HECS-HELP benefit for early childhood education teachers

What's new

On 1 December 2011, the Australian Government announced the expansion of the HECS-HELP benefit for early childhood education teachers. The expanded benefit will mean:

• an increase in the number of eligible postcode locations in rural and remote areas including regional cities. This will allow more early childhood education teachers working in areas of high need to apply for the benefit
• the removal of the current requirement for teachers to spend 50% of their working week teaching. This means qualified early childhood education teachers will be able to claim the HECS-HELP benefit as long as they spend some of their employed time providing any of the following
• education or childcare services to those children who have yet to commence formal schooling
• pedagogical support to staff who teach those children.

The expanded benefit may be claimed from 1 July 2012 for the 2011-12 income year.