The Public Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing life-changing scholarships to young people in public education and enhancing the value and reputation of public schools.
The Foundation works in collaboration with schools, communities, unions, business and government to help students achieve their full potential and support teaching and learning excellence in the public education system.
The following three scholarships have had their application closing dates extended and may be of interest to new teachers, in addition to refugee or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Teachers Health Early Career Scholarship
The Public Education Foundation’s Teachers Health Early Career Scholarship supports eligible public school teachers in the first three years of their career. The scholarship provides $12,000 to spend on approved professional development and learning. The scholarship may be spent on a single professional development course or on a set of professional learning activities.
- Applications close: 9am Monday 27 October 2025
- More information: 2026 THEC Scholarship Information Kit.pdf
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association Scholarship
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association scholarships seek to support motivated Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or refugee students with demonstrated merit and who are facing hardship to realise their career goals in studying nursing or midwifery through a public university or TAFE in NSW.
The scholarships provide financial assistance to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and refugee students in year 12 in a public high school in NSW who intend to complete an NMBA-approved nursing or midwifery course after finishing their Higher School Certificate in 2025.
- Up to five scholarships are available to eligible applicants
- Applications close: 9am Monday 27 October 2025
- More information: 2026 NSWNMA Scholarship Information Kit.pdf
Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship at AFTRS
The Public Education Foundation’s Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship at AFTRS is for individuals with a refugee background who intend to study film or television studies at a tertiary level in 2026. This scholarship is for study at the prestigious Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).
- Applicants who have not applied for the AFTRS Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course by Wednesday, 8 October 2025 will not be considered for this scholarship
- Applications close: 5pm Tuesday 28 October 2025
- More information: 2026 UNHCR AFTRS Scholarship Information Kit.pdf