FED E BITE
Federation University Undergraduate Employment Based Initial Teacher Education (FED E BITE)
Upgrade from an Education Support staff member to a teacher in 4.5 years.
Study a Bachelor of Secondary Education
Conducted in partnership with the Victorian Department of Education (DE), this innovative program will deliver an Initial Teacher Education degree to Education Support (ES) staff who wish to become part of the teaching profession.
The aim of the program is to develop new teachers from existing Education Support staff who are currently working in Victorian government secondary or specialist schools.
In the pilot program this year, which is being delivered in Horsham, 28 Education Support staff are currently undertaking the first stage of the study to become teachers through the Bachelor of Education Studies pathway program. Participants then go on to complete a Bachelor of Secondary Education or a Bachelor of Secondary Education (Inclusive and Special Education). Participants can choose a range of areas to become qualified in including Maths, Science, English, History, Humanities, Business Studies, IT, Psychology, Inclusion and Special Education.
In 2025, opportunities are available for interested Education Support staff in the Warragul and Bairnsdale areas of Gippsland, while in 2026 opportunities will be available in the Warrnambool area and in 2027, Ballarat opportunities will be offered.
Financial support for students
Students applying for Federation University’s Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) may be eligible for a Department of Education scholarship of $25,000 to complete the Bachelor’s degree over two years and/or $12,000 towards the Graduate Diploma qualification.
There is also financial support for study materials ($1,000 per student) and subsidies for regional and rural students travelling over 1.5 hours to study for one day a week.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students may be eligible for the Department of Education’s Early Childhood Aboriginal Pathway Scholarship (as alternative to Early Childhood scholarship) of $34,000 towards the undergraduate qualification and/or $16,000 towards the graduate diploma qualification.
To find out more about these scholarships, please visit Victorian Government scholarships.
How does it work?
- An accelerated part-time program enables participants to complete their teaching degrees in 4.5 years.
- Participating Education Support staff receive a $30,000 living expenses scholarship from the DE to support them during their studies.
- Participants continue to work in their Education Support roles in their employer schools while they complete their Bachelor of Education degree.
- Participants are released from their Education Support role within the school one day per week (Thursday for Warragul and Friday for Bairnsdale) to study, whilst still being paid their usual salary.
- Wraparound support is provided by Federation University to assist participants with university study skills and assessments.
- After completing their third year of study, participants then go on to work in their school under Permission to Teach (PTT) arrangements while they complete their degree.
Federation University would like to advise interested parties that applications for Warragul will close in December 2024, while applications for Bairnsdale will close in June 2025. Education. Once applications are received, they will be assessed and offers for places distributed.
Want to know more?
For further information about this initiative, please contact Dr Peter Sellings or Michelle Turner, Federation University, Institute of Education, Arts and Community via email at: