Meeting with teachers at Normanton School, 5 October 1999 - notes
The meeting was attended by approximately 15 teachers and members of the school staff. From HREOC: Chris Sidoti, Human Rights Commissioner; Lady Pearl Logan, Queensland Co-Commissioner; and two Commission staff.
School attendance
"School attendance is an issue of concern in Normanton. On an average day approximately 75% of the students are in attendance."
"Attendance strategies include one of the teachers taking responsibility for visiting homes to follow up those children who have been absent from school without explanation."
"Home visits have indicated that a significant number of parents think that their children are at school when they are not."
Students with special needs
"The school receives departmental support in dealing with student problems. An officer of the Education Department visits the school twice each term to discuss issues. She is also contactable between visits by phone and fax. While she does her best, she is not at the school long enough to have proper talks with students, parents and teachers. We have to share her with eight other schools so this limits the amount of attention she can give us."
"Support for students with disabilities is also very limited. A mental health specialist visits the school only once a year or if there is a serious matter that requires immediate attention."
"Speech therapists and other medical professionals are also very scarce."
TAFE
"There is a TAFE College in Normanton. We would like to have much closer links with TAFE. However, under its central charter, TAFE is basically run as a business. Any support they provide must be given in that context. They have indicated that they would like to do more for us but if it does not fit within their business criteria they are unable to help us."
"A new director has recently been appointed at the local TAFE. He seems like a very committed individual and we are hopeful that we will be able to work closely with him. At present he is seeking to secure resources and get more teachers in. He said he hopes to establish more programs for disadvantaged young people in the local area."
Teacher conditions and support
"The conditions and the support for teachers who come to places like Normanton is far from adequate."
"First year teachers who come here have no idea what they are getting themselves into. Many of them find it very hard to cope."
"The financial bonuses for teachers who work in remote areas are not as attractive as they seem. The bonus averages around $4,000 but after tax it is only around $1,800."
"The high cost of airfares to and from Normanton also makes the financial benefits for teachers more illusory than real. For example, a return airfare to Cairns costs $589."
"Teacher housing in Normanton is very unsatisfactory. The properties are not well-maintained. It is very difficult to get the right tradespeople to do the work needed."
"Teacher housing is also very scarce. Available housing stock is always full. Teachers often end up having to share with other people. At present there is a new teacher and we don't have a house for him."
"Because it is very difficult to accommodate people with families, we tend to get younger, less experienced teachers."
"No matter how much money they give you to live here, it doesn't make your life any happier if you have to share a home with someone you don't really get along with."
"Teachers come to Normanton not prepared for the fact they will have large classes with many children who cannot read or write."
"It's not just a question of more money for teachers. It's about training them in what to expect and how to cope and providing them with appropriate support when they get here."
"I don't think any of us felt properly supported when we first came to Normanton."
Sport
"There is a lack of community based club sport for young people in Normanton and other remote communities in the Gulf area of Queensland. This is regrettable because club sport has traditionally played an important role in children's development. It helps them develop qualities such as teamwork, goal-setting, self-discipline, respect and social skills.
"There is a need for creative strategies to overcome this problem. One strategy could be to establish fully equipped sport institutes in a number of remote communities, including Normanton. The institutes would employ qualified instructors to provide training for young people in a range of sporting disciplines. To cater for children outside the immediate area, training modules could be developed involving intensive 3-4 day training camps. The institutes, while being open to all children in the relevant communities, would also provide a pathway for those with special talents to proceed to State titles."
[The above model is set out in more detail in a written submission to the inquiry.]
Last updated 2 December 2001.
