Teachers who choose to work in Australia’s very remote communities may be eligible for financial support which reduces their HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) debt while they teach.
The HELP Debt Reduction Program for Very Remote Teachers offers two types of financial assistance for eligible teachers:
- HELP debt reduction: A reduction of HELP debt after teaching full-time in a very remote area for 1,400 days within a 6-year period.
- Indexation waivers: A waiver of indexation on outstanding HELP debt while working in a very remote area.
Teaching in very remote communities offers the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on students, families and the community – often in ways not possible elsewhere.
For teachers, the professional and personal rewards can be significant. Very remote teaching often provides accelerated leadership and development opportunities, broad professional experience, smaller class sizes and stronger community ties. Many state and territory governments also offer additional incentives including subsidised housing, relocation assistance and travel allowances.
Teachers must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- have completed an initial teacher qualification
- are working or have worked as a teacher at a school, pre-school or centre-based day care in a very remote area as defined by the ABS Remoteness Structure
- have an outstanding HELP debt when they commenced working in a very remote area.
To find out more about the program, visit HELP Debt Reduction Program for Very Remote Teachers.