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Sydney Catholic Schools

A clear path into the classroom: ITE Scholarship applications open

A rewarding career in teaching starts with the right support.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Excellence in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Scholarship, offering outstanding aspiring teachers financial assistance, personalised mentoring and a pathway into a Sydney Catholic Schools classroom.

Kai Straub and Sienna Rossi both completed the scholarship and now teach at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Primary School, Mt Pritchard.

In addition to receiving a financial benefit of $5,000 per year for the final two years of their degree, they received personalised mentoring by experienced teachers and opportunities to connect with fellow scholarship recipients and educators across Sydney Catholic Schools.

That support gave them the confidence to transition from university into their own classrooms.

For Kai, having a knowledgeable and skilled mentor on site made the shift from student to full-time teacher far less daunting.

“It’s been really cool to have a mentor here because they know what the experience is like and they know what the parents are like,” he says. “Just to have someone on site, someone to go to, has been really beneficial.”

Working as a Learning Support Officer at the same school where he now teaches gave Kai a head start most graduates don’t get: he was already familiar with the students, staff and school community before he stepped into his own classroom.

Balancing that part-time role with university and professional placements was demanding, but it taught him the organisation and resilience that now underpin his teaching. 

“It was challenging. I was working part time while also studying, so it was really about being organised,” he says. “I think that kind of built me up for what …

August 18, 2026|
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Future teachers start here: Applications open for SCS Teacher Scholarships

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. …

May 4, 2026|
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2026 CEF Teaching Scholarship recipients welcomed into SCS community

Sydney Catholic Schools has announced the 2026 recipients of the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) Teaching Scholarship, with record application numbers highlighting strong interest in teaching within Catholic schools.

Following a competitive selection process, 16 students were awarded scholarships for 2026, recognised for their academic potential, commitment to Catholic service, and passion for teaching.

For 2026 recipient Angelina Odisho, an 18-year-old former student of Freeman Catholic College Bonnyrigg Heights, receiving the scholarship represents both reassurance and opportunity as she begins her university journey.

“I am immensely grateful to have received the CEF Teaching Scholarship for 2026, as it allows me to gain a head start on my career in education knowing that I am supported not only financially, but also holistically throughout my journey to becoming an educator,” she said.

CEF Supervisor Kathleen Badolato said early support, mentoring and belonging underscores the important role the scholarship plays in forming confident, values-led educators.

“For these students, receiving this scholarship signifies an entry into a lifelong ecosystem of support. It provides them with a rare bridge between their academic studies and their professional vocation, allowing them to deepen their faith journey within the Sydney Catholic Schools community even as they master their craft at a Catholic university,” she said.

Angelina echoed the importance of this support network, noting that the scholarship eases the pressures often associated with university life.

“Through extensive mentorship and opportunities for employment whilst studying, the scholarship not only eases the pressures often associated with university life, but it reminds me that education is a shared mission, and that I am supported by a community that believes in the transformative power of teaching,” she said.

Michaela Zizovski, a 21-year-old former student of Good Samaritan Catholic College Hinchinbrook, said the program has played a key role in preparing her for the classroom and securing a full-time teaching position.

She …

February 9, 2026|
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