Resources for Teachers

Career move

Rural & remote allowances
are where teaching pays.

Every state and territory tops up teacher salaries for working in rural, regional and remote schools — through cash incentives, subsidised housing, extra leave and travel concessions. Here's what's actually on offer, jurisdiction by jurisdiction.

A small rural Australian schoolhouse on red dirt under a wide sky
Cash on top of base pay

Locality and incentive allowances stack on your award salary. Many are tax-free.

Housing usually included

Most remote postings come with heavily subsidised or fully furnished government housing.

Travel & leave bonuses

Annual return airfares, extra personal leave and accelerated transfer points are common.

NSW Department of Education

New South Wales

NSW
Scheme
Rural and Remote Incentives Scheme

NSW classifies schools on an 8-point Transfer Points scale. Schools in higher-incentive locations attract a package of allowances, accelerated transfer points and additional leave.

Heads up

Permanent appointment to an incentive school usually requires a minimum 3-year commitment in exchange for the full package.

Allowances & incentives
Rural teacher incentiveUp to $30,000 p.a.

Annual incentive payment at the most remote schools (8-point), scaling down for lower-tier schools.

Recruitment bonusUp to $20,000

One-off payment on commencement at eligible incentive schools.

Retention benefitUp to $10,000 p.a.

After 2 years of continuous service at an incentive school.

Rental subsidy50%–90% of rent

Subsidised government housing where available; varies by location tier.

Other benefits
  • Additional 5–10 days personal leave per year at incentive schools.
  • Locality allowance for the most remote postings.
  • Climatic allowance in designated hot/wet zones.
  • Accelerated transfer points — earn priority for your next preferred location faster.
  • Relocation and removalist expenses paid on appointment.
Department of Education Victoria

Victoria

VIC
Scheme
Rural Incentive Payments

Victoria offers targeted cash incentives for hard-to-staff rural and regional schools, paid in instalments across the first years of placement.

Heads up

Incentive amounts are attached to specific advertised roles — check the individual vacancy on Recruitment Online for what's on offer.

Allowances & incentives
Rural Incentive PaymentUp to $50,000

Paid over 2–3 years to teachers accepting eligible ongoing positions in priority rural schools.

Targeted Financial Incentive$9,000–$50,000

Advertised on a per-vacancy basis for hard-to-fill roles.

Relocation reimbursementUp to $9,000

Removal and travel costs for eligible relocations.

Other benefits
  • Priority access to professional learning and mentoring in regional networks.
  • Some schools offer subsidised or department-owned housing.
  • Country Education Partnership networks for social and professional support.
Department of Education Queensland

Queensland

QLD
Scheme
Remote Area Incentives Scheme (RAIS)

Queensland operates one of the most comprehensive remote schemes in Australia, with schools graded across 8 RAIS levels. Benefits scale dramatically with remoteness.

Heads up

The Small School Principal pathway and accelerated promotion are strongly linked to remote service — many QLD leaders start their leadership career at a RAIS school.

Allowances & incentives
Locality allowance$1,400–$24,000 p.a.

Tax-free allowance scaling with the RAIS level of the school.

Remote Area Incentive AllowanceUp to $11,200 p.a.

Additional cash incentive at RAIS levels 5–8.

Camping allowance~$1,200 p.a.

For teachers in the most isolated postings.

Electricity subsidyVariable

Subsidy on residential electricity at higher RAIS levels.

Other benefits
  • Subsidised government housing — heavily subsidised rent at remote schools.
  • Annual leave travel concession (return airfare or equivalent) for you and dependants.
  • Additional 5 days personal leave at RAIS level 6+ schools.
  • Locality leave — extra recreation leave at remote postings.
  • Priority for transfer to a preferred location after minimum service period.
WA Department of Education

Western Australia

WA
Scheme
Country Teaching Program

WA has Australia's largest geographic remote teaching footprint. Incentives target the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields and Mid-West regions with substantial cash and housing benefits.

Heads up

WA's remote service is the fastest pathway to permanency in the system — many graduates take a remote post specifically to secure ongoing appointment.

Allowances & incentives
District allowance$1,500–$14,000 p.a.

Tax-free allowance based on locality classification.

Attraction & Retention BenefitUp to $13,000 p.a.

Cash incentive at hard-to-staff schools, paid annually.

Air conditioning subsidy$370–$1,400 p.a.

Subsidy on residential cooling in designated hot zones.

Relocation assistanceFull cost

Removal, travel and storage paid on appointment and transfer out.

Other benefits
  • Government Regional Officers' Housing (GROH) — subsidised, fully furnished housing.
  • Free or subsidised return airfare home each year at the most remote schools.
  • Up to 10 additional days leave per year at Level 6+ remote schools.
  • Country Practicum Placement scholarships for pre-service teachers willing to commit.
  • Permanent appointment offered after as little as 1 year in some Level 6+ locations.
SA Department for Education

South Australia

SA
Scheme
Country Incentives

SA classifies country schools into incentive zones. Benefits focus on housing, leave and a country teaching allowance for the more isolated postings.

Heads up

Many SA leadership appointments require demonstrated country service — it's both a benefit and a career investment.

Allowances & incentives
Country Incentive Allowance$1,800–$11,400 p.a.

Tax-free, scales with zone classification.

Country Service BenefitLump sum

Paid after qualifying service in a designated country school.

Removal expensesFull reimbursement

On transfer to and from country posts.

Other benefits
  • Subsidised government housing in many country towns.
  • Additional leave entitlements at the highest-incentive schools.
  • Travel concession for you and your family each year at remote postings.
  • Country service counts strongly toward future leadership applications.
TAS Department for Education, Children and Young People

Tasmania

TAS
Scheme
Isolated Schools Allowance

Tasmania's remote scheme is smaller but covers isolated west coast, Bass Strait islands and rural inland schools with location-based allowances.

Heads up

Tasmania's smaller footprint means remote schools fill more competitively — but Bass Strait islands consistently offer the strongest packages.

Allowances & incentives
Isolation allowance$1,500–$8,000 p.a.

Annual allowance for designated isolated schools.

Island loadingAdditional ~25%

Loading on top of base allowance for King and Flinders Island schools.

Relocation assistanceFull reimbursement

Removal and travel costs covered.

Other benefits
  • Subsidised teacher housing where available.
  • Annual travel concession for island-based teachers.
  • Additional personal leave at the most isolated schools.
ACT Education Directorate

Australian Capital Territory

ACT
Scheme
Not applicable

The ACT does not have remote or rural schools in the conventional sense — there is no formal remote allowance scheme. All ACT public schools sit within metropolitan Canberra.

Heads up

If you want a remote allowance pathway, you'll need to apply to another jurisdiction. The ACT compensates instead through competitive base salary and conditions.

Other benefits
  • ACT teachers receive nationally competitive base pay without needing a remote loading.
  • Cross-border arrangements exist for some NSW teachers working in border schools.
NT Department of Education and Training

Northern Territory

NT
Scheme
Remote Teaching Service

The NT has the most generous remote package in Australia. Almost every school outside Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs is classified remote or very remote, with substantial cash, housing and leave benefits.

Heads up

NT remote service is widely regarded as the fastest pathway to leadership in Australia. Many teachers commit 3–5 years and leave with a deposit-sized savings buffer.

Allowances & incentives
Remote locality allowance$5,000–$28,000 p.a.

Tax-free allowance based on remoteness classification.

Zone tax offsetUp to ~$1,200 tax saving

Federal ATO Zone A rebate applies to most NT remote teachers.

Remote retention bonusUp to $15,000 p.a.

Paid annually after qualifying service at very remote schools.

Electricity & water subsidyFull or partial

Utilities subsidised at most remote postings.

Other benefits
  • Fully furnished, heavily subsidised government housing — often nominal rent.
  • 6 weeks recreation leave + up to 5 days additional remote leave per year.
  • Annual return airfare for you and dependants to a nominated city.
  • Study leave and accelerated promotion at very remote schools.
  • HECS/HELP reimbursement programs for qualifying remote teachers.
A note on the numbers

"Allowance amounts shift each enterprise agreement. Treat these as a starting point — confirm the current schedule with the relevant department or your union before you sign on the dotted line."