Regional professional experience

Regional professional experiences

Pre-service teachers or school psychologists interested in completing a placement in one of our rural, regional or remote schools, may be eligible for funding and additional support.

We provide pre-service teachers and school psychologists with funding and additional support when undertaking a professional experience in our Southwest, Midwest, Wheatbelt, Goldfields, Pilbara and Kimberley education regions.

The funding is to offset some of the costs associated with relocating for the period of the placement and is based on your year of study, length of placement and the location of your professional experience.

In addition to financial subsidies, participants have access to our induction program and ongoing support.

Pre-service teachers are encouraged to undertake a placement in one of our regional public schools. For more information on our schools visit Schools Online.

Before selecting a school or region, you first need to meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for funding:

  • be residing in and planning to commence your teaching career in Western Australia
  • be currently enrolled in a course leading to a graduate-level teaching qualification, or approved post-graduate school psychology qualification
  • have a course average of 60% or more.

Funding is only available to those who are in their final or penultimate year of study (their third or fourth year of a Bachelor of Education, or first or second year of a Master of Teaching).

Funding will vary and is based on the length of your placement and the education region in which you undertake your professional experience.

Secondary and primary teaching
  4 to 10 weeks placement (per week)
Education region Secondary Primary
Remote Teaching Service $350 $350*
Goldfields, Kimberley and Pilbara $350 $350
Midwest $350 $350
Wheatbelt $350 $350
Southwest $250 $150**

We will consider funding placements totalling more than 10 weeks on a case-by-case basis.

* Not available to first year Master of Teaching.
** Country Teaching Program eligible schools only.

If you are completing your professional experience in your final year of study in secondary science, mathematics and technologies teaching, you may be eligible for additional funding.

School Psychology

Funding for school psychologists is made available to those in their final 2 years of study and is based on the education region where you undertake your professional experience.

Education region  Weekly subsidy
Remote Teaching Service $350
Goldfields, Kimberley and Pilbara $350
Midwest $350
Wheatbelt $350
Southwest $250

 

Accommodation can be difficult to find, especially in our remote regions. Discuss accommodation options with your university professional experience team, or where possible, with your assigned school.

We currently have affordable shared accommodation options with our school staff in some locations. Liaise with your university professional experience team directly to register your interest.

Applications for 2023 are closed. 

  1. Before you apply, talk with your university professional experience team to organise a rural, regional, or remote public school placement.
  2. When applications are open in 2024, download and complete the Pre-service Development Program application form.
  3. Follow the submission instructions provided on the form.

We will review your application and email you regarding the outcome. If your application is successful, payment is normally processed 2 weeks before your placement commences.

If you have any questions about your application, email us at ProfessionalPrac@education.wa.edu.au.

Professional experiences in 2024

All applicants must attend an induction, as well as reflection and professional learning sessions. We will provide you with details before the events.

We will provide dates early in 2024.

We receive a high volume of applicants and are unable to support all who apply for our program. We recommend you submit your application prior to the due date.

Participation in the program does not guarantee future employment in a public school.

We review and update this information regularly to ensure the program meets the workforce needs of the Department. Where necessary, priority will be given to students completing a secondary teaching qualification.

Regional pre-service teacher support hubs

Regional pre-service teacher support hubs

In addition to our ongoing regional professional experiences, we have established specialised support networks in eight regional centres across the state. Through these we offer access to a range of additional support.

Rocky outcrops framing clear blue beach

Broome is a coastal tourism town located in the Kimberley region with a population of approximately 14,000 people. Professional placements in schools in the area will have the opportunity to gain experience and be mentored in classroom management strategies with a particular focus on Aboriginal Education and the Kimberley Schools Project. We offer a well-supported professional experience to early childhood, primary and secondary pre-service teachers across all Broome and surrounding public schools.

Visit Broome Tourism to find out more about this location.

To find out more about a placement in the Broome Hub and the professional learning opportunities available, contact Anna-Louise Gavan.

dolphins swimming with skyscraper in the background

Bunbury is a port city located 180km south of Perth with a population of over 31,000. Pre-service secondary teachers have the opportunity to be well-supported throughout their placement and gain experience in their area of specialisation. 

 To find out more about this location, visit Bunbury-Geographe Tourism.

To find out more about a placement in the Bunbury Hub and the professional learning opportunities available, email Domenic Camera, Joy Walkerden or Lorraine Irving.

Aerial view of fishing shacks with bright blue water and visible reef

Geraldton is a coastal city located 424km north of Perth with a population of over 40,000 people. There are 13 schools available where pre-service teachers have the opportunity to be well-supported throughout their placement in addition to gaining experience in Aboriginal Education. Professional experiences are available to early childhood, primary and secondary pre-service teachers across all Geraldton and surrounding public schools.

Visit Geraldton Tourism to find out more about this location.

To find out more about a placement in the Geraldton Hub and the professional learning opportunities available, email Kristie.Murphy@education.wa.edu.au.

photo of landscape with red rocks and dirt with shrubs

Kalgoorlie

Kalgoorlie is a historic gold mining town located in the Goldfields and is considered the largest city in the Australian outback. With 12 schools available for placements in Kalgoorlie and surrounds, pre-service teachers have the opportunity to be well-supported throughout their placement in addition to gaining experience in Aboriginal Education.

To find out more about a placement in Kalgoorlie and the professional learning opportunities available, email Carmen.Gallagher@education.wa.edu.au.

Northern Goldfields

Professional experiences are available to early childhood, primary and secondary pre-service teachers across the regional and remote schools:

To find out more about the Goldfields region, visit Australia's Golden Outback​​​​​.

To find out more about a placement in the northern Goldfields, contact Megan Irving.

Transport truck with four carriages driving on a country road surrounded by outback shrubs and rocky outcrops

In the Pilbara, we have hubs in Karratha and Port Hedland. Pre-service teachers have the opportunity to be well-supported throughout their placement in addition to gaining experience in Aboriginal Education. Professional experiences are available to early childhood, primary and secondary pre-service teachers across Karratha, Port Hedland and surrounding public schools.


Karratha

Karratha has a lively city centre and is a great base from which to explore the surrounding natural landscapes, including the renowned Millstream-Chichester National Park. To learn more about this location, visit Australia's Northwest Tourism.

To find out about a placement in the Karratha Hub and the professional learning opportunities available, email Lisa.Ledger@education.wa.edu.au.

Port Hedland

Port Hedland is the second-largest town in the Pilbara region and a central hub for the resource industry. To find out more about this location, visit Australia's Northwest Tourism.

To find out about a placement in the Port Hedland Hub, and the professional learning opportunities available, contact Michael.Jennings@education.wa.edu.au.

landscape of bright yellow canola fields

Pre-service teachers placed in our Wheatbelt locations of Merredin, Narrogin and Northam will draw upon the expertise and experience of mentors to offer early childhood, primary and secondary teachers a well-supported professional experience with a particular focus on Aboriginal Education.

Eastern Wheatbelt

Eastern Wheatbelt is located 256km east of Perth with Merredin being its largest regional centre. Professional experiences are available to early childhood, primary and secondary pre-service teachers in Merredin and surrounding public schools:

To find out more about a placement in the Eastern Wheatbelt and the professional learning opportunities available, contact Tracy Pickering.

Narrogin

Narrogin is a large town located 192km from Perth with a population of over 5,000 people. Professional experiences are available to early childhood, primary and secondary pre-service teachers across all three public schools:

To find out more about a placement in Narrogin and the professional learning opportunities available, email tara.percival@education.wa.edu.au. 

Avon Valley
Avon Valley is where the Avon and Mortlock rivers meet, and located only 97 km from Perth. Professional experiences are available to early childhood, primary and secondary pre-service teachers across all public schools:

To find out more about a placement in Northam and the professional learning opportunities available, email us at ProfessionalPrac@education.wa.edu.au.

To find out more about these locations, visit Australia's Golden Outback.

Arrange your placement

If you would like to undertake a professional experience placement at one of our public schools, speak to your University Professional Experience team.

Incomplete applications will not be assessed. Make sure that your form is endorsed by your university professional experience coordinator, and that you have clearly indicated where you have secured accommodation.

If you are unsure if your professional experience or selected school is eligible, email us at ProfessionalPrac@education.wa.edu.au.