The scholarships aim to identify high-achieving individuals seeking to undertake an undergraduate or post-graduate degree in teaching, and provide them with financial assistance and support during their initial teacher education program.

As a Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarship recipient, you could receive:

• up to $40,000 (before tax) to help you with study and related expenses, and
• permanent employment as a teacher in a Queensland state school when you graduate.

Scholarship Categories

The Pearl Duncan Teaching Scholarship program offers four categories of support:

• Secondary (high) school graduates (up to $40,000 before tax over 4 years)

  You must complete Year 12 this year and be commencing or continuing an undergraduate Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program, such as a Bachelor of Education, in the first semester of the year after you graduated Year 12.

• Postgraduate students (up to $20,000 before tax over 2 years)

  You must already hold a degree in a relevant field and be commencing or continuing a postgraduate Initial Teacher Education program, such as a Master of Teaching.

• Department of Education employees (up to $40,000 before tax over 4 years)

  You must be employed in a non-teaching role with the Department of Education (at the time of application) and be commencing or continuing an undergraduate or postgraduate Initial Teacher Education program, such as a Bachelor of Education or Master of Teaching.

• Post-school studies (up to $40,000 before tax over 4 years)

  You must be commencing or continuing an undergraduate or postgraduate Initial Teacher Education program, such as a Bachelor of Education or Master of Teaching, and do not meet the eligibility criteria for any of the other categories—for example career changers or mature age students.

Eligibility Criteria

You must be:

• of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
• a high-achieving individual already studying or intending to study (degree level) an undergraduate or postgraduate initial teacher education qualification in 2025
• committed to teaching in a Queensland state school upon graduation for a minimum service period (based on the duration of the scholarship supported “study period”).

• Phone: (07) 3055 2991
• Email: scholarships@qed.qld.gov.au