Extra Curricular Teacher (Ambassador School)

Mathoura Public School, Mathoura NSW

Placement level: Teacher

Contact for enquiries: Janice Eddy (Principal), janice.eddy1@det.nsw.edu.au, 03 5884 3314

Additional resources: explore what it's like to live and work in the Edward River area.

The Welcome Experience is a new service supporting essential workers and their families who are thinking of moving or have made the move to a rural location. The service connects you and your family with local people and local resources to help you settle in and feel at home in your new community faster.

Placement details

Terms 1 - 4, 2025 (Applicants can request a shorter duration in their application).

Role description: The successful applicant for Mathoura Public School’s Rural Experience Placement will be a teacher who would love to embrace the values and practices specific to the setting of a small rural country school environment.

The teaching role of the Extra Curricular Teacher will be created with your input based on your interests, skills and knowledge. The successful applicant will work collaboratively with the principal to tailor a role within the school focused on your identified area/s of expertise.

Your weekly timetable would consist of teaching programs designed by you, which may include (but are not limited to) creative arts, drama, music, technology, robotics, language, gifted and talented, Aboriginal Education or sport, along with literacy and numeracy extension and/or support groups.

The majority of your time would be spent teaching small groups, consisting of 5 - 10 students at a time.

Your teaching workload is full time and would include 3 hours of RFF each week and opportunities to deliver whole school initiatives (if interested).

The placement will include teaching students across Years K-6.

Accommodation details

Teacher Housing may be available and current options include a two-bedroom partially furnished unit or a three-bedroom partially furnished home.

Other accommodation options available:

• cabin at the local holiday park,
• unit at the Mathoura Motel,
• house rental, Deniliquin and Echuca/Moama also have accommodation options should you wish to live in a larger town.

Please note: Teacher Housing availability can depend upon a variety of factors, including vacancy status and potential priority offers to other staff with full time rural appointments. Teacher Housing Authority (THA) may not be able to confirm the allocation of properties until all applications have been received and processed. Applicants are encouraged to discuss property availability directly with THA. Participants of the Rural Experience Program are not eligible for the Housing Rental Subsidy but may rent a property (at market value) through the THA if available.

School details

In 2022, Mathoura Public School was announced as a NSW Ambassador School, selected as one of the ten schools from NSW for achieving outstanding academic results and high performance. We would love you to come and join our team as a Rural Experience Teacher and be provided with the opportunity of teaching in our Ambassador School. Find out more about teaching in our school in this short video.

Mathoura Public School is situated in a small rural community (population of 700) located in the Southern Riverina, between the townships of Deniliquin and Echuca/Moama. Mathoura is approximately a 3 hour drive from the Melbourne Airport.

Mathoura Public School is highly valued by the vibrant wider community. On our doorstep is the picturesque Murray Valley National Park, Australia’s largest redgum forest, Gulpa Creek and the beautiful Edward and Murray Rivers. There are also many other attractions in Deniliquin and Echuca/Moama (approximately 25 mins north and south of Mathoura).

Our school features enthusiastic and dedicated teachers and support staff who provide a caring and inclusive environment catering to the individual social, emotional and academic needs of all students. Teachers implement the latest evidence-based teaching practices to engage students in quality learning programs.

Our school fosters close partnerships between students, parents and teachers; and boasts an active and enthusiastic Parents and Citizens (P&C) determined to make a real and positive difference in opportunities and resourcing.

School structure consists of 47 students, three composite classes (K/1, 2/3 and 4/5/6), and six full time teachers. Our school Facebook page shares our students’ successes and will provide you with an insight into Mathoura Public School.

We have successfully hosted three Rural Experience Teacher placements in the past; Rachael in 2019, Kylie in 2022, and Emma in 2023. Currently, in 2024, we are hosting two Rural Experience placements with Jenny and Kylie having both joined us for the year.

Rachael: ‘I completed the Rural Experience Program at Mathoura Public School in 2019. It was such a rewarding and life changing experience that when a permanent job was advertised the next year, I jumped at the chance to return to the area. With the support and encouragement of my new principal, I was then successful in gaining a full-time leadership position as APCI at a neighbouring school. I highly recommend the program’.

Kylie: ‘I had such a wonderful experience in 2022, with friendly and supportive staff, and amazing students – it felt like home.’

Emma: ‘I am so glad that I decided to take part Rural Experience Program at Mathoura Public School in 2023. The staff are incredibly supportive, and the wider school community has been very welcoming. I was extremely fortunate to have been offered a temporary position at the school again in 2024 and I am enjoying my time here in the country.'

Kylie: ‘I am currently working at Mathoura Public School as part of the Rural Experience Program. I have been warmly welcomed by both staff and students and am relishing my time here. The school is well-resourced and structured, making it a great learning environment that the students enjoy. I have moved a considerable distance away from my family, but everyone has been so accommodating I feel like my family is here. The area is so peaceful and picturesque I could easily live here permanently.’

Jenny: ‘I feel very privileged to be working at Mathoura Public School this year. There is a wonderful happy, friendly rapport amongst the staff and students. High expectations are applied to all aspects of teaching and learning, and the school is set within lovely grounds. I would recommend Mathoura PS to any potential Rural Experience Program teacher.’