- A further $8.4 million continues the
Regional Attraction and Retention Incentive in 2025 which supports staffing in
regional and remote schools
- The successful initiative was launched
in 2023 and benefits more than 60 regional and remote schools with secondary students
- An additional year of funding takes
the total investment in this initiative to $36.3 million
The Cook Labor Government has
committed a further $8.4 million in 2025 to continue its support for regional
and remote schools with recruiting and retaining staff.
The Regional Attraction and Retention Incentive package was successfully
rolled out in 2023 as a temporary initiative and has grown from originally
supporting 48 schools.
The continuation of this initiative is in addition to incentives
under the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, which include district
allowances to attract and retain more teachers in remote and regional areas,
additional travel concessions for staff in the Pilbara, Kimberley and
Goldfields, an air-conditioning subsidy for eligible employees, and salary
increases for teachers and school leaders in all Western Australian public
schools.
The international teacher recruitment program which also commenced in
2023 has appointed 184 teachers to WA public schools.
Providing a further $8.4 million into 2025 enables the financial
incentives offered to school staff to continue, which boosts the number of
teachers and school administrators working in regional areas.
Eligible staff members will receive up to $8,500 for
teachers and school administrators working in designated rural and remote
public schools.
The incentive will be paid in two instalments. The first will be paid at
the start of the 2025 school year, or when staff commence at the school if it
is later in the year. The remaining balance will be paid to staff remaining at
the school at the end of the 2025 school year.
This investment takes the total funding
for the Regional Attraction and Retention Incentive to $36.3 million.
This extension follows the State
Government announcing the trial of two new initiatives to encourage teachers
and some school administrators to work in regional schools across Western
Australia.
Eligible teachers and aspiring school leaders can take up a three-year appointment
at nominated regional schools with a right of return to their substantive
position.
Comments
attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"Providing this financial incentive for another year is an
important investment to help alleviate
some of the additional pressure that schools in regional and remote areas face
when recruiting and retaining teachers.
"We have also just announced two new initiatives that provide a
great opportunity for teachers and school leaders to work in regional schools
across Western Australia.
"We are also working on a draft regional strategy and the
implementation of the landmark $1.6 billion Better and Fairer Schools Agreement
to further enhance the delivery of education cross WA.
"These initiatives are an important investment in supporting
regional and remote schools to continue providing quality education, and
enhancing career pathways for our talented workforce."
