BEFORE SIGNING CONTRACT
(For WA Remote Teaching Service successful pool applicants- being accepted into the RTS pool is not a guarantee of employment. You may get many offers or none. It may be worthwhile speaking with the recruitment officer to ascertain if there are many positions still left or if the majority of the places have been filled before accepting or turning down an employment offer.)
1. How many staff work at the school? How many staff houses are provided? (This may be a worthwhile question as it may be a two or three teacher school where you are expected to work and live with your colleagues.)
2. What will my role be in the school?
3. What are the school priorities?
4. How many people live in the town? What is the history of the town?
5. What kind of facilities are available in the town?
You may be flexible and willing to work anywhere in which case the above questions would only serve to prepare you for the new location, however for some people you may have family moving with you or have certain beliefs so the answers to the above questions may be important in your decision.
AFTER SIGNING CONTRACT- BEFORE THE MOVE
1. Who are the traditional native land owners? What language is spoken? What is the history of the community? What is the community’s relationship with the school? What are the cultural considerations/protocols? Where can I find out more?
2. What grade am I teaching? Am I the only teacher working with this year level? What are the current trends with this year level (attendence, behaviour, local/transient)? Are there any cultural protocols/considerations with this year level (such as initiation for high school students- treatment of returned male students)?
3. Are there established unit plans, resources or curriculum plans/maps?
4. Is the school well resourced or should I bring some of my own teaching resources?
5. What do I need to know before I arrive in the community? What do I need to do/sign/organise?
- Teacher Registration Board WATRB ( previously WACOT) applications
- Working with Children Check - For interstate teachers ask for a signed copy of the application form be sent to you in advance as this check is required for your e-number which is required for all uplift/transport/payroll processes. Also, check with your local post office if they process this application as it is likely that you will need to travel to the nearest state capital city to have this done- they often need you to book a 30 min appointment to process this so book in advance.
- E-number online survey
- Contact region Housing and Transport Officer to organise housing in the community, furniture transport and/or storage, vehicle transport and personal flights.
- Follow the instructions on the Transport Checklist that will be provided by your Housing and Transport Officer or available through this link. This will include getting up to three quotes from Grace (only option for WA residents), Wridgways and/or Allied Pickford Removalists.
- Investigate the PLI Remote Teaching Service Induction- Note that Dept of Ed may not pay expenses related to this PD other than the cost of the PD itself (they will not cover flights, accom or food while attending this PD- relevant for interstate/overseas teachers or teachers from areas other than Perth).
- Ask your prinicipal or admin if 4WD training will be provided before you arrive in community or after.
6. Am I the only new teacher arriving in the community? (Some prinicpals will connect you with other new remote teachers so that you can get to know one another, share concerns and support each other through the process)
7. Is there mobile phone reception in the community? If so which carrier? (You may be able to check this youself on the mobile provider’s website- search mobile coverage map).
8. What conditions are the roads into the community? Are they always accessible? If not, is there other access or ways out? Is petrol available in the community? If so what grade? Is there a school vehicle? How often does the school vehicle travel to the nearest main centre? (These questions are important as soon as you find out your placement so that you have time to make arrangements to modify, sell or upgrade your current vehicle)
9. What is the water quality like? (This will allow you to stock up on bottled/filtered water before you arrive, or allow you to buy a water filter system).
AFTER ARRIVING IN COMMUNITY- BEFORE SCHOOL COMMENCES
1. Who are the Aboriginal Elders in the community? Is there a liason? Can I be introduced?
2. What’s the school behaviour management policy? (Violence, drug/alcohol affected students, fights etc)
3. What is the school communication policy? – re parents/guardians/extended family, communicating with other community workers such as nurse or police, blogging etc.
4. Will I be working with an Aboriginal Education Officer? What is my duty of care in regards to leaving students with them?
5. Do I have a class budget? How is this allocated? What can it be spent on?
6. What is the excursion/camp policy?
7. What are the emergency managment procedures?
8. Are there any restricted/sacred areas that I should be aware of?
9. When does the mail come? How is it delivered- to the school, to the house, to the post office (Do I need a PO box?)?
10. Are there any family/community tensions that I should be aware of?
11. Where is the resource cupboards? Who is responsible for resources? What do I do if I run out? How do I request resources?
12. What is the process for booking library/special rooms, buses, specialists (speech therapists, psychologists), guest speakers?
13. Who should I speak with if I need support? Behaviour management, cultural activities and protocol etc
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
- Give notice to your current school as soon as you have a placement, if you haven’t already been in discussions with them about your intentions. Note: Some schools in WA, Qld and NSW have agreements to provide leave without pay for teachers who are moving remote for short periods- worth investigating or discussing with your principal (Side note- don’t forget to inform your landlord or find new tenants if you own your home- time sneaks away from you in the rush of things to do!)
- Maintaining or cancelling your home state’s teacher registration
- Changing your AEU membership from your home state to your remote teaching state
- Update your details with the Australian Electoral Commission
- Update your health insurance details- check that you are covered for ambulance airlift out of remote location
- Doctor for health check and Hepititas immunisations- You might also consider requesting advance perscriptions and have them filled in case your medications aren’t available remote.
- Dentist visit
- Redirect your mail
- Provide family and friends with details of how to contact you in your new location including the phone and address of the school/police station/health clinic.
- Speak with your accountant about your changed circumstances- remote tax offsets, salary packaging
- Discuss your upcoming move with your local aborigianl cooperation
- Consider buying things in your home town and have them sent over with your furniture if you think they are important and hard to find/expensive remote- fly repellent and sunscreen, medicines and creams, specialist dietary requirements etc.
- Copy your important documents- leave originals in a safe place (back home or in a secure place in community- consider flood damage, break ins) and copies with family- passport, insurance, will etc.
- Read books and watch documentaries about the area you are going to- this will help prepare you mentally for the culture shock you will experience
- Research the local area- closest hospital, vet, supermarket, dentist, petrol stations and of course areas that you can go to adventure, explore and unwind.
Can you suggest other important questions to ask or things to consider in the transition to remote teaching? What questions do you feel are most important to ask? I welcome your feedback on this post.
Found this post helpful? Make sure you add the blog to your RSS/GoogleReader, bookmark the page, like it on Facebook or comment and share your thoughts! You might also like to read the other posts that I have written as I prepare for my remote teaching placement- here.