A group of 51 initial teacher education students from universities across NSW got firsthand experience of life and work in the state’s southern rural public schools when they participated in the Beyond the Line program.

Seventeen host schools in the Riverina and Southern Tablelands region opened their gates to the students, providing a unique insight into the life of a teacher in the regions.

“It is always great to have pre-service teachers who are almost finished their studies coming out to see what rural schools have to offer,” said Kristy Lemon, Principal, Griffith Public School.

“We love sharing our school and community with new people and look forward to welcoming anyone who is willing to come out and give it a go and join our school community.”

These sentiments were shared by participating students. Eliza, a Bachelor of Education student at the University of New England.

“I left every school feeling inspired by the dedication of the teachers, the innovative ways they draw on community and environment, and the meaningful ways schools connect with families and provide opportunities for all students,” she said.

Across the week, students also participated in a range of cultural and community activities. These included an Aboriginal cultural workshop led by Sandhills Artefacts as well as a local cooking class in Griffith, where they learnt about the region’s strong Italian heritage and its influence on the local food scene.

These experiences helped students deepen their understanding of the communities they may one day teach in.

As the program continues, participants are encouraged to return to the regions for professional experience placements or future employment.

This term, 18 Beyond the Line alumni, including several from the September tour, will undertake rural placements across NSW.

Nathan, a pre-service teacher from the University of Sydney, will soon begin one of these placements.

He described the study tour as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to solidify his interest in teaching in a rural NSW public school.

With continued strong interest, the program is expected to inspire more future teachers to consider the diverse and rewarding opportunities available in rural and remote communities.

If you or someone you know is interested in exploring a rural teaching career, visit the Beyond the Line Program webpage and register your interest to be notified when applications open for future study tours.

Schools participating in the Riverina/Southern Highlands Beyond the Line Program

Murrumbidgee Regional High School (Griffith campus)
Murrumbidgee Regional High School (Wade campus)
Kalinda School
Griffith Public School
Hanwood Public School
Barellan Central School
Coleambally Central School
Leeton High School
Leeton Public School
Yanco Agricultural High School
Narrandera High School
Narrandera Public School
Cootamundra High School
Cootamundra Public School
Gundagai High School
Yass High School
Yass Public School