Twelve students from Charles Darwin University (CDU) were awarded Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships as part of a federal initiative aimed at addressing Australia’s teacher shortage and encouraging more people to join the education sector.
The scholarships were presented by the Honourable Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, under the Federal Government’s $160 million Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program. This program is designed to support both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching students nationwide.
The recipients, who are either in their first year of undergraduate or postgraduate study and are based in Darwin, remote Northern Territory areas, or interstate, will receive financial support for their studies. Undergraduate students will receive $40,000, while postgraduate students will get $20,000.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman stressed the importance of these scholarships for the Northern Territory. “Australia is suffering from a teacher shortage right now and this is none more evident then here in the Territory, in particular our regional and remote schools,” Professor Bowman said. “At CDU we have incredibly talented students who want to study teaching and make a difference in the community and these scholarships will help support these students to complete their studies so that they can go on and have successful teaching careers.”
The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program aims to award over 5,000 scholarships to new teaching students across Australia over the next five years. Recipients are required to commit to teaching for four years (undergraduate) or two years (postgraduate) in government-run schools or early learning centres.
CDU pro vice-chancellor of the Faculty of Arts and Society, Professor Ruth Wallace, highlighted CDU’s unique educational environment. “We prepare our students to understand the educational environment here in the Territory and we help to support a teacher workforce that is from the Territory and for the Territory,” Professor Wallace said. “A commitment of five years for these scholarships will help ensure our students have the chance to thrive, inspire and teach the Territory’s young minds and make a lasting impact.”