Rural talent awarded Regional Teacher Scholarships
News
South Australia’s future educators have more incentive to hit the books after receiving a Regional Teacher Scholarship.
Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) has announced the recipients of its first Regional Teacher Scholarship Program.
The application process was open to Year 12 students graduating from a CESA regional school in 2023 and to any Education Support Office (ESO) staff currently employed in a CESA regional school. Fourteen talented applicants were successful.
The program, which was initiated by the Diocese of Port Pirie, will provide recipients with a total benefit of up to $20,000 each, paid as $5,000 for each full-time (or pro rata part-time equivalent) year successfully completed in an undergraduate teaching degree.
In return, on successful completion of their studies, the scholarship recipients will commit to working as a permanent full-time teacher in a CESA regional school for a minimum of two years.
The successful applicants were 13 regional Education Support Officer (ESO) staff who were awarded with a Transition to Teaching Scholarship. As a result, they will commit to seeking employment as teachers in regional Catholic schools once they have qualified.
Many of the recipients have already started their studies and will begin to qualify from 2025.
In addition to the financial support, the Transition to Teaching Scholarship program offers recipients pre-service placements, targeted professional learning, unique on the job experience, and mentoring and coaching opportunities throughout their university course.
Max Edwards, 2023 Graduate of Caritas College, Port Augusta.
One Year 12 Graduate Teacher Education Scholarship was also awarded to Max Edwards, who graduated from Caritas College, Port Augusta in 2023. He will commence his undergraduate teacher education training in 2024.
“With a national shortage of teachers, particularly hard felt in regional Australia, we are committed to supporting these future teachers in their endeavours to teach and inspire the next generation,” said Nichii Mardon, director of the Catholic Education Diocese of Port Pirie.
The future is bright. Callan Maczkowiack, an ESO at Loxton’s St Albert’s Catholic School, was one of the Transition to Teaching Scholarship recipients. “I feel so supported in my career path and the financial assistance will make a huge difference whilst I am studying,” Callan said.
Ashleigh Hector, ESO, Samaritan College, Whyalla.
Meanwhile, Ashleigh Hector, an ESO at Whyalla’s Samaritan College said, “Receiving a Transition to Teaching Scholarship will allow me to successfully complete my university degree whilst knowing I am being emotionally, and financially supported to work and study.”
The scholarship recipients are:
Nathan Brook, St Mark’s College, Port Pirie
Sarah DeGioia, St Mark’s College, Port Pirie
Scarlette Thoman, St Mark’s College, Port Pirie
Ashleigh Hector, Samaritan College, Whyalla
Tallulah Boyle, Samaritan College, Whyalla
Shelley McInnis, Caritas College, Port Augusta
Briah Higgins, Caritas College, Port Augusta
Max Edwards, Caritas College, Port Augusta (School Graduate Teacher Education Scholarship)
Brooklyn Virgens, St Joseph’s School, Peterborough
Meg Johnson, St Barbara’s Parish School, Roxby Downs
Dana Hansen, St Joseph’s School, Renmark
Callan Maczkowiack, St Albert’s Catholic School, Loxton
Breanna Michalski, Our Lady of the River School, Berri
Layne Fenwick, St Francis of Assisi College, Renmark
Nichii Mardon, Callan Maczkowiack and Viviana Graney.
