Country Practicum Program

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

• be residing in Western Australia
• be currently enrolled in a course leading to a graduate level teaching qualification, or approved post-graduate psychology qualification
• have a course average of 60 per cent or more
• have a genuine interest in working in a Western Australian rural, regional or remote public school after you graduate
• not be undertaking a practicum at a school in a town where you or your family live, or be within an 80km radius of that town.

Secondary teaching
The living subsidy will vary and is based on the length of your practicum and the education region in which you undertake your practicum.  

	First two years of study	Final two years of study
Education region	2-3 weeks placement subsidy (per week)	2-3 weeks placement subsidy (per week)	4-10 weeks placement subsidy (per week)
Remote Teaching Service	$290	$290	$350
Goldfields, Kimberley and Pilbara	$290	$290	$350
Mid West	$290	$220	$250
Wheatbelt	$220	$220	$220
South West*	$150	$150	$150
Bunbury-specific	$220	$220	$250

*Select schools only and on a case-by-case basis.

Primary and Early Childhood teaching
The living subsidy for Primary and Early Childhood teaching is only available to pre-service teachers who are in their final or penultimate year of study (i.e. 3rd or 4th year Bachelor of Education or 1st or 2nd year Master of Teaching).

Education region	2-3 weeks placement subsidy (per week)	4-10 weeks placement subsidy (per week)
Remote Teaching Service	N/A	$350*
Goldfields, Kimberley and Pilbara	$290	$350
Mid West	$220	$250
Wheatbelt	$220	$220
South West**	N/A	$150

* Remote Teaching Service funding is not available to first year Masters of Teaching pre-service teachers.
**Select Country Teaching Program schools only.

School Psychology
The living subsidy for School psychologists is made available to pre-service students in their final two years of study, and is based on the education region where you undertake your practicum.

Education region	Placement subsidy (per week)
Remote Teaching Service	$350
Goldfields, Kimberley and Pilbara	$350
Mid West	$250
Wheatbelt	$220
Bunbury-specific	$250

Accommodation is difficult to find in some education regions and must be secured before applying for funding. If you have access to your own accommodation, it may assist with your placement. Funding depends on you, your university, or the school finding suitable accommodation.

If you are successful, you will be required to participate in an orientation session held prior to your practicum on the following dates*:

Practicum	Orientation session (venue TBC)
Term 2	Friday, 26 March 2021
Term 3	Thursday, 1 July 2021
Term 4	Thursday, 23 September 2021

*subject to change

Priority areas are reviewed annually to ensure the program meets the workforce needs of the Department. Where application numbers exceed places available, priority will be given to students completing a secondary teaching qualification.

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

• Before applying, you will need to talk with your University Practicum Coordinator to organise a placement in a rural, regional, or remote public school.
• When you are ready to apply, download and complete an application form and follow the submission instructions provided on the form.
• Once you have submitted an application form, we will email you regarding the outcome.
• If your application is successful, payment is normally processed at least two weeks before your practicum starts.

Applications for 2021 practicum placements must be submitted by the following dates:

Practicum	Application due date
Term 2	Monday, 15 March 2021
Term 3	Monday, 21 June 2021
Term 4	Friday, 10 September 2021

Late applications will only be considered in instances where your University Practicum Coordinator can provide a genuine reason for your late submission prior to the advertised closing date.