A new scholarship program for early childhood educators has delivered a strong first-round result, with 93 offers already accepted.
Under the first round of the Tasmanian Government’s $4.5 million Early Years Workforce Development Scholarships, 73 formal offers and 20 conditional offers have already been accepted across Certificate III, Diploma and Early Childhood teaching degrees.
Minister for Skills and Jobs, Felix Ellis, said the four-year scholarship program aimed to get another 200 people qualified and into the industry.
“A key part of our 2030 Strong Plan is increasing the number of qualified educators to ensure more Tasmanian families can access these services when they need them,” Minister Ellis said.
“Achieving almost half of our target in the first round is a strong sign the program is hitting the mark and reflects strong demand from both new workers and existing educators seeking to upskill.
“The program is supporting workforce growth across long day care, family day care, and outside school hours care services, ensuring these services are strengthened to meet the needs of children and families across Tasmania.”
The scholarship program is being delivered by Early Childhood Australia and includes additional support for those willing to move to remote or hard-to-staff areas such as King Island, Flinders Island, and Tasmania’s West Coast.
Tasmania is projected to need an additional 1,200 education and care educators and teachers by 2029.
“With a significant shortage of qualified educators in the sector, we are delivering the training support needed to grow this critical workforce in the right areas,” Minister Ellis said.
“This scholarship provides not only financial assistance, but also a tailored support plan that includes academic, wellbeing and professional support to help participants begin or advance their career pathways in the education and care workforce.
“We know how important it is for families to have access to the childcare they need, in their community, and that’s why we are delivering the next generation of the workforce.”
The next round of the scholarship program is expected to open in late 2026.
