Make a difference with a career in teaching

The Newman Government is asking Queenslanders to consider starting the new year with a new career – in teaching.

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said the government was working hard to attract high quality teachers to a profession that makes a real difference in the lives of young Queenslanders.

“We’ve set ourselves some very high standards to improve the learning outcomes for Queensland students, and we know that one way to do this is to attract the very best graduates to teaching careers,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Already we have more than 40,000 dedicated, passionate and creative teachers working in our state primary and secondary schools, but we’re always looking to find more of those special sorts of people who can inspire students to greatness inside and outside the classroom.”

Mr Langbroek said the Newman Government had invested $675,000 in three scholarship programs aimed at attracting up to 40 high achieving candidates from other professions into teaching. 

“We are offering scholarships to high-achieving science, mathematics, engineering and industrial design graduates to help state secondary schools attract the high quality teachers needed to lift student performance,” he said.

“Queensland’s prosperity depends on having a workforce skilled in the STEM professions as industries and businesses increasingly rely on them to ensure sustained economic growth.”

The scholarships include:

• Ten Step into Teaching (STEP) scholarships valued at $25,000 for graduates to undertake postgraduate teaching studies and accept a statewide posting;
• A further 10 STEP scholarships valued at up to $12,500 for applicants for other high priority placements in other locations;
• Twenty new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Teaching Scholarships to encourage high-achieving final year preservice teachers.

Around 1,300 additional teachers are also being sought to teach Junior Secondary when Year 7 moves to high school in 2015.

“Late last year we opened a register of interest for current and aspiring teachers interested in working with students in junior secondary and in 2014 we will begin the formal recruitment process for these positions,” said Mr Langbroek.

“Teachers who can demonstrate excellence in supporting the academic, social and emotional wellbeing of students between Years 7 and 9 - helping set them up for their final years of schooling, will be the best fit for Junior Secondary.”

More information about a career in teaching and the scholarship programs available in Queensland can be found by visiting www.teach.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 24 January 2014

Media contact: Minister’s office 3237 1000