Without transfers, why the bush?

Catherine Lyell...one of those moments in teaching history.

Remote schools have been staffed on the promise of transfers, but without that system rural schools may find the challenge to attract teachers even harder.

By Catherine Lyell

Beginning as a new teacher in the west or north west is one of the best opportunities that a young person can undertake. It provides you with experience, social gatherings and more social gatherings. But without an incentive transfer, where's the incentive?

In 1994 I was appointed to Balranald Central School, west of Hay and south of Ivanhoe. I was told by the Department of Education and Training, like many others, that if I didn't take the appointment I would go to the bottom of the list. I left my home town of Moree and set off on a 24 hour bus trip. I was appointed to an IO/IS support class and I was to be the person to establish the unit. I was 21 years old!

I had the wonderful experience of living in a wheat paddock on the Murrumbidgee River, met some life long friends and married my husband (who was also a 1st year out teacher) in my time out west. The experiences and the people I met in Balranald have left a huge impact on my life, especially the students and families I met and worked with. In 1994, at least 13 early career teachers were appointed to Balranald Central School. Each of these staff in the past 10 years has received incentive transfers to their chosen destination. Some staff remained for three years, others five years (like my husband and I) and for others the long haul was 10-plus years. The transfer system worked for all of those teachers I set out with, their chosen destinations including Byron Bay, Armidale, Port Macquarie, Mullumbimby, and Maitland. It has also worked for my staff at Ross Hill Public School, with incentive transfers from Nyngan and Bourke in the past three years.

So what now? This is one of those moments in teaching history where you have to contemplate the impact of what will happen if transfers are stopped. I have been at Ross Hill Public School, Inverell, for about 10 years as an infants and primary teacher. I have been the Federation Representative during recent campaigns, have mentored 1st year out teachers and am the mentor leader at the school.

I always encourage young staff to take the challenge of taking an appointment out west, but the lingering question is will I encourage early career teachers to head out west if we don't win this campaign?

Catherine Lyell teaches at Ross Hill PS.

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Last Modified: 03 Apr 2008