(March 2008)

In 2007 the Department of Education, Tasmania offered five scholarships under the Maths/Science Higher Education Loan Payment (HELP) Scholarship Program.

In 2008 the Department will again offer maths/science pre-service teachers enrolled in the first year of the Bachelor of Teaching or the combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching degrees at the University of Tasmania the opportunity to apply for a Maths/Science HELP Scholarship. Scholarship offers take place following school experience 1.

The scholarships will provide the following benefits

• Payment by the Department of Education of Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) fees for the Bachelor of Teaching components of the teacher training course.

  Note: Payment will be made in the form of two lump sum allowances which will cover the costs of the HELP fee. This allowance will be paid at the completion of each consecutive year of employment with the Department of Education for a period of two years. The allowance will cover the costs of the HELP fee for the Bachelor of Teaching component of the scholarship holder’s teacher training course.

  Payment arrangements are not affected by a scholarship holder’s decision to pay fees upfront or to defer payment.

  All payments made under this scheme will attract Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). The department is responsible for the payment of the FBT. However, the amount paid will be recorded on the scholarship holder's annual payment summary as an FBT reportable amount. Although scholarship holders will not be required to pay income tax on this amount, it will be used to assess the scholarship holder's obligations and benefits such as medical levy surcharge, child payments, superannuation surcharge etc. Scholarship applicants are strongly encouraged to seek advice from an accountant or tax adviser for further details on individual personal income tax circumstances.

• Targeted placement in appropriate schools during the professional experience program including, if possible, placement in the school to which the applicant will be finally assigned as a teacher for the internship component of the professional experience program.
• The provision of ongoing mentoring and other support from Department of Education staff.
• Placement as a permanent teacher in the Tasmanian public education system in a suitable maths/science teaching vacancy at the successful completion of the teacher training course.

  Note: Permanency is subject to the successful completion of a twelve month probationary period.

Selection process

Pre-service maths/science teachers who are enrolled in the first year of a Bachelor of Teaching degree, or the second year of the combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching degree, are eligible to apply for the scholarship program

Successful applicants will be chosen on the basis of merit after undergoing an interview process and providing referees. Outstanding academic results and demonstrated capacity to positively engage with children and young people will be highly regarded by the selection panel.

To ensure permanent employment as a maths/science teacher with the Department, successful applicants will be required to satisfactorily complete a three stage merit selection process:

Stage 1

Scholarship Selection

Applicants will be selected on the basis of merit after undergoing an interview process and providing referees. Outstanding academic results and demonstrated capacity to positively engage with children and young people will be highly regarded by the selection panel.

Stage 2

Teacher Training

Scholarship holders will provide evidence of satisfactory academic progress and school experience reports for the duration of their training.

Stage 3

Completion of Teacher Training

At the completion of teacher training and prior to an offer of employment being made, a final assessment will be made of scholarship holders' academic and school experience results and their suitability for employment as a teacher. Employment offers will be made on the basis of this overall assessment.

Note: Some of the teaching positions identified for scholarship holders may be located in rural and/or remote areas of Tasmania.

Scholarship conditions

Successful applicants will be required to accept the following conditions in order to receive the scholarship benefits:

• Scholarship holders must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Teaching or the combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching degree courses at the University of Tasmania.
• Whilst completing their degree, scholarship holders must provide evidence of satisfactory attainment in all required elements of the degree course at the end of each semester. This includes the school experience program.
• If the scholarship holder does not attain satisfactory results in all required elements the scholarship may be cancelled (see Cancellation of a Scholarship).
• Scholarship holders must be prepared to undertake the professional experience program in schools identified by the Department of Education.
• Where possible, scholarship holders must be prepared to undertake the internship component of the professional experience program in the school in which they will be placed as a teacher after graduation.
• Scholarship holders must be eligible to be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Teaching or Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Teaching at the end of their teacher training and within the following time limits:
  • Bachelor of Teaching – two years (scholarships will be awarded in the first year of the Bachelor of Teaching course)
  • Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching – four years (scholarships will be awarded in the second year of the combined degree course).
• Upon graduation, scholarship holders must be granted registration, either full or provisional, to work as a teacher in Tasmania by the Teachers Registration Board.
• Upon graduation, scholarship holders must successfully obtain a pre-employment check clearance to work for the Department of Education, Tasmania.
• Scholarship holders must be prepared to accept placement as a teacher in the Tasmanian public education system in a school identified by the Department of Education. Once this appointment has been made, scholarship holders will be subject to a twelve month probationary period before being confirmed as a permanent employee.
• In accepting a permanent teaching position within the Department of Education, scholarship holders will be subject to the same award and employment conditions as all other permanent teachers employed within the Department of Education, Tasmania.
• Scholarship holders must continue to successfully undertake their role as a teacher within the Department of Education for two years.
• Scholarship holders will not be granted leave without pay prior to taking up a teaching position or during the two consecutive years required for payment of scholarship funds, except in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the department, for example in the case of maternity leave.
• Payment will be made in the form of two lump sum allowances which will cover the costs of the HELP fees for the Bachelor of Teaching component of the scholarship holder’s teacher training course.
• This allowance will be paid at the completion of each year of employment with the Department of Education for a period of two consecutive years.
• Should any scholarship holder leave the employment of the Department of Education before this two year period is completed, payment of the scholarship will cease and the pre-service teacher or teacher will take full responsibility for the payment of any remaining HELP debt (see Cancellation of a Scholarship).
• Should any scholarship holder have their employment with the Department of Education terminated for whatever reason within the two year period, payment of the scholarship will cease and the pre-service teacher or teacher will take full responsibility for the payment of any remaining HELP debt (see Cancellation of a Scholarship).

Some of the teaching positions identified for scholarship holders may be located in rural and/or remote areas. Scholarship holders taking up positions in rural and/or remote schools will have access to any specific conditions or incentives that are normally available to teachers in these areas.

Cancellation of a scholarship

The Department of Education has the right to cancel a scholarship at any time should a scholarship holder fail to abide by the conditions noted above.

Upon cancellation of a scholarship, payment of the scholarship allowance will cease and any remaining HELP debt will become the responsibility of the pre-service teacher/teacher.

Instructions to applicants

Applications for the Maths/Science HELP Scholarships must be made on the Maths/Science HELP Scholarship Application Form [Word 113KB] and be lodged with the Manager, Strategic Recruitment and Workforce Modelling, Human Resources Management Branch.

Applications for Scholarships can be made following Professional Experience 1.

Applications should be addressed to Meredith Phillips, Manager, Strategic Recruitment and Workforce Modelling, Human Resources Management Branch, Letitia House, Olinda Grove, Mount Nelson, 7007.

Useful links

The following links may be useful to potential applicants:

Tasmanian Professional Teaching Standards Framework [PDF 272KB]

Statement of Duties - Teacher [Word 60KB]

Contact details

For further information or assistance in relation to the Maths/Science HELP Scholarship Program, please contact Meredith Phillips, Manager, Strategic Recruitment and Workforce Modelling on (03) 6233 9515 or via email meredith.phillips@education.tas.gov.au