The NSW Department of Education and the NSW Council of Deans of Education have welcomed the Federal Government’s new Commonwealth Prac Payment as a “game-changer” for many future teachers across the state.
The payment, which is now available, delivers $331.65 per week to eligible initial teacher education (ITE) students undertaking their mandatory professional experience placements.
NSW Department of Education Secretary, Murat Dizdar said the initiative reflected a strong commitment to nurturing the next generation of educators.
“Teaching is a deeply rewarding career that shapes lives and communities. This new payment removes one of the barriers for pre-service teachers and sends a clear message: we value our future teachers and we’re here to support them,” Mr Dizdar said.
“By providing financial support during professional experience placements, we’re opening the door for more people to pursue a teaching career and make a real difference in the lives of young people.”
Professor Susan Ledger, President of the NSW Council of Deans of Education, said the support acknowledged challenges students face in taking time out from their paid work to complete school placements. This can be an insurmountable barrier for some, forcing them to choose between their studies and meeting living expenses. This payment goes some of the way towards helping to ease that burden, she said.
“This payment will help ensure that more talented, passionate people can enter the profession, stay the course and bring fresh energy into schools,” Prof Ledger said.
The Commonwealth Prac Payment is available through higher education providers and covers up to 400 hours of professional placement. It can also be accessed alongside existing income support.
The NSW Department of Education encourages all eligible teaching students to contact their university and apply early to ensure they receive support when their placements commence.
At its heart, this initiative is about building a strong, diverse and supported teaching workforce for the future. It’s a meaningful step towards ensuring that every child in every classroom has access to great teachers, and that every aspiring teacher has the opportunity to succeed, the Department said in a statement.
Students can find full eligibility details and application guidance at the website.
