The new investment is aimed at financially supporting those already studying teaching, and attracting and retaining the state’s public school teacher workforce in its highest priority locations.

Education Minister Di Farmer said teaching is one of the most rewarding of careers, and she wants to see more Queenslanders teaching in the state’s public system.

“Those final few pracs can be tough, and for some the financial burdens of not being able to continue with other forms of work while studying can make it even tougher,” she said at the announcement of the funding boost at the Teach Queensland Career Fair 2024 at Brisbane Entertainment and Convention Centre on Saturday.

“That’s why these grants could be the difference between completing your studies and dropping out.”

The funding includes $39.4 million to provide financial support to preservice teachers to complete their final practicum placement in a Queensland state school, through a new Teach Queensland Prac Placement Grant.

Just on $32 million will go towards to providing financial support to graduate teachers who begin their careers in a state primary, secondary, combined or special school located in Far North Queensland, North Queensland, and Central Queensland regions through a new Beginning Teacher Support Payment.

“We are also doing plenty to attract teachers to work and live in regional, rural and remote Queensland, where they can not only gain unique and rewarding experiences but make such a huge difference to young Queenslanders,” Farmer said.

A $5000 Teach Queensland Prac Placement Grant will also provide support for preservice teachers undertaking their final professional experience placement in Semester 2, 2024 through to the end of 2026.

On top of this, preservice teachers seeking to travel further afield for their final placement may also be eligible for the Regional Professional Experience Grant and the Beyond the Range Professional Experience Grant which means they could receive up to $10 000 in support.

Graduate teachers commencing employment in state primary, secondary, combined or special schools across our three Grow Your Own priority regions of Far North Queensland, North Queensland and Central Queensland, between 2023 and the end of 2025 will be eligible for up to $20 000 through the new Beginning Teacher Support Payment.

The payment over four years, gives early career teachers the opportunity to address cost of living challenges and assist with any HECS HELP debt they may have incurred during their teaching degree.

QTU president Cresta Richardson said she welcomes this investment in the profession.

“This announcement enhances current supports for preservice teachers and encourages placement in state schools providing our system with the opportunity to develop, grow and employ great teachers,” Richardson said.

“The additional support for HECS HELP fee debt reduction is something we have been calling for some time.”

She said this extends the program already offered by the Federal Government to parts beyond the south east of the state that are not already beneficiaries of it.

“We know schools in these regions are experiencing the effect of the teacher shortage crisis and we look forward to continuing to work with the government on attraction and retention incentives for other areas around the state.”

The measures announced on the weekend are in addition to the funding already announced including:

  • extending the Trade to Teach and Turn to Teaching internship programs;
  • subsidised accommodation for newly appointed or transferring teachers in priority regional and remote communities;
  • recognition of service payments for teachers in priority schools, and;
  • expansion of the Rural and Remote Teacher Experience program.

To register interest in finding out more about the Teach Queensland Prac Placement Grant, visit here.