Regional Professional Experience Grant - Semester 2 2026

The grant is to assist with placement-related expenses* (i.e., transport, accommodation, meals, incidentals) for eligible placements in term Semester 2 2026 (13 July to 11 December)

• $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 education program (teaching degree)
• hold a valid 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 listed in the document attached 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
2. Organise the placement with the university
3. Ensure all required documents are ready before applying

Step 2. Apply for the grant

Once your placement is confirmed in Sonia Online or InPlace:

1. Click the ‘Apply Online' button below (create an account if needed)
2. Upload the required documents listed below
3. Complete all the questions in the online questionnaire

Required documents

You must upload all of the following documents. Please refer to the document checklist (PDF) for detailed information

• Confirmation of your professional experience placement school, placement dates and travel distance.
• Confirmation of enrolment in an Initial Teacher Education program
• Current academic transcript
• Previous placement reports
• Valid blue card
• Short resume/curriculum vitae

Important information

• Do not submit your application until all required documentation is ready
• Applications missing essential documents cannot proceed to verification and will remain pending until complete, which may result in significant delays
• Incomplete applications or applications submitted less than 6 weeks before the placement start date may result receiving the grant while on placement
• We encourage you to apply early, check your emails regularly, and submit all required documentation promptly to allow sufficient processing time

Selection process

Please monitor your email regularly, including your junk, spam, trash, and deleted folders, as we may contact you to request additional information needed to progress your application. Delays in responding may delay the assessment of your application.

Once your application is complete and all required documentation has been received, you'll be advised of the outcome within approximately 10 weeks (please allow longer during peak periods).

Payment of the grant

Please read the conditions of the grant that is listed below before applying. Payment can take up to 4 weeks and is initiated upon receipt and verification of all required documents. Payment will be provided in a lump sum via EFT or with your fortnightly pay if you're an employee of the department. You are required 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. If you're an employee of the Department of Education during your placement, the grant will be provided to you with your fortnightly pay and will be taxed as per the ATO requirements.