Professor Joanna Barbousas, Dean of La Trobe’s School of Education, has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of grants to support pre-service teachers on placement in regional, remote or specialist schools in Victoria.
The funding, which was announced this week, will support eligible teachers with a daily grant ranging from $140 per day in regional urban centres and metropolitan specialist schools to $420 per day in outer regional and remote schools.
Professor Barbousas said the grants would take away some of the financial stress faced by many students on placement.
“Gaining practical teaching experience through placement is a vital part of initial teacher education. However, we know for many students this can be a costly exercise, particularly if they need to take time away from paid part-time work whilst on placement.”
“The grants will make it easier for our education students to undertake placement and get the practical experience they need to graduate as effective teachers,” Professor Barbousas said.
The new support is designed to encourage teaching students to complete placements in Victorian specialist schools and across regional Victoria, with these schools offering considerable opportunities for future employment when students graduate.
Professor Barbousas said the grants would also help address teacher shortages in regional and remote schools across Victoria.
“With education degrees offered across La Trobe’s regional campuses in Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and Albury-Wodonga, these grants will go a long way to supporting the future teaching workforce in regional Victoria.”
More information on how to access the grant will be made available to current La Trobe education students in the next student newsletter.
