The Cook Labor Government in Western Australia has committed a further $8.4 million in 2025 to continue its support for regional and remote schools and boost recruitment and retention rates for teachers.
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.
Adding 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.
“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,” says WA Education Minister Dr Tony Buti.
Strengthening disadvantaged schools
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.
“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,” Buti says.
“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.”
