30 January 2026
Eight eager teachers have made the exciting cross-country journey from the eastern states of Australia to the Pilbara for the 2026 school year.
Following a successful recruitment drive, more than 20 teachers have joined the public education workforce in WA from interstate, 8 of whom are appointed to schools in Hedland.
Eight teachers from interstate are starting their WA teaching journey in Hedland.
Among them are Taylor Gilmore and Tomé Rodriguez, a graduate teacher couple from Victoria.
Ms Gilmore said she was looking forward to the adventure and immersing herself in the community.
“We have decided to make the move to WA to experience the slower, community life we constantly crave,” she said.
“We have both strived to develop our practice and experience, so we constantly are making use of opportunities that come our way.
“I love working in education and teaching in that I am able to be creative and really make a difference in students’ lives.”
Mr Rodriguez said the pair were looking forward to starting their career in the Pilbara region, having learnt about teaching in WA at a presentation at Monash University.
“We walked away from that session very excited by the opportunity to teach in WA, but we weren’t too familiar with all the different locations and cities.
“We were attracted to different places in the Pilbara, as some of the places there looked beautiful.
“I am most looking forward to exploring a place which is so different from anywhere I've lived.
“I am super keen to experience a facet of the beauty of our world which can only really be found in the Pilbara. And to be honest, I love camping, so we will be trying to make use of our weekends by going to different new spots.
“I love teaching because it is a rewarding job, in which every day I am trying to do some good in the world and help build up young people to become competent and, most importantly, to become their own individual and confident selves.”
Also making the journey to the Pilbara is Madeleine Rowe, who is travelling from a busy suburb in Sydney to teach at Baler Primary School.
Ms Rowe said she was looking forward to the chance to explore more of Australia.
“The Pilbara is such a unique part of the country, and there's something about the burnt orange landscape and wide-open spaces that's always appealed to me,” she said.
“From a teaching point of view, I wanted to broaden my experience by working in a regional setting where schools are a big part of the community.
“I see this move as a chance to grow and build on my skills. I'm a lifelong learner and enjoy stepping outside my comfort zone to keep improving my practice.
“I'm excited to work alongside dedicated and supportive staff and to be a part of a collaborative school environment. I'm looking forward to building strong relationships with students and families and being a part of a connected community.”
Ms Rowe said one of her favourite things about teaching is witnessing the growth in students.
“I love helping students realise what they are truly capable of and watching their confidence grow as they develop their skills and deepen their understanding.
“I also believe that the best learning happens when students feel secure. I enjoy creating an environment where every student feels known, valued and cared for and developing those strong, positive relationships that are essential for growth.”