A service assisting country teachers to find a home, and reducing administration for school leaders, is being expanded by the Department for Education.
Following a successful pilot focused on Ceduna and Moonta, the Country Housing Service will be expanded to support all country schools and pre-schools in 2024.  
The program, delivering practical support to assist employees move into suitable housing and adjust seamlessly into their new communities, also includes internet provision to help improve the teacher’s home environment and support flexible working.  
The Department began work on the pilot at the end of 2022, working closely with government agencies, site leaders and teachers to support the relocation of teachers, help with housing applications and support logistics.
The expansion of the service will allow for a range of ongoing assistance, recognising that the timing of teaching recruitment and housing availability in the country is unpredictable, and rental availability in most country locations can sit below 1 per cent.
The initial pilot supported 20 educators relocating to 5 sites across Ceduna, Moonta and surrounding areas for the 2023 school year.  
The pilot, which has been successful in its twin aims of supporting new teaching staff and reducing the administrative and support burden on school leaders, will sit within the department’s wider Country Education Strategy and is in addition to range of other support being provided to teachers who choose to work in country South Australia.  
In July it was announced the Country Incentive Zone Allowance, which varies depending on the remoteness of the location, will become an ongoing payment from next year – previously it expired after 5 or 8 years, depending on the zone.
The Department for Education has also launched a program called Teach First in Country which offers new university graduates extra support and financial incentives to start their teaching career in country South Australia.  
The first round of teaching positions will be offered in September, with support to be rolled out while successful finish their final year of study including a wellbeing check, induction, early mentoring, and some in-classroom experience.  
For the first 5 weeks of Term 1, the new teachers will be joined in the classroom by an expert teacher to help them settle in and they will also receive $20,000 over two years to help them get set up in the country or to pay off their HECS-HELP debt.