In classrooms from Ceduna to Clare, more than 60 university students will gain firsthand teaching experience across regional South Australia in 2024 after being awarded a State Government scholarship.

The scholarship program, now in its second year, aims to encourage pre-service teachers to explore opportunities to work in the country.

Selected from more than 160 applicants, the scholarship recipients will receive financial support for accommodation and living expenses during their placement, along with travel to and from their placement site.

The pre-service teachers will get the chance to experience the benefits of teaching in the country, while also gaining high-quality professional learning and creating community connections.

The 61 recipients, all studying teaching at Flinders University, Tabor, The University of Adelaide, UniSA and Charles Darwin University are scheduled to do their placements in terms 2 and 3, 2024.

The program is among a range of actions detailed in the Department for Education’s Country Education Strategy, which was launched in 2021.

The Country Education Strategy is focused on supporting the recruitment and retention of teachers to regional South Australia. Other programs are aimed at teacher development and employment.