Regional Professional Experience Grant - Semester 2 2025

The Grant

The grant is to assist with placement-related expenses* (i.e., transport, accommodation, meals, incidentals) for eligible placements in term 3 (14 July to 19 September) or term 4 (7 October to 12 December), of the 2025 state school calendar:

• $2,250 - minimum consecutive 15 days
• $3,000 - 20 days
• $3,200 - 25-35 days
• $3,400 - 40+ days

*Please keep receipts and seek financial advice regarding potential implications for tax/income/benefits. If you are a current employee of the department, your grant will be taxed.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be:

• enrolled in your 3rd/4th year of an undergraduate or 1st/2nd year of a postgraduate accredited initial teacher educationprogram (teaching degree) 
• hold a QLD Working with Children Blue Card
• are a person who resides in Australia and has permission under a Commonwealth Law, to study in Australia.

The placement must be undertaken in a QLD state school that has a transfer rating between TR2-3 and is located:

• at least 2 hours (each way) from where you currently live to the state school, and
• within Central QLD, Darling Downs-South West, Far North QLD, North QLD and select schools in the North Coast and Metro South.

Eligible state schools are highlighted blue or orange in the maps below. Private and Independent schools are not eligible for the grant.

If you're on a PTT, you may be eligible if the eligibility criteria (above) are met.

How to apply

Step 1. Organise your placement

1. Select a state school for the placement ensuring it meets the eligibility criteria (above).
2. Organise the placement with the university.

Step 2. Apply for the grant

When the placement is confirmed in Sonia Online or InPlace, apply for the grant using the ‘Apply Online' button below create an account if needed) and:

• in the ‘upload resume or other documents' section, upload your current unofficial academic transcript/enrolment, blue card, placement confirmation, resume, and placement reports; and
• respond to all the questions in the online questionnaire.

Incomplete applications or applications submitted less than 6 weeks before the placement start date may result in receiving the grant while on placement. If you have trouble uploading your documents, email them to scholarships@qed.qld.gov.au

Selection process

You'll be advised of the outcome within 6 weeks (possibly longer during peak times) of applying for the grant to seek further information or to provide an offer. Regularly check your emails including the bin/junk/spam/trash folders for updates.

Payment of the grant

Payment can take up to 4 weeks and is initiated upon receipt of the relevant documents. Payment will be provided in a lump sum via EFT or with your fortnightly pay if you're an employee of the department (*your grant will be taxed).

• A condition for payment is to notify the Department of any changes to the approved placement particulars. Please keep the receipts for placement-related expenses and seek financial advice (i.e., an advisor, ATO and/or Centrelink) regarding potential implications to income and/or benefits received/to be paid.