THE challenges and opportunities for teachers working in rural communities are the focus of a new book addressing the potential skills shortage facing regional areas.
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The book, Self-Studies in Rural Teacher Education, brings together the experiences of 13 educators who have worked in remote and rural communities in rural Australia, Ireland and the United States of America.
The compilation of stories was edited by Associate Professor Bernadette Walker Gibbs from the School of Education at Warrnambool’s Deakin University and Professor Ann Schulte from the School of Education at California State University, who spent a year in Warrnambool collaborating on the project.
Associate Professor Walker-Gibbs said there were an abundance of studies on preparing students for the challenges of urban settings, but much less emphasis on rural education.
“We need to pay attention to all places where teachers might go, including rural communities,” she said.
“About 30 per cent of Australians are in rural areas so it’s good to give a voice to rural teachers.”
Associate Professor Walker-Gibbs said most teachers valued the rural experience, but it could sometimes be perceived as negative or scary.
“There are a wide range of experiences. Some are distressing, but for the most part it is positive and teachers find they can connect more closely with the communities they work in,” she said.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about it, mainly that you’ll feel isolated and you’re very visible in the community.
“There are challenges of getting to know your community. There is no one rule for the notion of rural in Australia.
“The experience of going into a community like Warrnambool is very different to somewhere like Tenant Creek in the Northern Territory.”
Associate Professor Walker-Gibbs said she wanted the book to highlight the need to better prepare teachers for rural settings, fearing Australia will find it increasingly hard to attract interest in those communities.
“More teachers are being employed on short-term contracts or sessionally, which makes it more difficult to relocate,” she said.
“Previously they would move for a couple of years for experience.
“There is no national approach to attracting people to rural communities.
“In Queensland, country service is part of permanent employment, but not in Victoria.”
Associate Professor Walker-Gibbs has been based at Deakin University’s Warrnambool campus since 2008.
