Last week the first cohort of our Rural and Remote Leadership Development Program (RnRLDP) engaged in their final webinar of the nine-month program.

In July participants will submit a leadership inquiry and digital story, capturing their learning throughout the program and evidencing the impact of their ongoing leadership development.

The program is a key contributor to the department’s Rural and Remote Education Strategy. It was designed following a lengthy consultation process with key stakeholders, and has been tailored to meet the unique needs of aspiring and current leaders working in rural and remote schools.

Deputy Principal of Scone High School, Adam Johnston, said the training was the most relevant professional development he had taken part in over more than 20 years of teaching.

“As an experienced leader in rural and remote schools it is refreshing to finally have targeted learning that is aimed at the unique challenges that we face and it will continue to inform my current and future practice,” he said.

“This has been a uniquely gratifying learning opportunity for me. The majority of my career has been in rural and remote education and this is the first non metro-centric leadership development I have had the opportunity to access.”

A unique feature of the program includes experienced mentors who undertake residential visits in participating rural and remote schools. This allows mentors to see first-hand the opportunities and challenges that rural and remotes leaders face on a daily basis.

Next month the program will welcome Cohort 2 at their first leadership seminar. The joining together of rural and remote leaders and their assigned mentors will set the scene for this cohort and lay foundations for relational trust as they connect and collaborate throughout the program.

Congratulations to our rural and remote leaders who have enhanced their leadership development to impact on our rural and remote schools through their contribution to the pilot.