Supporting Statement for Appointed Teachers on the template provided
• a Referee’s Supporting Statement for Appointed Teachers on the template provided

All applicants will also need to provide:

• evidence of enrolment (once available) in a recognised postgraduate master’s degree, graduate diploma or graduate certificate. It is preferred that applicants enrol in a recognised program and present this evidence with their application for the scholarship. It is suggested that applicants liaise with their university to confirm the final date for withdrawal without financial penalty, should their application for the scholarship be unsuccessful.
• Official transcripts of results for any postgraduate studies. Please note: a transcript is an official document outlining subjects and results obtained for each year of study.
  

As part of the application process, applicants will be asked to provide a supporting statement from their current principal along with one other supporting statement from a supervisor or colleague.

An applicant's principal may request a delegate to complete the Principal’s Supporting Statement, however both the delegate and principal must co-sign the form.

If a principal has completed the Principal’s Supporting Statement, a delegate isn’t required to counter sign.

If an applicant is unable to gain a principal’s endorsement they may provide a supporting statement from their most recent supervising stage leader or head teacher. The Employment Programs team in the School Workforce Directorate may seek further information if the application progresses.

A selection panel will review applications shortly after the application is received. The applicant's principal and referee may be contacted when assessing their application. The applicant's employment details may also be verified with the department’s Teacher Recruitment Unit.

Shortlisted scholarship applicants for the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) for Temporary Teachers will be required to undertake an online interview to identify their capabilities, key knowledge areas and personal attributes to determine their suitability. Interview invitations will be sent by email and will come from a third-party provider.

Yes. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified of the outcome via email once the selection process is completed.

If an applicant would like feedback on their application, they are advised to contact the Employment Programs team via sponsoredtraining@det.nsw.edu.au.

Successful applicants are required to sign a Scholarship Agreement with the department, committing them to:

• successfully acquiring additional competencies in a specialist teaching area
• completing the approved postgraduate program within 2 years, or within the timeframe required in line with their conditions of employment
• for permanent teachers, remaining in the permanent teaching position (minimum 0.6 FTE) they are appointed to on completion of their studies for a minimum period of 3 years
• for temporary teachers, actively seeking employment within NSW public schools in the specialist teaching area of their scholarship.

For advice on further studies required, please click on the relevant area below:

• Teacher Librarianship
• Careers Adviser
• English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D).

The Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) can support teachers for a maximum of 2 years.

Permanent teachers will need to complete the required studies in the agreed timeframe, in line with the conditions of their employment.

While engaged in a full-time temporary or permanent capacity, a scholar can apply for up to 8 days of paid study leave per academic year (study leave is granted on a pro-rata basis for part-time employees or for those who are studying for one semester only in an academic year). In addition to up to 8 days study leave, a scholar can apply for study leave for the period of their practicum. The study leave day(s) must be approved by a scholar's principal. The principal can request relief funds be reimbursed to the school if a casual teacher was employed to replace a scholar for the day(s). Teachers will retain their full salary while on study leave.

An application form for study leave and request for relief funds will be provided to successful scholarship recipients.

Study leave is not available for casual teachers.

The financial benefit under the Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas) is capped at $20,000 per year of full time study. The $20,000 is based on a study load of 8 subjects ($2,500 per subject).

Subjects completed prior to commencement of the scholarship will not be supported under the scholarship program.

Scholars will receive the first scholarship payment once their scholarship is finalised and evidence of their enrolment into postgraduate studies for Semester 1, 2025 has been received. For permanent teachers, the scholarship payment will be calculated from the current semester/session/trimester/term of when the scholarship is granted. Subsequent payments will require scholars to provide a copy of their results for the previous semester and their new enrolment details.

Scholars will not receive a scholarship payment for subjects completed prior to the commencement date of the scholarship.

The total maximum amount payable to recipients of the scholarship is $20,000 per year of study and will be paid via electronic funds transfer (EFT) directly into a scholar's nominated bank account.

Scholarship funds will be included alongside the scholar's regular pay and are subject to tax. Scholars will be eligible to receive the full $20,000 per year of study if they are completing a minimum of 8 subjects per year while on scholarship. If scholars do not complete a minimum of 8 subjects per year, they will be paid a pro-rata amount, that being $2,500 per subject studied while on scholarship.

The department will not provide an allowance for subjects previously failed and reattempted, or subjects for which scholars receive advanced standing or academic credit.

The following payment scenario is an example based on course requirements where 8 subjects are to be completed:

1. Up to $10,000 paid once the Employment Programs team receives confirmation of the scholar's enrolment in approved subjects. This is based on evidence of enrolment in at least 4 subjects.
2. Up to $10,000 paid once the Employment Programs team receives confirmation of the scholar's successful mid-way completion of approved subjects and evidence of enrolment into at least 4 more subjects for the following semester.

Alternatively, if a scholar will be completing subjects over 2 years, their training allowance payments will be paid on receipt of evidence of enrolment each semester and paid at a rate of $2,500 per subject.

Scholars who are permanent or temporary teachers can apply for study leave while completing a practicum.

Temporary teachers must be engaged in temporary employment at the time they are required to complete their practicum to be eligible.

Teachers on approved study leave will retain their salary for the period of their practicum. The applicant's principal can request for relief funds to be reimbursed to the school if a casual teacher was employed to replace the scholar while on study leave.

An application form for study leave and a request for relief funds will be provided to scholars if they are successful in being offered a scholarship.

Study leave for university practicum requirements is not available to casual teachers.

A scholar will not receive a training allowance for subjects completed prior to the commencement date of the scholarship or for subjects they receive advanced standing or academic credit for during their studies.

The training allowances payable to scholars will be paid in the regular pay cycle and taxed accordingly.

Any money paid to the scholar by the department must be declared as assessable income on annual income tax returns. Scholars will have tax withheld from their annual training allowance. HECS-HELP repayments may also be withheld.

If a scholar has any taxation questions it is recommended that they seek independent financial and/or taxation advice.

It should be noted that if a scholar withdraws from the scholarship program or breaches the terms and conditions of their scholarship agreement and incur a liability, that the amount repayable is calculated based on the gross amount paid under the scholarship.