The Department of Education has unveiled a new scholarship program for school counsellors and psychologists, with teachers wishing to change careers welcome.
Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell said the Department’s program would ensure a strong pipeline of qualified mental health professionals in schools and support teachers to reskill as counsellors.
Ms Mitchell said the Department had awarded 78 scholarships this year alone and had a further 80 now on offer.
“School counsellors and psychologists are so important for our communities, especially during challenging periods like the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
“We have committed to growing our school counselling service and, thanks to scholarships like these, we are on track to hire 160 graduates over the next two years.
“This is in addition to appointments made through our ongoing recruitment.”
Ms Mitchell said the scholarships covered the cost of tuition fees up to $30,000 and recipients would have a permanent job when they finished their studies.
The Minister said there were three types of scholarships on offer, a training program for teachers to become a school counsellor; a program for psychology graduates to gain experience in schools; and a rural program for participants with an existing psychology qualification to work in rural and remote schools while completing their Masters.
She said up to 300 people would be trained to join the school counselling workforce through the scholarship program between 2020 and 2023.
Ms Mitchell said applications for this round of the scholarship program were open until 10 October.
Further information on the program, including how to apply, can be accessed at this PS News link.
