- Two new
initiatives will be trialled to encourage permanent staff members to work in
regional schools
- Eligible
metropolitan 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
- The trials were
developed following recent enterprise bargaining negotiations
The Cook Labor Government has
announced the trial of two new initiatives to encourage metropolitan-based
teachers and some school administrators to work in regional schools across
Western Australia.
The workforce mobility trials are
available to permanent metropolitan teachers and aspiring school leaders,
allowing them to take up a position in a nominated regional school, while
maintaining a right to return to their city-based role.
The first initiative - Growing our
leaders in regional schools - will enable teachers and some school
administrators who aspire to be a principal to be appointed to a principal
position in a nominated regional school for three years and retain their
substantive position in their metropolitan school. This flexibility will only
be applied when no suitable applicant can be found in a recent permanent selection
process.
Attracting experience to our
regional schools - the second initiative,will support permanent teachers
from metropolitan schools to be appointed to a nominated regional school for
three years while retaining their substantive position in their metropolitan
school.
Under the recently signed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement,
public school teachers and leaders will receive a 12 per cent pay rise over
three years and will benefit from a number of initiatives to address workload
issues, enhance career pathways, and attract more quality teachers to regional
and remote areas.
The Department of Education continues to work with the State
School Teachers' Union of Western Australia and Principals' Federation of
Western Australia to implement these initiatives.
Comments
attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"This is a great
opportunity for teachers and school staff to experience living in our wonderful
regional cities and towns and we expect some will make the switch permanently.
"Our Government's draft
Regional Education Strategy outlined our commitment to building on the regional
workforce by attracting high quality educators and school leaders to the
regions.
"Knowing their position
will be held in their metropolitan school, teachers and aspiring leaders will
have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a regional school, while
also sharing their knowledge and expertise.
"These trials have been
developed in partnership with the State School Teacher's Union of Western
Australia and the Principal's Federation of Western Australia."
