Under the
Queensland Early Childhood Workforce Strategy, the Department of Education is providing financial assistance to eligible students studying an early childhood undergraduate degree or postgraduate qualification.
About this grant
The Early Childhood Paid Practicum Grant (ECPPG) provides financial support to eligible students studying an
ACECQA approved early childhood teaching undergraduate degree or postgraduate qualification on completion of the final practicum (work) placement of their qualification.
If you are studying an eligible early childhood course and completed your final practicum placement during 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024 in a Queensland early childhood education and care (ECEC) service delivering an approved kindergarten program, you may apply for a grant of up to $5,000. Further grant rounds will be offered in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
By undertaking a practicum placement in an outer regional, remote or very remote eligible Queensland ECEC service, students may also be eligible for up to an additional $5,000 in financial support.
Eligibility criteria
You are
eligible to apply for the Early Childhood Practicum Placement Grant 2024 if:
- you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident; and
- you are a Queensland resident or reside in a location immediately bordering Queensland; and
- you are/were enrolled in an
ACECQA approved early childhood teaching undergraduate degree (e.g. Bachelor) or postgraduate qualification (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters); and
- you completed 15 consecutive days* of final practicum placement during 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024, in a Queensland early childhood education and care service that delivers an approved kindergarten program (e.g., a long day care service or sessional kindergarten service).
*Applicants that meet the above criteria who completed
less than 15 consecutive days of final practicum placement may apply, however the grant will be pro-rated.
You have until
31 March 2025 to submit your grant application via the
Smart Jobs ad (refer also to 'When to apply?').
Not eligible
You are
not eligible to apply for this grant if you were employed in a Queensland ECEC service at the time of your final placement.
Educators employed in a Child Care Subsidy approved ECEC service (e.g. long day care, family day care or outside school hours care) who are currently studying may be eligible for the
Australian Government Paid Practicum subsidy.
Grant amount
If you meet the eligibility criteria and your practicum placement is:
- 15 consecutive days or more, you can receive a grant of $5,000
- less than 15 consecutive days, your grant will be pro-rated at a rate of $333.33 per consecutive day.
Refer to the table below for grant funding amounts.
Grant amount
| $333.33 per consecutive day | $5,000 |
|---|
*Placement days are to be completed consecutively.
When to apply?
Applications are to be lodged once you have completed your final practicum placement.
You have until
31 March 2025 to submit your grant application via Smart Jobs. Early applications, submitted prior to completion of the placement, or late applications (received after 31 March 2025) for 2024 placements, will be rejected.
How to apply?
You can submit your grant application via the
Smart Jobs ad.
Additional grant for outer regional, remote or very remote final practicum placements
You may be eligible for an additional grant of up to $5,000 if:
- the ECEC service where you completed your practicum was in an
outer regional, remote or very remote location
- your home was more than 2 hours drive (each way) to the service, calculated using the
NRMA trip planner and
- your final practicum was 15 consecutive days* to 40 plus consecutive days.
*Successful applicants that complete less than 15 consecutive days will have their grant pro-rated.
Grant amount for outer regional, remote or very remote placements
The grant amount for outer regional, remote or very remote placements will depend on the location of the service, and the duration of the placement.
Refer to the table below for the grant funding amounts.
Outer regional
| $150 per day | $2,250 | $3,000 | $3,200 | $3,400 |
|---|
Remote or very remote
| $225 per day | $3,375 | $4,500 | $4,700 | $5,000 |
|---|
*Placement days are to be completed consecutively.
Grant assessment
Allow up to 6 weeks to receive a decision on complete applications. Incomplete applications may take longer to process.
You will be notified by email of the decision on your grant application, the sum of the grant you are eligible for, and a request to submit your bank details to facilitate payment.
Applicants are asked to check their emails regularly (including junk/spam email folders) for updates and/or requests for further information.
Grant payments
The grant will be paid to successful applicants as a lump sum, following receipt of bank account details.
Allow up to 4 weeks for grant payments to be deposited into your bank account.
Tax implications
It is recommended that applicants seek financial advice (e.g. from a tax advisor, accountant,
Australian Taxation Office, and/or Centrelink) regarding potential implications of the grant payments to your income tax and/or benefits you may be receiving or are to be paid.
Applicants are encouraged to keep receipts for placement-related expenses.
Future grant rounds in 2025, 2026 and 2027
If you are planning to complete your final practicum placement in an ECEC service during 2025, 2026 or 2027, subscribe to be notified of when new grant rounds are open.
Early applications submitted prior to the completion of a final practicum placement, will be rejected. The grant offering, eligibility and conditions are at the Department of Education’s discretion and may be subject to updates.
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Further information
Please refer to the frequently asked questions.
If you have any further questions regarding the Early Childhood Practicum Placement Grant, please email
PracGrant.EC@qed.qld.gov.au.
Frequently asked questions
My degree is not an ACECQA approved qualification? Can I still apply for the grant?
No. The grant is only available for students undertaking an
ACECQA-approved early childhood undergraduate degree (e.g. Bachelor) or postgraduate qualification (e.g. Graduate Certificate; Graduate Diploma; or Masters).
Do I have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to be eligible?
Yes. You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to be eligible to apply for the Early Childhood Paid Practicum Grant. Evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residency must be submitted with your grant application.
What if I live outside of Queensland, am I eligible to apply?
Your principal place of residence must be within Queensland, or in a location immediately neighbouring Queensland (e.g. Tweed Heads), and are undertaking your final practicum placement in an eligible Queensland early childhood education and care service.
How do I find out if the ECEC service is in an outer regional, remote or very remote location?
Queensland early childhood education and care services delivering an approved kindergarten program is in outer regional, remote or very remote locations—current as at 22 November 2024.
Can I apply for the Early Childhood Practicum Placement Grant if I receive funding under the Qualifications Pathways Program?
No. If you are currently employed in a Queensland early childhood and care service delivering an approved kindergarten program, you are not eligible for this grant.
If you are employed in a Child Care Subsidy approved early childhood education and care service (e.g. long day care, family day care or outside school hours care) and currently studying, you may be eligible for the
Australian Government Paid Practicum subsidy.
Can I apply for the ECPPG if I do my final EC practicum placement in a Queensland state school that offers a state delivered kindergarten?
If you are seeking to do your final practicum placement in a Queensland state school, you may apply for a grant through the
Teach Queensland Prac Placement Grant.
Can I apply for the ECPPG if I am employed in a Queensland state school that offers a state delivered kindergarten, and I want to do my final prac in another Qld ECEC service?
Department of Education employees working in state schools that offer a state delivered kindergarten program who want to complete their final practicum in a Qld ECEC service are to email
PracGrant.EC@qed.qld.gov.au to discuss your individual circumstances.
Can I apply for the grant if I am currently working in outside school hours care and want to complete my final practicum placement in an ECEC service?
No, if you are currently employed in a Queensland ECEC service, you are not eligible for this grant. However, you may be eligible for the
Australian Government Paid Practicum Subsidy.
Am I eligible for a 2024 grant if I am undertaking my final practicum placement during Semester 3, 2024?
If you completed your final practicum placement between 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024, you may apply for the grant in 2024. You have until
31 March 2025 to submit your grant application via the
Smart Jobs ad.
If you complete your final practicum placement in 2025, 2026 or 2027, you can apply for the grant through future funding rounds. Subscribe to be updated on future funding rounds.
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