Developing an early childhood teacher workforce development strategy for rural and remote communities

The North West Early Childhood and Primary Teacher Workforce Development Strategy offers students in the Pilbara and Kimberley the opportunity to enrol in Murdoch University's fully accredited Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) part time and externally - so they can continue to live and work in their communities. The Western Australian Department of Education and Training (WA DET) and the Commonwealth Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) have funded the project, enabling the Western Australian university to provide mentoring support and provision for Recognition of Prior Learning, on a case-by-case basis, depending on their individual experience and levels of skill. On completion of the course students will be fully qualified to teach from Kindergarten to Year 7. Added to this, they will be able to bring their own knowledge of their unique communities, languages and cultures to their teaching. [Author abstract, ed]