Australia’s teachers could pocket extra $50k by taking regional jobs

Countless Australians could pocket tens of thousands of dollars in incentives if they’re simply willing to change their job’s location.

Australian teachers could pocket up to $50,000 in incentives if they take up one of the thousands of jobs on offer to move to the country’s regions.

A raft of incentives are being offered to woo city educators to the bush — and new data suggests many are open to a change of lifestyle.

Research commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) found 43 per cent of metro-based teachers could be enticed to move to the bush.

Of those who would consider moving, 77 per cent wanted a salary increase or a financial incentive like a recruitment bonus or relocation payment (72 per cent).

Teacher, Kaite John as new data commissioned by Regional Australia Institute (RAI) shows 83 per cent of metro educators, could be persuaded to make a change. Picture: Supplied

More than half wanted a more affordable cost of living (59 per cent) and were keen to receive support in the form of a rental subsidy or reduced stamp duty (59 per cent).

There are more than 4000 regional teaching jobs advertised with 1790 in NSW, followed by Victoria (1578), Queensland (920) and WA (427).

The top five regions with most jobs were Newcastle & Hunter (127) and NSW North Coast (108), Blue Mountains, Bathurst and Central West NSW (88).

Victoria’s Bendigo and High Country (98) and Far North Queensland (93) also had the most demand.

RAI chief executive Liz Ritchie said a high school teacher could earn an extra $45,000 in rural incentives, relocation support and retention bonuses just by taking a job in Moree, NSW, near the Queensland border.

“State governments are willing to pay decent money to teachers interested in taking up regional positions,” she said.

“We implore city-based teachers who are interested in moving to the bush, to explore the plethora of job opportunities on offer outside city limits.

Of those who would consider moving, 77 per cent wanted a salary increase

“The recent migration to regional Australia has seen a jobs boom across several sectors. Since the pandemic, we’re noticing families are leaving the cities for the perks of regional life, and regional healthcare and education needs to catch up. It’s why at the Regional Australia Institute, we’ve embarked on the nation’s biggest ever recruitment drive to encourage city dwellers to make their move to more and take a job in one of Australia’s most idyllic locations.”

For NSW teachers, the state government is offering some recruitment bonuses of $20,000 and relocation payments up to $8000, as well as subsided rent or stamp duty relief. There are also retention benefits of $5000 a year for up to 10 years.

In Victoria, hard-to-staff roles may be eligible for an initial payment of $9000 to $50,000. There are also relocation support and retention benefits of $9000 paid after second, third and fourth year of regional employment.

Queensland teachers are also offered sign-up bonuses, as well as allowances for travel and teaching in Indigenous communities. Teachers who extend their stay in a remote community may be eligible for a reduction of their university HELP debt.

Teacher Courtney McCrone said moving back to her hometown was the best decision she made. Picture: Supplied

Primary schoolteacher Courtney McCrone grew up in the regional town of Temora, NSW before spending some time in the UK with her husband.

And while she worked in city schools, including in Canberra and Wollongong, she said moving back to her hometown was the best decision she made.

“There was a really big difference when working in regional schools versus city ones, which were huge and were almost schools within schools,” Ms McCrone said.

“In our town, it’s much more personable and you know each and every kid and their parents. It feels like a small community.”

With the rise in cost of living, Ms McCrone welcomed financial incentives to encourage teachers to consider moving out of the city.

“The reality is you have to work to be able to survive to pay your bills and if you're getting financial incentives, that’s going to encourage some people,” she said.

“Because it’s not cheap to live in the city and it’s definitely cheaper to live here.

“Moving regionally, it’s also a much slower lifestyle, you don’t have to commute for over an hour to work, there’s no traffic and housing is much more affordable.”

Originally published as Australia’s teachers could pocket extra $50k by taking regional jobs