Have you ever considered teaching in rural or remote NSW? Maybe you are craving a tree-change, or looking for a strong community connection to enhance your teaching experience in a truly unique way. Complete your professional experience in a rural or remote location to take advantage of great lifestyle and teaching opportunities.

The department is currently collaborating with several major universities to offer rural placements to their teacher education students. Check with your university if they are involved in this program. To be eligible you must:

• be completing your final professional experience placement

• have a paid Working with Children Check approval number

• have completed all mandatory departmental Health & Safety training, for example, anaphylaxis, CPAT and e-Safety

• be committed to the values of public education and be eligible for employment in a NSW Department of Education school at the end of your placement.

Experience the rural lifestyle with another pre-service teacher from your class. Your peers can help you navigate the journey by supporting each other, sharing costs, learning together, and having fun.

The department has a range of support and resources available to pre-service teachers to assist with managing a rural or remote professional experience. The rural professional experience program has created the Extended Induction Package. The rural school you teach in will benefit greatly from your skills and expertise. The NSW Department of Education has a Rural and Remote Education unit and Rural and Remote incentive package that are designed to attract and retain quality teachers and leaders to rural and remote schools.

If you are in your second and third-year Bachelor of Education or Master of Teaching, the Beyond the Line Program supports students to travel with the department on a week-long study tour to experience teaching at selected regional, rural and remote NSW public schools. Students participating in the Beyond the Line Program will be able to engage with the local community as well as gain valuable insights from teachers in regional, rural and remote NSW schools. Subscribe to be notified of program application updates.

Teachers who work in NSW public schools in rural or remote areas may be eligible for a wide range of great financial incentives and other professional benefits, depending on location. Visit our Choose rural pages to find out more about the benefits associated with specific rural and remote locations and learn about the areas and schools involved.