With a record number of scholarship recipients announced recently, more than 1,000 aspiring early childhood educators in NSW are on their way to a rewarding career supporting the state’s littlest learners. Over the next four years, more than 18,000 early childhood educators and teachers will receive support thanks to the NSW Government's unprecedented investment in the ECEC workforce.
The NSW Government is investing $281.6 million to enhance the early childhood workforce, according to Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell. This will give families with young children more access to high-quality early childhood education and care services throughout the state.
“We want to build a stronger and brighter future for NSW families, and we know that building our early childhood workforce is a no-brainer,” Ms Mitchell said.
“These scholarships will support recipients with financial costs that come with deepening their understanding of early childhood environments and gaining additional skills and capabilities.
"I would like to congratulate all of this year's scholarship winners and applaud them for choosing the field of early childhood education; the job they do is vital."
With more than $15.9 billion committed under the Early Years Commitment, the scholarships are a cornerstone of the NSW Government's once-in-a-generation transformation of the early childhood sector.
Scholarships are given out as of June 30, 2022:
- Early Childhood Education Scholarships, the first round of 439 grantees (up to $25,000)
- 494 recipients, Early Childhood Education Scholarships, round two (up to $25,000)
- 76 recipients, Early Childhood Inclusive Education Scholarships (up to $20,000)
The NSW Government has committed $15.9 billion to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW through a revolutionary transformation of early childhood education, child development and women’s economic participation over the next decade.
Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, a workforce package and affordable preschools the Liberals and Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
Reference:
Boosting The Early Childhood Workforce For The Future, Department Of NSW Education, 11 December 2022
