Guidance Counsellor Training Study Award

Overview

The study award includes:

• time off for part-time study for up to 4 years or full-time study for 2 years.
• core compulsory tuition fees.
• you continue to receive your normal salary from school while on study leave.
• a contribution towards course-related professional supervision costs.
• a contribution towards travel or relocation costs, subject to meeting the travel eligibility criteria. 

Leave

• The amount of leave awarded is based on the length of your course. If your application is successful, we will confirm the course dates with your tertiary provider.
• You need to check with your principal to see whether any fixed-term units and allowances will be paid while you are on leave.
• The study award funds relief costs to your school for the duration of leave.

Travel or relocation assistance

• To be eligible for assistance with travel or relocation, you must be travelling more than 100km return between your usual workplace and your study centre.
• You can claim a maximum of NZD$2000 per year if you are studying on the same island as your current school, or NZD$3500 per year if you are studying on the other island.  
• Travel or relocation assistance will be paid in 2 instalments: the first in March and the second in July.
• If you do not complete your study award, you may be required to repay travel or relocation contributions. 

To apply for a Guidance Counsellor Training Study Award, you must:

• be working in a state or state-integrated secondary school.
• meet the requirements to apply to study a Master of Counselling   at an approved tertiary institute (see the Education Workforce website for a list of the approved qualifications under this award. Please refer to the guidance for entry requirements).
• not previously been awarded a Guidance Counsellor Training Study Award.
• provide support from your principal and school board or employer.
• be employed by a school for the term of the award if you are on a fixed-term contract or are a long-term relieving counsellor or teacher.

If you are on a fixed-term contract or are a long-term relieving counsellor or teacher, you may still apply for a study award, as long as you are employed by a school during the term of the award.