The Public Education Foundation’s Teachers Mutual Bank Victorian Mid-Career Scholarship supports public school teachers in Victoria who have been teaching for between five and fifteen years.  The scholarship provides $10,000 to spend on approved professional development / professional learning.  The scholarship may be spent on a single professional development course, including approved overseas courses with travel, or on a set of professional learning activities.

Teachers Mutual Bank – the only dedicated bank in Australia for employees of the education sector

Teachers Mutual Bank (TMB) came to life in 1966 when a group passionate teachers, with the shared vision to give educators and their families’ better financial options, held their first meeting as a credit union. Over 50 years on TMB has grown to one of the largest mutual banks in the country with over 200,000 members and $8 billion in assets. However, one thing has remained constant, the Bank’s commitment to supporting its members and creating opportunities for teachers and the education community to flourish.

TMB lead by example: they are committed to being a responsible business and believe it is the way business should be run, driven by ethics. Profit has a purpose and is reinvested into programs and scholarships for the teachers of today, and tomorrow.

Before applying for this scholarship, please ensure that you read the scholarship terms and conditions available on our website at https://www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au/scholarship- awards-terms/

BASIC ELIGIBILITY

  • Be a current teacher in a government school in Victoria with between five and fifteen years teaching experience (i.e. having commenced teaching no later than September 2017 and no earlier than September 2007);
  • Be committed to continue in the government school system for at least another five years;
  • Be available to share your learnings and act as an Ambassador for the Public Education Foundation and Teachers Mutual Bank (if applicable) after the professional development experience;
  • Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Evidence of significant achievement as a classroom teacher;
  • Commitment to the values of public education;
  • Capability for leadership into the future;
  • Evidence of a candidate’s enthusiasm for furthering their own professional development and education;
  • A clearly articulated demonstration of the need for the requested professional development, and their expected outcome from those;
  • How the knowledge will be implemented in the classroom and shared with colleagues within their school;
  • Other personal qualities and personal circumstances that would enhance the candidate’s suitability for a Teachers Mutual Bank Victorian Mid-Career Scholarship.

SELECTION PROCESS

A selection panel will review all scholarship applications and assess them against the selection criteria. The selection panel will include representatives of the Public Education Foundation, Teachers Mutual Bank and independent experts. After considering all applications, the selection panel will recommend the selected applicant for the approval of the Public Education Foundation’s Board. The selection panel reserves the right to ask shortlisted applicants to participate in an interview.

APPLICATION FORM AND ATTACHMENTS

To apply for the Teachers Mutual Bank Victorian Mid-Career Scholarship, applicants can access the link to the online portal via the Foundation’s website – http://www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au/scholarships

Please note that all applications are now received via the Foundation’s online portal.

Prior to starting your application, you should compile the following information ready to submit:

  • Applicant details including:
    • full name
    • phone number
    • address
    • email
  • Residence status
  • Month and year you commenced teaching
  • School details:
    • name of school
    • address
    • principal name
    • email
    • total enrolment
    • student attendance rate
    • % of Indigenous students
    • % of EALD students
    • % of students with special needs
  • Please also outline your plan for professional development including:
    • Short description of requested course/s (must be AFTER May 2023 **) including anticipated costs (including any travel costs associated with the study – maximum 300 words)
    • Your plan for professional development and expected outcomes for yourself (maximum 300 words)
    • Your plan for sharing your knowledge with colleagues and implementing your knowledge in the classroom (Maximum 200 words) Please note – it is not the intention of this scholarship to be shared by colleagues in regards to participation in the actual specified professional development. Sharing of knowledge with colleagues is expected to occur after the successful recipient has undertaken their learning study or PD. 
  • A personal statement about yourself, your commitment to teaching and public education and how the course (and scholarship) will contribute to the plans and goals for yourself and your school (Maximum 400 words)
  • A brief statement on what you have achieved so far as an educator (Maximum 300 words)
  • A reference from your Principal confirming their commitment to supporting your study and releasing you from teaching if necessary to undertake the study (PDF or Word format, maximum 400 words). This reference should ideally be provided on letterhead.  AT A MINIMUM references must include the referees name, title and be signed and dated

Note for Principals: Please be aware that your reference is a critical component of the application form and your feedback is given considerable weight in the process of panel deliberations.  The panels are looking for feedback that goes well beyond simple confirmation that the teacher is employed at your school, and should include what you believe the applicants’ potential is as a teacher and future leader.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

Once you have finalised your application and all elements are complete (including references as required) you can submit it for review.

Applications must be submitted by 11.59pm on Tuesday 14th February 2023.

Please note that if you are selected as the successful recipient of this scholarship you will be required to submit a detailed proposal of your intended study, with associated expenditure, for approval prior to the funds being made available to you. Funding will be made available from late May 2023** – your requested course/s must take place after this date.

Please also note that any professional development must be completed within three years of being awarded the scholarship (by mid-2026).  {This may be reviewed in extenuating circumstances}.

On completion of your course (or each course, should you be undertaking more than one course as part of your scholarship), you are also required to provide an update to the Public Education Foundation and Teachers Mutual Bank telling us about your course/s and explaining how you feel you have benefited from your professional development and the scholarship.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Call the Public Education Foundation on 02 7814 2806 or email us at info@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.

We also encourage you to visit our website to learn more about the Foundation and the work that we do – www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au

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