Scholarships boost teacher numbers in remote and rural areas

Seventeen aspiring Queensland teachers were awarded scholarships at Parliament House today to boost the number of teachers in rural and remote areas of the state.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said recipients of the 2008 Bid O’Sullivan and Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarships would receive up to $20,000 each.

“These scholarships were developed to support the placement of quality teachers throughout the state, including in rural and remote locations,” Mr Welford said.

“Teaching scholarships of up to four years’ duration are awarded to Education Queensland staff, high school students and post-school applicants.

“Scholarships of up to two years’ duration are available to postgraduate students.

“These bursaries offer financial assistance to selected students during their studies and also guarantee them a job as a teacher with Education Queensland at the end of their degree.”

Mr Welford said the scholarships were named after two inspirational Queensland women who were passionate about teaching and dedicated to improving students’ lives through education.

“Bid O’Sullivan played a large part in bringing education to the outback,” he said.

“She had extensive experience teaching in bush schools and in 1959 at age 63, she established Queensland’s first School of the Air in Cloncurry.

“Pearl Duncan was an academic and Australia’s first tertiary-trained Indigenous teacher.”

Ms Duncan attended the award ceremony at Parliament House today.

Mr Welford said the five Bid O’Sullivan and 12 Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarship recipients for 2008 would make valuable contributions to rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

“I would like to congratulate the scholarship winners on their success and wish them well in their future study and careers,” he said.

A total of 56 Bid O’Sullivan Teaching Scholarships have been awarded since 1999, including this year’s five recipients. A total of 117 Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarships have been awarded to people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent since being introduced in 2000.

Names of this year’s scholarship winners are listed on the following page.

Media Contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000

EDUCATION QUEENSLAND –TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 2008

Bid O’Sullivan Teaching Scholarships
Tenielle Edmondson, Hughenden State School
Scott Fletcher, Hughenden State School
Skye Lowndes, Moranbah State High School
Caitlin McGovern, Bundaberg North State High School
Carmen Ryan, Blackheath and Thornburgh College, Charters Towers

Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarships

School-leavers:
Allen Blake, Lowood State High School
Tonia Davidson, Bribie Island State High School
Danielle Johnson, Forest Lake College, Brisbane
Rhiannan Moyle, Innisfail State High School
Stephanie Pabai, Tagai State College, Thursday Island
Mitch Smith, St John's School, Roma

Education Queensland staff:
Kali Ahmat, Tagai State College, Badu Island
Rosemary Barclay, Wooloowin
Alyce Jose, Mount Sheridan
Cheryl Mackay, Strathpine West State School

Post-school studies:
Robyn Gaulton, Charleville
Aja Moran, Moorooka