The Teach Next Program has been modified to provide additional support to facilitate involvement in the program while at the same time cutting the number of placement offers expected to be secured for 2012. The changes will result in savings of $2.0 million over five years.

 

Teach Next was allocated $18.1 million in the 2011-12 Budget to establish a new pathway into teaching for 450 career-change professionals with relevant qualifications and experience to address known critical teacher shortages in specialised areas such as mathematics and science.

 

Following consultation with stakeholders and providers, the Government has agreed to provide additional financial assistance to:

  • program participants to assist with study costs and relocation;
  • teacher employers to support participant selection, placement and mentor release; and
  • providers to assist in meeting the costs of recruitment and course delivery.

 

Participants may also be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan to fund the difference between the Commonwealth's contribution and the cost of the course.

 

The changes to the program will also revise participant numbers downwards from 450 to 395 and will be managed in four separate intakes over the four years of the program.

 

Further information can be found here.