Feeback from urban teaching students shows they are more likely to take up promising career opportunities in regional schools when they get to experience the schools and the lifestyle for themselves. Not only does it give them confidence, it provides them with a sense of familiarity with the new context, and broadens their perspectives as a teacher.
Last week, more than 50 future teachers from Queensland’s south-east corner travelled to regional schools as part of an innovative immersion program aimed at convincing them to consider teaching outside larger cities.
As regional, rural and remote areas struggle with unprecedented teacher shortages, the ‘Coast to Country’ program by the University of the Sunshine Coast is working to change perceptions and dispel myths about the challenges of teaching and living in these locations.
The program is designed to show pre-service teachers who have never lived in county areas that “there is a whole other world out there”, says coordinator and UniSC Education lecturer Dr Tracey Sanderson.
Three groups of education students toured schools in far north, central and outback Queensland including Charters Towers, Hughenden, Winton, Longreach, Emerald, Capella, Clermont, Springsure, Ravenshoe and Innisfail
In Emerald, the students joined in dinner with the town’s Mayor and the Federal Member of Parliament, who helped sell the benefits of living and working in central and western Queensland, and also attended one of country Queensland biggest agricultural field days.
“The value of this experience is immense,” Dr Sanderson said. “We know we’ve got to work together to change perceptions – that’s how we get more teachers in to these communities.”
Dr Sanderson pointed out that regional, rural and remote areas grapple with both recruiting – and retaining – qualified teachers, and one of the biggest obstacles is getting university education students to consider opting to do placements and teaching in these areas.
“We have large cohorts who have never experienced life outside of South East Queensland, so this program takes them to places they would not normally go and gives them a taste of country life and rural teaching.”
Ultimate success for Coast to Country is to have participating students go on to complete pracs in regional, rural and remote schools and finally return to those communities to teach once they graduate.
“The idea being we want committed and interested teachers in these areas to support the education of rural children,” Dr Sanderson said.
UniSC has received funding support for the program from BHP Mitsubishi Alliance and the Queensland Government’s Professional Experience Innovation (PEI) Grant that has enabled UniSC to extend the reach of the program to schools into far north and outback Queensland this year.
They will visit schools in Townsville, Charters Towers, Hughenden, Winton and Longreach, with the opportunity to explore the local areas such as part of the Dinosaur Trail in Hughenden, Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, the Royal Open-Air Theatre in Winton, and the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach.
A research component is also attached to the project to explore the experiences and perceptions of preservice teachers who attend the Coast to Country trips.
UniSC Education academic Dr Linda Mahony said the findings would add to the knowledge base regarding preservice teachers engaging in regional, rural and remote immersion programs such as the Coast to Country program.
“It is hoped they may inform policy and procedures of universities, education departments and other employers seeking to attract teachers to these locations,” she said.
The original version of this article appeared as a media release from Southern Cross University.