That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the federal government for funding to be sought to further encourage and incentivise experienced teachers to take up contract and long term rural, regional and remote positions.
Students from rural, regional, and remote areas are facing disruptions to their education due to teacher shortages. Teacher retention in rural areas is low and even in those schools where teachers are committed long term their workload is far greater than the metropolitan counterparts due to the lack of colleagues, relief teachers and/ or support staff.
It is not uncommon for small schools to have only two classroom teachers across all year levels and minimal funding for additional support staff such as EAs or Library Technicians. When one teacher is away from the classroom the other teacher must take the whole school and/or EAs are being asked to step in and take classes. In some cases teachers are being called in without completing their training which effects the students and teacher alike.
The states all have varying incentives to encourage teachers to rural schools however it has been our experience that these incentives are not always well advertised and targeted at graduates and not experienced teachers. As well as federal funding we suggest the federal government run an advertising campaign to get teachers into the bush pitched at experienced teachers and their families.
Additional Incentives to those already on offer could include.
• Financial incentives for short term or contract work in the regions.
• Increased childcare rebates for teachers with young families wanting to take up rural positions.
• Clear potential for permanency.
• Increased potential for permanency in the city after completing a set amount of time in a rural, regional or remote schools
