Teacher Scholarship Program

CSPD Year 12 students who have graduated in 2025 and will commence a full-time teaching degree at any Australian university in 2026 can apply via the application form to be considered for the program.

Applicants will be required to submit an application that includes:

• their resume
• nomination of one professional reference from their school (e.g. Principal)
• ATAR results.

The 2026 application form can be found here.

As part of the application process:

• Applicants will be asked to provide a professional reference (e.g. their Principal).
• The CSPD Early Talent Team will contact the nominated referee directly to verify and confirm applications and eligibility at the start of the 2026 school year.
• Students are not required to contact the school/principal for a reference (which is different to previous years).

Applications for the 2026 scholarship program close on Monday, 26 January 2026. Following the review of applications, confirmations and eligibility will be shared with students when schools resume in 2026. Conditional offers are dependent on the student receiving formal acceptance into a recognised Teaching degree at an Australian university. Some applicants may also be placed on a waitlist.

30 scholarships will be awarded in 2026, with preference given to students who will specialise in the following teaching areas:

• Technological and Applied Studies (TAS)
• Religious Education (RE)
• Mathematics
• Science

The CSPD Early Talent team will undertake a selection process to confirm placements in the program. The selection criteria includes:

• Intent to study RE Accreditation for Primary teaching / Catholic teaching requirements for Primary Education
• School Recommendation from a Year Level Coordinator, Principal, Assistant Principal or a Religious Education Coordinator
• ATAR ranking
• Commitment to ongoing employment with CSPD after completion of their degree

Yes. CSPD is committed to providing equitable opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and identified places in the program are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

This commitment is outlined in the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). These identified scholarships will meet deliverables outlined in our RAP as well as Closing the Gap Targets 6 & 7.

It is a requirement that Primary classroom teachers teach Religious Education in their classes as an integral part of the curriculum. As contained in CSPD’s Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy, Teachers of Religious Education should be Catholic with a strong commitment to the Catholic ethos, and the Vision and Mission of the Catholic school. It is expected that all teachers of Religious Education are Catholics who display a demonstrable commitment to the teachings of the Catholic Church in the areas of faith and morals.

Although some secondary teachers may not be directly involved in teaching Religious Education, all teachers are required to promote a Catholic view of the human person and world.

As such, selection decisions may be determined by a student’s Catholicism.