- Two new initiatives will be trialled to encourage permanent staff members to work in regional schools
- Eligible metropolitan teachers and aspiring school leaders can take up a three-year appointment at nominated regional schools with a right of return to their substantive position
- The trials were developed following recent enterprise bargaining negotiations
The Cook Labor Government has announced the trial of two new initiatives to encourage metropolitan-based teachers and some school administrators to work in regional schools across Western Australia.
The workforce mobility trials are available to permanent metropolitan teachers and aspiring school leaders, allowing them to take up a position in a nominated regional school, while maintaining a right to return to their city-based role.
The first initiative - Growing our leaders in regional schools - will enable teachers and some school administrators who aspire to be a principal to be appointed to a principal position in a nominated regional school for three years and retain their substantive position in their metropolitan school. This flexibility will only be applied when no suitable applicant can be found in a recent permanent selection process.
Attracting experience to our regional schools - the second initiative,will support permanent teachers from metropolitan schools to be appointed to a nominated regional school for three years while retaining their substantive position in their metropolitan school.
Under the recently signed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, public school teachers and leaders will receive a 12 per cent pay rise over three years and will benefit from a number of initiatives to address workload issues, enhance career pathways, and attract more quality teachers to regional and remote areas.
The Department of Education continues to work with the State School Teachers' Union of Western Australia and Principals' Federation of Western Australia to implement these initiatives.
Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"This is a great opportunity for teachers and school staff to experience living in our wonderful regional cities and towns and we expect some will make the switch permanently.
"Our Government's draft Regional Education Strategy outlined our commitment to building on the regional workforce by attracting high quality educators and school leaders to the regions.
"Knowing their position will be held in their metropolitan school, teachers and aspiring leaders will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a regional school, while also sharing their knowledge and expertise.
"These trials have been developed in partnership with the State School Teacher's Union of Western Australia and the Principal's Federation of Western Australia."
