Applications are now open for the 2026 Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships, one of Australia’s most significant government teaching scholarship initiatives. These $40,000 teaching scholarships support people aiming to build a career in education, especially in areas facing a teacher shortage.
This program is now in its third year and forms part of a $160 million national investment to strengthen the teacher workforce. Nearly 2,000 students have already received Australian teaching scholarships, with almost 30 percent coming from rural, regional, or remote communities. This reflects the program’s success in expanding access to teaching degree financial support across Australia.
Purpose of the Scholarship Program
The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships 2026 are designed for high-achieving school leavers and career changers entering accredited teaching degrees. The program especially supports applicants from under-represented backgrounds, including:
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First Nations communities
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People with disability
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Students from low-income households
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Individuals who speak English as an additional language
By prioritizing diverse applicants, the initiative helps build a stronger, more inclusive teacher workforce—something that’s essential for addressing the teacher shortage in Australia.
Scholarship Benefits
Financial Support
These government teaching scholarships offer:
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Undergraduate students: Up to $40,000 in financial support toward completing an accredited teaching degree
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Postgraduate students: Up to $20,000 to help reduce the cost of entering the teaching profession
This level of teaching degree financial support makes the pathway to becoming a teacher more accessible, particularly for students facing financial barriers.
Work Requirement
Scholarship recipients must commit to teaching in a government school or an early learning setting for two to four years after graduating. This ensures that public education directly benefits from the investment and helps place qualified teachers where they are most needed, especially in regional and remote areas experiencing severe workforce shortages.
Addressing Australia’s Teacher Shortage
These scholarships are a central part of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, the government’s long-term strategy to address the escalating teacher shortage in Australia.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has emphasized that teaching is “the most important job in the world” and that Australia urgently needs more people entering the profession. The scholarships work alongside other initiatives—such as strengthened teacher training reforms and the Commonwealth Prac Payment—to improve teacher education and attract new talent to the sector.
Sector Response
Support from the Australian Education Union
The Australian Education Union (AEU) strongly supports these government-funded teaching scholarships for aspiring teachers. The union described them as a practical and necessary investment in rebuilding Australia’s teaching workforce at a time when public schools and early learning centers are struggling with significant staff shortages.
AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe highlighted that nearly 2,000 teaching students have already benefited from the program, demonstrating the importance of scholarships for future teachers and the need to remove financial barriers to entering the profession.
She also pointed out that scholarships are only one part of a broader solution. Ongoing structural improvements—such as reducing workloads and improving workplace conditions—are vital for retaining teachers long-term.
Response from the Catholic Education Sector
The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) welcomed the scholarships but called for expanded eligibility. Their Executive Director, Jacinta Collins, argued that teaching scholarships in Australia should support all school sectors, including Catholic schools, which serve diverse and regional communities that are also feeling the impact of the national teacher shortage.
Why the Program Matters
Teacher shortages are affecting public schools across every Australian state and territory. Teachers are facing increasing workloads and managing more complex student needs than ever before. This combination contributes to burnout and makes it harder to keep experienced teachers in classrooms.
Programs like the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships make entry into teaching more accessible and encourage more people—both young school leavers and mid-career changers—to pursue a career in education. These government teaching scholarships help ensure that qualified teachers reach the schools that need them most, supporting a stronger and more sustainable education system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is eligible for the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships?
These scholarships are open to high-achieving school leavers and mid-career changers entering accredited undergraduate or postgraduate teaching degrees. Priority is given to applicants from under-represented backgrounds.
How much financial support is available?
Undergraduates may receive up to $40,000, while postgraduate students can receive up to $20,000. This financial support helps reduce the cost of completing a teaching degree in Australia.
Is there a work commitment after graduation?
Yes. Scholarship recipients must teach in a government school or early learning setting for two to four years after completing their degree.
When does the 2026 application round close?
The government has not yet announced a closing date. Due to high demand, applicants are encouraged to apply early.
How does this program help address teacher shortages?
The scholarships reduce financial barriers, attract high-quality candidates, and place them in areas where teachers are urgently needed—supporting the overall goal of solving the teacher shortage in Australia.
Are Catholic or independent school students eligible?
Currently, the scholarship requires recipients to work in public schools and early learning settings. The Catholic education sector has requested that eligibility be expanded in future rounds.
Learn more about Australian Education Union (AEU)
