Support Staff

Previous Examples | Ideas for Scholarships

ECE / Support Staff Scholarships

The 2011 Early Childhood Education and Support Staff Scholarships are now closed. Information on the Early Childhood and Support Staff Scholarships 2012 follows, applications are open from 1 January 2012:

General Information and Guidelines for Applying

General Questions
Application Process
Scholarship Timeline

1. General Questions

Who is eligible for a NZEI Te Riu Roa Scholarship?
You are eligible if you are a teacher in an early childhood centre; or a support staff worker employed by an early childhood service, primary, area or secondary school, and you are an NZEI Te Riu Roa member.

What is the purpose of the scholarships?

To allow individual members, team application, cluster members to advance their professional interests while providing a wider contribution to NZEI Te Riu Roa objectives. (You can put in a joint application as a school, centre or working party. The scholarship amount is $5,000 regardless of how many participants are involved).
To advance the cause of education generally, respect the professional status and individual rights of members, and honour te Tiriti o Waitangi.

What can I use a scholarship for?

To carry out a research project in an area that interests you and/or will be of benefit to your school or centre and the wider membership.
To complete a relevant qualification.
To attend an international or national professional conference.

Previous Scholarship Recipients
Ideas for Scholarships

Completion date
The project is to be undertaken and completed during the 2013 academic year. A Milestone Report is due in June 2013 briefly outlining how your project is progressing. A Final Report is due in December 2013 outlining your project findings and outcomes.

Selection criteria

To foster and contribute greater understanding of sector issues and the
impact within education.
Give life to the Treaty of Waitangi.
It is expected that you will:

       - share findings and experience with members
       - what involvement have you had within your
          branch, aronui tōmua, or area council

Worksite, networks and clusters.

2. Application Process

The application process has two phases.

Phase One Application - Expressions of Interest

This is a brief outline of what your project is about and what you hope to achieve. You must complete the application form and email or post your application. Handwritten applications will not be accepted.

Expression of Interest (word)

The final date to submit expressions of interest is Friday 11 May 2012.

Email application to geraldine.ryan@nzei.org.nz, or post to Geraldine Ryan, NZEI Te Riu Roa, PO Box 466, Wellington 6011.

What happens once I've submitted my expression of interest?

The selection panel selects a shortlist from the applicants received and invites a number to submit a full phase two application.

Phase Two Application - being invited to make a full application

After the selection panel has made its decision on the phase one applications, all applicants will be notified in writing of their decision. If your expression of interest has been selected by the panel to progress to phase two, you will be invited to submit a full application. A full application outlines your project fully and provides detailed information on your project.

Applicants who progress to phase two will be sent a phase two application form.
Applicants are advised to seek a mentor/colleague for guidance in developing the formal application and ensuring that it is professional and explains what you hope to achieve.
Your completed Phase Two application must be posted to NZEI Te Riu Roa to arrive no later than the deadline of 5pm, Friday 20 July, 2012.
NZEI Te Riu Roa will only accept applications which use the official application form and are typed. (No handwritten applications will be accepted.)

Phase Two Application (word)

3. Scholarship Timeline

Phase One: Expression of Interest

5pm, Friday 11 May, 2012
Closing date for Expressions of Interest.

Early June 2012
Successful applicants now invited to submit a Full Application. Unsuccessful applicants advised.

Phase Two: Full Application

5pm, Friday 20 July, 2012
Closing date for Full Applications.

Mid August 2012
Successful and unsuccessful applicants advised

September 2012
Scholarship recipients announced at NZEI Te Riu Roa Annual Meeting.

Late 2012
Recipients presented with Scholarship Certificate and Monies by their Area Council/Branch.

June 2013
Milestone Report due.

December 2013
Final Report due.

NZEI provides two $5000 scholarships every year for support staff members and two for ECE members. These scholarships provide a great opportunity to further your career.

Begin planning for your 2012 application.

Discuss your ideas with a colleague. Consider what your project idea might be and why you think you should be awarded a NZEI Scholarship. Consider how the $5,000 scholarship money will be spent.