Country Practicum Program

Rural, regional and remote 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.

Funding generally comprises a travel allowance and living subsidy to offset some of the costs associated with relocating for the period of the placement. The level of funding is dependent on your year of study, length of placement and the location of your professional experience.

In addition to financial support, participants have access to our induction program, a school visit from one of our career coaches, a classroom observation with feedback session, and ongoing support.

Preservice teachers are encouraged to undertake a placement in one of our rural, regional or remote public schools. For more information on our schools visit Schools Online.

Applications for Term 1, 2021 placements are now open.

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 per cent or more
  • not be undertaking a professional experience 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 placement and the education region in which you undertake your professional experience.

  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
Midwest $220 $220 $250
Wheatbelt $220 $220 $220
Southwest* $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 those 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
Midwest $220 $250
Wheatbelt $220 $220
Southwest** 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 those in their final two years of study, and is based on the education region where you undertake your professional experience.

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

Accommodation can be difficult to find, especially in our remote regions. Please discuss accommodation options with your university professional experience team, or where possible, with your assigned school. In some education regions, accommodation must be secured before applying for funding. If you have access to your own accommodation, it may assist with your placement. 

We currently have affordable shared accommodation options with our school staff in the following locations:

  • Carnarvon
  • Derby
  • Geraldton
  • Kalgoorlie
  • Karratha
  • Merredin
  • Northam
  • Port Hedland
  • Tom Price

Liaise with your university professional experience team directly to register your interest. Further shared accommodation options will be available from July 2021.

  • Before applying, you will need to talk with your university professional experience team to organise a rural, regional, or remote public school placement.
  • When you are ready to apply, download and complete an application form and 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 two weeks before your placement commences.

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

Applications for 2021 professional experiences should be submitted by the following dates:

Placement Application due date
Term 2 Monday, 15 March 2021
Term 3 Monday, 14 June 2021
Term 4 Monday, 6 September 2021

 

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

Placement 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

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.

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

Regional Teacher Support Hubs

Regional Teacher Support Hubs

In addition to our ongoing rural, regional and remote 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 including professional development workshops, networking opportunities and mentoring programs.

Pre-service teachers undertaking placements at schools not mentioned but within our eight regional centres may still be eligible to access support through our Professional Practice Program.

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 onAboriginal 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 including:

Visit Broome Tourism to find out more about this location.

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. Professional experiences are available at secondary schools including:

Visit Bunbury-Geographe Tourism to find out more about this location.

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 including:

Visit Geraldton Tourism to find out more about this location.

photo of landscape with red rocks and dirt with shrubs

Kalgoorlie is a historic gold mining town located in the Goldfields and considered the largest city in the Australian outback. With 12 schools available for placements, 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 Kalgoorlie and surrounding public schools including:

Visit Kalgoorlie Tourism to find out more about this location.

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

Port Hedland is the second largest town in the Pilbara region and a central hub for the resource industry. 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 Port Hedland and surrounding public schools including:

Visit Australia's Northwest Tourism to find out more about this location.

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.

Merredin
Merredin is the largest regional centre in the Eastern Wheatbelt and is located 256km east of Perth. Professional experiences are available to early childhood, primary and secondary pre-service teachers at Merredin College. 

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:

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

Visit Australia's Golden Outback to find out more about these locations.

Arrange your placement

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

Information on all our schools is available on Schools Online. 

Email us if you are unsure if your professional experience or selected school is eligible.

Apply for rural, regional and remote placement funding

Apply for rural, regional and remote placement funding

Download and complete our form to apply for travel and living subsidy funding for 2021 placements.

Download