The Rural and Regional Roadshow, which has been in Tamworth yesterday and today, and involves local principals and other school leaders meeting the Secretary of the Department, Murat Dizdar, and other bureaucrats responsible for what is taught in schools, how it is taught, the wellbeing of students, staffing, capital works and other key areas.

The Tamworth leg of the roadshow, led by Dizdar, also included visits to public schools in Gunnedah and Coonabarabran.

He said the initiative is an opportunity for schools across regional NSW to discuss priorities and inform first-hand the department’s executive team of what further support is needed to improve outcomes for students outside the state’s major cities.

“It’s also a chance for our regional, rural and remote leaders to strengthen their professional network by connecting with colleagues from other schools and the department executive,” Dizdar said. 

“We know staff in rural schools can have fewer opportunities to connect with peers due to their location, which is why events like these are so important.

Dizdar said supporting staff in strengthening professional connections is one of the key initiatives in the department’s 2024 Rural and Remote Education Implementation Plan.

“As part of the plan, the department is running a series of Connection Days for regional, rural and remote school leaders and early career teachers over coming months,” he said.

There’s also a program for assistant principals and head teachers being rolled out by the School Leadership Institute.

“Combined with tailored housing support and staffing support, the plan is delivering the support regional, rural and remote schools need to give their students the opportunities they deserve to achieve their best at school and after school,” Dizdar said.

The tailored housing support initiative involves tackling supply, repair and maintenance issues and making it easier for teachers to apply for housing.

Staffing support includes programs such as the ‘Grow Your Own Local Talent Pipeline’, which encourages local teaching graduates to work in their home area, and mid-career talent programs.

It also includes the expansion of the Priority Recruitment Support program, which will provide intensive recruitment support to an additional 26 regional, rural and remote schools. 

The plan includes more than a dozen other supporting initiatives, which include: 

  • enabling teachers to experience teaching in rural areas;
  • financial and other incentives for teachers in rural and remote areas;
  • additional support in accessing casual staff;
  • additional professional development in careers education;
  • online support for the Year 11 and 12 curriculum;
  • support for the Clontarf Academy and National Aboriginal Sporting Chance programs which mentor and support the wellbeing of Aboriginal high school boys and girls respectively;
  • incentives for early childhood education scholars to complete their qualifications;
  • supporting preschooling through distance education, funding for mobile preschools and financial assistance for providers;
  • connecting employers with regional schools through the Regional Industry Education Partnerships; and
  • improving rural students’ access to higher education through Country University Centre study hubs.

The roadshow’s schedule lists visits to seven rural and regional venues leading up to June 19.