Collette Tayler Indigenous Education Scholarship

Indigenous Australians taking the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) and (Early Childhood and Primary) in 2024 are strongly encouraged to apply for this scholarship. Research students may also be considered. The purpose of this scholarship is to support students in endeavours that promote excellent teaching of young Indigenous children, educational leadership and close collaboration with Indigenous leaders and communities. Advancing reconciliation, building understanding, and promoting the wellbeing of young Indigenous Australians is an overarching driver of this scholarship. 

Applications open

1 Oct 2023

Applications closed

15 Jan 2024

Application type

Application required
How to apply

Benefit type

General allowance
Full benefit details

Citizenship requirements

Australian / domestic student

Total value

up to $20,000

Applicable study areas

Education, teaching and training

Number of scholarships awarded

Approximately 2

  • Cristina Guarrella, Student, Doctor of Philosophy (Education)
    "Scholarship funding has also enabled me to present initial research findings from my PhD at national and international conferences. Exchanging ideas and receiving feedback on my work has allowed me to explore and apply new perspectives to my PhD research. It has also allowed me to establish myself within early childhood science education research networks."
    Read Cristina's story
  • Eligibility & selection criteria

    Eligibility

    To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

      1. be an Indigenous Australian* who is enrolled, or intends to enrol, in the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) or (Early Childhood and Primary) - first or second year; OR
      2. be undertaking research involving Indigenous young children and families in the field of early childhood education at the University of Melbourne.  In this case the person undertaking the research may be Indigenous or non Indigenous, and from any faculty or graduate school at the University of Melbourne.
      Preference will be given to candidates who meet eligibility 1 and are female students.
      *Australian citizen of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. The status of Indigenous Australians must be confirmed by Murrup Barak Melbourne's Institute for Indigenous Development.

    Selection criteria

    • Eligible applicants are ranked based on their potential contribution to Indigenous Early Childhood Education
    • Preference will be given to students commencing the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) or (Early Childhood and Primary), and female applicants
  • Application process
    • Submit an online application.  The application form will be available when the scholarship opens.
    • Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an interview and/or referees contacted.
    • For any questions regarding this scholarship please submit an enquiry here.
  • When will I know the outcome?

    The offer will be made by January at the latest.

  • About the donor

    Professor Collette Tayler

    Professor Emeritus Collette Tayler held the Chair in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) at the University of Melbourne. She completed a PhD in Education at the University of Western Australia; a Bachelor of Education at Edith Cowan University; a Diploma of Teaching at Mount Lawley College of Advanced Education, Perth; and a Teacher's Certificate (Primary) at Kelvin Grove Teachers College, Brisbane. After graduating as a teacher in 1969, Collette worked in different parts of Australia and overseas, consistently focusing on effective teaching, and young children's learning and development.

    Professor Tayler passed away on Friday 1 December 2017, surrounded by family.

    Professor Tayler was raised with her four siblings on a farm outside Beaudesert, Queensland. She attended a Brisbane boarding school to complete secondary education and then studied to become a teacher. She married Allan Tayler, an engineer, and they lived in different parts of Australia, raising two children to appreciate the importance of learning, respect for the natural environment and appreciation of human ingenuity.

    A love of nature and realisation of the importance of education for life enabled Professor Tayler to develop a range of interests and skills that ensured economic independence, and work experiences in Australia and abroad. Over her lifetime, her respect for Indigenous women and elders grew as she observed their knowledge of environment, community orientation, and generosity toward fellow Australians, despite experiencing significant political and economic disadvantage.

    Professor Tayler was a trusted advisor to the Department of Education and Training. Her expertise was sought through several projects, including the recent revision of the Victorian Early Learning and Development Framework and the Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan: Ready for Kinder, Ready for School, Ready for life.

    Professor Tayler had a strong interest and commitment toward working with Indigenous communities to promote child and family learning, development and wellbeing. As an early childhood educator and researcher, her work addressed studies involving pre-birth to eight-year-old children and families. She led numerous research and development projects which addressed home, centre and school-based learning environments in culturally and linguistically diverse urban, regional and remote communities.

    Some of Professor Tayler's more notable achievements include co-authoring the OECD Thematic Report on Early Childhood Education and Care across 20 countries,  Starting Strong II: Early Childhood Education and Care (2006). This report influenced the direction of early childhood education and care reform in Australia from 2007-2016. She also led the E4Kids longitudinal study tracking the learning experiences of 2600 Australian 3 to 8-year-olds as they encountered different home, education and care programs, including school education. This study revealed the important influence of teaching to raise children's achievement outcomes, and the problem that many young children do not encounter high-quality early education programs that make a difference to later achievement and wellbeing.

    In 2017, the University of Melbourne awarded Professor Tayler the title of Emeritus Professor in recognition of her career, and particularly during the last 10 years at the University of Melbourne as the Chair of Early Childhood and Care. Professor Taylers research has been disseminated extensively in important international journals and to the profession and will continue to have significant impact.

    Through this gift, Professor Tayler wished to further recognise Indigenous Australians, and to support students in endeavours that promote excellent teaching of young Indigenous children, educational leadership and close collaboration with Indigenous leaders and/or communities, It is hoped that the gift can assist eligible students to research and develop educational experiences for young Indigenous children and their families. Advancing reconciliation, building understanding, and promoting the wellbeing of young Indigenous Australians is an overarching idea behind this gift.

    The University of Melbourne produced a tribute video for Professor Tayler.

    Read more about Professor Collette Tayler

What are the benefits?

Up to $12,000 in total. Recipients will receive up to $6,000 per year over the two-year duration of their course.

Legal (PDF)

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.