Early Childhood
Qualifications Fund
Frequently Asked Questions - 2014/15
Who is the scholarship scheme for?
The Early Childhood Qualifications Fund scholarship scheme provides support for Victorian early
childhood educators or qualified Primary teachers who want to attain or upgrade an approved early
childhood education qualification.
Successful applicants will be required to enter into a formal agreement with the Department to
successfully complete an early childhood education course and, upon completion, work for a minimum
period of time in a Victorian licensed children’s or approved education and care service.
Do I have to be employed in an early childhood service to be eligible for a scholarship?
Yes. You must be employed in a Victorian licensed children’s or approved education and care service to
apply for a scholarship.
You are also eligible to apply for a scholarship if you are a qualified Primary school teacher.
How do I know if I am eligible to apply for an Early Childhood Qualifications Fund scholarship?
You are eligible to apply for an Early Childhood Qualifications Fund scholarship if you:



Are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia.
Have been accepted into an early childhood education course leading to an approved qualification.
Have support from your employer.*
*Not required for qualified Primary teachers.
I am an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. Can I apply for a scholarship through this
scheme?
If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and want to complete an early childhood education
course, you may be eligible to apply for an Early Childhood Scholarship for Aboriginal People. For more
information about this scholarship, see: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/aboriginal.aspx
What course do I have to be enrolled in to be eligible to apply for a scholarship ?
To be eligible to apply for a scholarship you must enrol, or have been offered a place, in one of the
following courses that leads to an approved early childhood education qualification:









Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Certificate IV in School Age Education and Care
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
Diploma of School Age Education and Care
Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services
4th Year of Early Childhood Teaching Degree
Early Childhood Teaching Degree
Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Postgraduate Qualification
How do I know if the course I am enrolled in is an approved early childhood education
qualification?
A list of approved qualifications can be found on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality
Authority (ACECQA) website at: http://www.acecqa.gov.au/Qualifications.aspx
To find a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that delivers a Diploma in Early Childhood Education
and Care or a Diploma in School Age Education and Care see:
http://training.gov.au/Search/Training?javaScriptEnabled=True&typeAllTrainingComponents=True
If you are studying an early childhood teaching degree, graduate diploma or postgraduate qualification
the course you are enrolled in must be on the list of approved early childhood teaching qualifications on
the ACECQA website.
You are not eligible to apply for support if you are not enrolled, or have not received an offer of place, in
an approved course.
Will you help me find a place in a course?
No. It is up to you to enrol in a course that leads to an approved early childhood education qualificatio n.
Where can I study?
For Certificate and Diploma Courses
You must enrol in a course that is delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). When it comes to
choosing where to study, it’s important to look at your options because costs, services and study options vary
considerably.
For more information on choosing a training provider see the Victorian Skills Gateway at:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/Students/Pages/Choosing-a-training-provider.aspx
For Higher Education Courses
You must enrol in a course that is on the list of approved early childhood teaching qualifications available on
the ACECQA website at: http://www.acecqa.gov.au/Qualifications.aspx
Many of the courses available offer flexible study options like part-time or online study, and cost may vary as
students can be offered either a Commonwealth Supported Place or a Fee Paying Place. For more information
about study options and cost, visit the My University website at: http://myuniversity.gov.au/
Contact early years workforce on 1300 651 662 if you want to study a postgraduate qualification by
research.
Need More Information
Refer to
Email:
Call
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/fund.aspx
early.years.workforce@edumail.vic.gov.au
1300 651 662
What if I am not currently enrolled in a course but will be in the near future?
To be eligible to apply for a scholarship you must be enrolled, or have received an offer of place, in an
approved course. Your application will not be processed if this evidence from the RTO or University is not
provided.
When can I apply?
Applications will only be accepted during an application round. Applications submitted outside application
rounds will not be processed. To find out when an application round is open, visit
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/fund.aspx
How do I apply for this scholarship?
To apply for this scholarship, you will need to:
 Complete the Application Form available at:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/fund.aspx
 Provide evidence that you are enrolled, or have been offered a place, in one of the approved early
childhood education courses listed above.
 If you are completing a Certificate or Diploma course, provide evidence of your tuition fees in the form
of a statement or receipt from the training organisation.
 Provide copies of academic transcripts or awards for all qualifications claimed on your application.
 Provide a copy of your current contract of employment.
 Provide an Employer Form completed by your employer.
To make sure you haven’t forgotten anything, use the checklist on the last page of the Application Form.
Incomplete applications will not be processed.
What is my employer required to do?
Your employer is required to indicate their support for your participation in the scholarship scheme by
completing the Employer Form. The Employer Form is available for download at:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/fund.aspx
Will you let me know if you have received my application?
Applicants will receive confirmation that their application has been received . Confirmation will be sent
directly to the email address you provide on the application form.
When will my application be assessed?
All applications will be assessed after the closing date of each round.
When will I know the outcome of my application?
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application approximately 10 weeks after the closing
date of the application round.
How will successful applicants be chosen?
All applications will be assessed by a selection panel nominated by the Department. The Department’s
decision is final.
Need More Information
Refer to
Email:
Call
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/fund.aspx
early.years.workforce@edumail.vic.gov.au
1300 651 662
I have already received an ECQF scholarship. Can I apply for another scholarship?
Yes, provided you:
 Have completed the course that you were awarded a scholarship for; and
 Are applying for support to complete a higher qualification
Your application must include details of your previous scholarship, and, if not already provided, evidence
that you have completed the previous course.
I have been awarded a scholarship to complete the course from another organisation. Will this
affect my eligibility to apply for an ECQF scholarship?
If you are in receipt of a scholarship from another organisation, your eligibility for an ECQF scholarship
may be affected. However, you are still encouraged to apply for support through the ECQF. Your
application must include details of the type of funding, the funding body and value of the funding you
have received.
What other support may be available for me to complete my course?
Victorian Training Guarantee
The Victorian Training Guarantee makes vocational education and training more accessible to people
who do not hold a post-school qualification, or who want to gain a higher level qualification than they
already hold. For more information, see:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/training/learners/vet/pages/funding.aspx
FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP and VET FEE-HELP is available for students who do not receive any assistance from the
Australian government to pay tuition fees. For more information, see:
https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Studying-and-student-debt/In-detail/HELP/OS-HELP,-FEE-HELP-andVET-FEE-HELP---tax-deductibility/
HECS-HELP benefit for early childhood education teachers
This provides assistance to people who have completed an early childhood teaching course and have a
HECS-HELP debt by reducing the compulsory HELP repayment.
For more information, see https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Studying-and-student-debt/In-detail/HECSHELP-benefit/HECS-HELP-benefit-for-early-childhood-education-teachers/
University/TAFE Scholarships
Many universities offer access and equity scholarships to students at both the higher education and VET
level.
Visit your university or TAFE website for more information.
If my application is successful, what do I have to do?
If your application is successful, you will be required to:






Enter into a formal Agreement with the Department.
Remain enrolled in the course until successful completion.
By 1 May each year, provide evidence that you are enrolled in the course.
Provide evidence of successful course completion (ie: your final academic transcript).
Within 6 months of completing your course, work for a minimum period of time in a Victorian licensed
children’s or approved education and care service. This minimum period of time and the work that
you do depends on your qualification type (refer to the table below).
Inform the Department if you cease studying or working for any reason.
Need More Information
Refer to
Email:
Call
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/fund.aspx
early.years.workforce@edumail.vic.gov.au
1300 651 662
If I am successful, how long do I have to find a job after I have completed the course?
Once you have completed your course, you will be given a maximum of 6 months to secure employment
in a licensed children’s or approved education and care service.
If I am successful, what will I receive and how long will I be required to work after completing my
course?
The table below outlines the maximum amount of support available for each approved qualification type
and the minimum period of time a scholarship recipient is required to work in a Victo rian licensed
children’s or approved education and care service after successful completion of their course.
Qualification
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education
and Care
Certificate IV in School Age Education and
Care
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and
Care
Diploma of School Age Education and
Care
Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services
4th Year of Early Childhood Teaching
Degree
Support
Available
Scholarship
(up to $1,000)
Scholarship
(up to $1,000)
Scholarship
(up to $3,000)
Scholarship
(up to $3,000)
Scholarship
(up to $3,000)
Early Childhood Teaching Degree
Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood
Education
Scholarship
(up to $3,000)
Scholarship
(up to $9,000)
Scholarship
(up to $6,000)
Postgraduate Qualification
Scholarship
(up to $6,000)
Length of time
required to work
following successful
completion of the
course
Position to work in
following successful
completion of the course
1 year
 Early childhood educator
1 year
 Outside school hours
care educator
18 months
 Early childhood educator
18 months
18 months
18 months
2 years
2 years
2 years
 Service manager /
Coordinator
 Early Childhood Teacher
 Pedagogical leader (for
example, children’s
services manager in
kindergarten cluster or
local government
council)
 Early childhood teacher
 Pedagogical leader (for
example, children’s
services manager in
kindergarten cluster or
local government
council)
If I am successful, what position am I expected to secure once I have completed the course ?
The work that you do after you have completed the course depends on your qualification type. The
table above outlines the position you are expected to secure following completion of the course.
If I am successful, will I have to pay tax on my scholarship payment?
Scholarship payments are characterised as taxable income and it is likely that tax will be withh eld on the
scholarship payment.
If I am successful, when will I receive the scholarship payment?
The scholarship payment will be made to you after you sign the formal agreement with the Department
and send it back for processing.
Need More Information
Refer to
Email:
Call
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/fund.aspx
early.years.workforce@edumail.vic.gov.au
1300 651 662
If I am successful, how will I receive the scholarship payment?
Scholarships will be paid directly into your nominated bank account in a single lump sum.
Can I defer my studies?
If you defer your studies before commencing your course, the offer of support will be withdrawn and no
payment will be made. To be considered for support in the future, you must reapply.
Can I take a leave of absence from my studies or work obligations?
You must advise the Department of any break in your studies or meeting your work obligations. If you
take a leave of absence during the course of your study, you must notify the Department in writing. The
Department will consider the circumstances and advise you if this will affect your support.
What happens if I fail my course?
If you fail to maintain satisfactory progress, support may be terminated. The Department may require you
to repay some or all of the scholarship payment made to you.
What if I don’t complete my course?
You must notify the Department immediately if you withdraw from your course. The Department will
consider the circumstances and advise you if this will affect your support. The Department may require
you to repay some or all of the scholarship payment made to you.
Need More Information
Refer to
Email:
Call
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/careers/Pages/fund.aspx
early.years.workforce@edumail.vic.gov.au
1300 651 662