The search for the next generation of Catholic educators has begun, with Sydney Catholic Schools opening applications for its 2026 Teacher Scholarship Programs.

Eligible Year 12 students can now apply for one of two pathways into a rewarding career in Catholic education, with up to $22,000 in financial support, dedicated mentoring, and hands-on classroom experience while they study.

Hanna Saliba knows first-hand what a difference it can make. Now in his second year of a Bachelor of Education at ACU Strathfield, the Aquinas Catholic College Menai graduate is studying to become a Secondary teacher.

He says the Future Teacher Scholarship has shaped his university experience in ways he didn’t anticipate.

“I’ve made heaps of friends from it. A lot of the friends I hang out with at uni are the ones I met from the scholarship,” he says.

“That support and connections has even taken me back to Aquinas Menai where I now work as a Learning Support Officer. 

Hanna says the placement and the pathway support provided by the scholarship has given him the hands-on experience needed to propel his career.

“As much as we’re in schools to teach kids what’s in the curriculum, we also have to develop them as a whole person, to prepare them for the real world. Whether that’s trying their best or respecting others, having that faith behind you brings a lot of purpose into it.”

Jo Thompson, Teacher Development and Pathways Specialist at SCS, says the scholarship is designed to develop educators who are equipped not just professionally, but personally.

“The financial support alleviates pressures for our candidates, so they can focus on learning during this critical period. But it’s the mentoring and structured guidance that truly make the difference. …