The Andrews Labor Government is delivering an unprecedented investment in our future teachers through free secondary school teaching degrees from 2024, with enrolment numbers expected to grow significantly.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today met with Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker, encouraging students to apply for the new free degrees, which help relieve cost of living pressures during study and will support growth of the teaching workforce for years to come.
The Labor Government this month announced a $93.2 million investment for all students who enrol in secondary school teaching degrees in 2024 and 2025 – with the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) currently accepting applications for next year’s teaching courses across the state.
Students receive their final payments if they then work in Victorian government schools for two years after they graduate – supporting around 4,000 future teachers each year to start their career with confidence.
The total funding for students who complete their studies and then choose to work in government secondary schools will match the HELP fees charged by the Commonwealth Government for Commonwealth Supported Places – $18,000 for a four-year undergraduate program or $9,000 for two years of postgraduate study.
Free teaching degrees for 2024 are available across all university providers which offer secondary education teaching degrees, including Victoria University.
Victorian students have until 5pm on 28 September to submit their VTAC preferences for 2024 courses at vtac.edu.au. Applications can be accepted after this date but extra fees apply.
Free secondary teaching degrees are part of a $229.8 million package to grow the school workforce, which includes a further $27 million to continue and expand the Targeted Financial Incentives Program and $95.7 million to expand the successful Australian-first Career Start initiative.
The investment comes on top of $204.8 million in workforce initiatives in the Victorian Budget 2023/24, and $779 million to reduce the maximum face-to-face teaching time for our teachers – taking the Labor Government’s investment in the school workforce to more than $1.6 billion since 2019.
As stated by Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins
“Education changes lives – we’re backing our next generation of amazing teachers with a nation-leading investment to make secondary teaching degrees free and rewarding careers more accessible.”
“For anyone considering a career in teaching, I encourage you to make the most of free degrees and put teaching as your top preference – and be part of making Victoria the Education State.”
As stated by Victoria University Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker
“Victoria University welcomes every initiative dedicated to supporting the teaching workforce. Actively supporting the growth of tomorrow’s teachers means better outcomes for secondary students – and tertiary students too. When you remove barriers to learning, the whole of society benefits.”
“Equity is at the heart of everything we do at VU. Since introducing the VU Block Model® in 2018, pass rates for our students from low socio-economic backgrounds have improved by 18.7 percent. The Victorian Government scholarships will be another step in our ability to ensure that talent which is out there is recognised and rewarded.”
