Head of the Arts at Townsville’s Cathedral School shares her experience teaching in a regional area

For Townsville teacher Bonnie Nicholas, having experience teaching in both North Queensland and a major city has taught her lessons on why being a teacher in the regions is the way to go.

Cathedral Schoolteacher Bonnie Nicholas with Jesse, Buell, 15, Gemma Gillander, 16, Tess Heazlewood, 17, and Gemma Muller, 16. Picture: Evan Morgan

Having worked at Townsville’s Cathedral School for the past four years, Head of the Arts Bonnie Nicholas says she’d prefer to teach in a regional school than a big city school any day of the week.

Having previously worked as a teacher for two years in Sydney, she said the openness and natural of environment of North Queensland proved to be a great place for learning.

She said while Townsville was more isolated than places like Sydney and Brisbane, the opportunities for hands-on learning were superior.

“The kids can do so much more up here,” Ms Nicholas said.

“As a teacher it was weird living in the biggest city in Australia, you kind of felt stuck in your own suburb’s bubble.”

Ms Nicholas hadn’t come across any issues with attracting staff to the north, saying many student teachers on placements from bigger cities typically fall in love with Townsville and the lifestyle that comes with it.

“We have a lot of students that come up and realise the benefits of working and staying in Townsville,” she said.

“I know one of our current staff that came up as a pre-service teacher and decided to stay, a lot of people are surprised by how much they love it.

“When they come to Townsville they realise how strong our community is and all the great opportunities that are here.”

With students embarking on school camps to Paluma, going out to the Great Barrier Reef and taking part in inter-school sports and cultural activities, Ms Nicholas said the natural environment provided so many benefits to students.
“I think that from a regional versus metro perspective, we are able to make the most of our surroundings and emphasis the amazing area we live in,” she said.

“To be able to go outside and teach under the giant rain tree, see a possum scurry past and hear a kookaburra laughing. We are using the environment as part of our teaching and it’s wonderful to be in an environment that isn’t concrete based.”

Ms Nicholas said any teachers or student-teachers thinking of moving for work should not forget the small, rural schools in the heart of North Queensland.

“There are so many areas like Charters Towers and out in the regions with amazing opportunities for teachers, these school have staff who are genuinely happy and proud to be there and are so passionate about the kids, the lifestyle and the community,” she said.

“In a city is easy to be pulled into the rat race, but here in Townsville schools are making use of what makes North Queensland so great.”

Originally published as Head of the Arts at Townsville’s Cathedral School shares her experience teaching in a regional area