Financial support to study and work in early childhood
Get help with the cost of studying or working in early childhood. Learn about available funding, scholarships and incentives for new and existing educators.
On this page
- Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships Program
- Early Childhood Scholarships Program
- Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathways Scholarships Program
- Certificate III Upskill Support Program
- Teacher incentives
- Educator incentives
- More information
- Choosing a career in early childhood
You can also apply for a scholarship or incentive(opens in a new window).
Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships Program
The Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships Program offers tailored courses with extra support for future teachers and educators. Courses have been designed to offer a range of flexible learning options and additional benefits so students can choose a course that is right for them.
The program includes tertiary courses for students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who may require in-language support and culturally responsive academic and workplace mentors.
Universities, TAFEs and RTOs are delivering the program across Victoria with some providers delivering in targeted locations in areas of high demand. Opportunities are available to new students, career changers or educators looking to upskill to become a teacher.
Early Childhood Scholarships Program
Early Childhood Scholarships help eligible individuals starting or currently studying an approved course to become registered early childhood teachers. Following the success of the Certificate III Upskill Support Program, scholarships are also now available for educators upskilling to a Diploma qualification.
The following scholarship funding is available under this program with all amounts listed before tax:
- for bachelor’s degrees: up to $25,000
- for master’s degrees: up to $18,000
- for a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care: up to $7,000
How to apply
Apply for Early Childhood Scholarships through the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal(opens in a new window).
You must meet the eligibility requirements. Please read the Guidelines below before applying.
For more information, including help checking your eligibility, contact BUSY at Work at: EC.Financial.Support@education.vic.gov.au or call 1300 161 396.
Early Childhood Scholarships Program guidelines
New guidelines from 1 December 2025
These are for scholarships awarded on or after 1 December 2025.
- Early Childhood Scholarships program guidelines - from 1 December 2025 (PDF, 297KB)(opens in a new window)
- Early Childhood Scholarships program guidelines - from 1 December 2025 (DOCX, 147KB)(opens in a new window)
Legacy guidelines
These are for scholarships awarded before 1 December 2025.
- Early Childhood Scholarships program guidelines (PDF, 175.9KB)(opens in a new window)
- Early Childhood Scholarships program guidelines (DOCX, 147.32KB)(opens in a new window)
Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathways Scholarships Program
Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathways Scholarships are available for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These scholarships support those wanting to become early childhood teachers or educators, including those who want to upskill are already studying.
This program reflects the Victorian Government’s commitment to growing the Koorie early childhood workforce. You can find out more about this commitment in the (opens in a new window)Marrung Strategy(opens in a new window).
The following scholarship funding is available under this program with all amounts listed are before tax:
- For a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care: up to $2,500
- For a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care: up to $9,000
- For bachelor’s degrees: up to $34,000
- For graduate diplomas: up to $16,000
- For master’s degrees: up to $24,000
How to apply
Apply for Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathway scholarships through the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal(opens in a new window).
You must meet eligibility requirements. Please read the Guidelines below before applying.
For more information, including help checking your eligibility, contact BUSY at Work at: EC.Financial.Support@education.vic.gov.au or call 1300 161 396.
Guidelines
- Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathway Scholarships Guidelines (PDF, 200.5KB)(opens in a new window)
- Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathway Scholarships Guidelines (DOCX, 144.64KB)(opens in a new window)
Certificate III Upskill Support Program
The Certificate III Upskill Support Program offered financial support to eligible educators holding a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) wanting to upskill to a Diploma of ECEC.
How to apply
Applications for the Certificate III Upskill Support Program are now closed. However, educators with a current Certificate III in ECEC can apply for an Early Childhood Scholarship if they want to upskill to a Diploma of ECEC.
Legacy guidelines
These are for those educators who received financial support under the Certificate III Upskills Support Program in 2024 and 2025.
- Certificate III Upskill Support Program Guidelines (PDF, 154KB)
- Certificate III Upskill Support Program Guidelines (DOCX, 100KB)
Teacher incentives
Under the Victorian Early Childhood Teacher Incentives program, there are two types of financial incentives available for qualified early childhood teachers:
- Individual incentives of $9,000 (before tax) are available for eligible early childhood teachers working outside the Victorian early childhood sector to take up a teaching role at any service delivering, or planning to deliver a funded kindergarten program.
- Location incentives of between $9,000 to $50,000 (before tax) are available for eligible early childhood teachers who take up a teaching role at selected services.
Eligible applicants who meet the criteria for both types of incentives will be able to receive both payments.
A relocation supplement of between $1,000 to $8,000 will also be available for incentive recipients who relocate more than 100km from their current place of residence to take up a role.
Information about the Victorian Early Childhood Teacher Incentives program (including eligibility requirements) is available in the Guidelines below.
How to apply
Search for jobs with a Location Incentive on the Early Childhood Jobs website(opens in a new window), by clicking ‘DE Location Incentive’.
Eligible early childhood teachers should apply for an incentive via the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal(opens in a new window) within 60 days of accepting a position.
Guidelines
- Early Childhood Teacher Incentives guidelines (PDF, 326KB)
- Early Childhood Teacher Incentives guidelines (DOCX, 111KB)
- Incentives programs guide for employers (PDF, 202KB)
- Incentives programs guide for employers (DOCX, 64KB)
Educator incentives
Under the Targeted Educator Incentives program, there are two types of educator incentives available for qualified early childhood educators:
- Educator individual incentives of $9,000 (before tax) for eligible educators currently working outside the Victorian early childhood education sector, to take up an educator role in a kindergarten room at any service delivering or planning to deliver a funded kindergarten program.
- Educator location incentives of $9,000 (before tax) for eligible educators who take up an educator role in a kindergarten room at selected services delivering a funded kindergarten program.
Eligible applicants who meet the criteria for both types of incentives will be able to receive both payments.
A relocation supplement of between $1,000 to $8,000 will also be available for incentive recipients who relocate more than 100km from their current place of residence to take up a role.
Information about the Targeted Educator Incentives program (including eligibility requirements) is available in the Guidelines below.
How to apply
Search for jobs with a Location Incentive on the Early Childhood Jobs website(opens in a new window), by clicking ‘DE Location Incentive’.
Eligible early childhood educators should apply for an incentive via the early childhood scholarships and incentives application portal(opens in a new window) within 60 days of accepting a position.
Guidelines
- Targeted Educator Incentive guidelines (PDF, 295KB)
- Targeted Educator Incentive guidelines (DOCX, 110KB)
- Incentives programs guide for employers (PDF, 202KB)
- Incentives programs guide for employers (DOCX, 64KB)
More information
Scholarships and incentives are delivered by Busy At Work on behalf of the Department of Education.
You can contact Busy At Work via:
Choosing a career in early childhood
Hear from students and teachers talking about becoming an early childhood teacher.
Watch the Choosing a Career video on Vimeo.
Watch the Application for the Early Childhood Scholarships Program video on Vimeo.
Early childhood education and care
Updated 27 March 2026
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