We are going out in Jan and have just been given our placements. There have been 2 of us put in the Perth metro area, we are just an hour from Perth. The thing is, we are now not eligable for ANY housing help (financial or otherwise) so have to find our our house and we won't get any rural allowances either, so less money and much more expensive housing.

The other person is over the moon as they have family closeby, but we are really worried as I don't think that we are going to be able to manage financially.

Just wanted to make people aware of this, as we were told (in no uncertain terms) that sponsored teachers are NOT placed in Perth metro as there is no government/ subsidised housing and the housing is part of the contract.

Is there no way you can ask to go elsewhere?
I'm sure there would be a fair few who'd swap....
I must assume you're Secondary?

We immediately said we were unsure, but were told to contact headteacher and speak to her. There is only one other design and technology teacher going and they are over the moon with their placement, so no chance they would swap. They did not seem interested in swapping, more or less told us we should be thanking them.

Wow, this is the first time I have heard this happening.
They must really have a shortage in your subject in Perth too.

As most people (Australians included) want Perth, the dept would think you hit lucky not to get a rural placement. The first thing most applicants say on the 457 is can we have Perth. So I can understand their point, that you should be happy.

Check out www.domain.com.au for housing.

My hubbys opinion, he would rather have a good area and good school. Than the allowance. We took a pay cut when we got moved towns. However school is wonderful and so is the town. Yes with kids we would like/need a big rural allowance top up. But are very happy here.

Sometimes huge allowances= awful placements. You can get the big extra for a reason and its may not be a good reason.

Also being in Perth you should have more opportunities for your partner/kids etc. Sorry unsure if your single or family.

Gems

Well I have worked at some schools in pretty bad areas in Grimsby/Cleethorpes so should be well prepared if I get placed in a bad area of WA!!!!!!

Hey that reminds me of a question I have been meaning to ask...who sorts out the schooling for our kids? Do they just go to whichever school we end up placed at??? Do DET sort this for you or is it something that we have to do once we find out which area we are going to???

Thanks for the website Gems, will have a look. I totally appreciate that we are lucky to get so close, but just came as a total shock. Have had a long hard think about the situation and I'm going to try and tutor after school hours (when my husband gets in - he's the sponsored one) or even look at childminding as i have a wee one at 16 months.

Where have you been placed Kar-Kier? I didnt think they placed in the metro area at all?

Someone else has also been placed in a college teaching adults. there have certainly been some surprise postings

We've been placed in Pinjarra, it's just outside Mandurah - it's 53 miles from Perth.

You can send your kids any school you like.

It does not have to be the school your sent too. Most towns usually have several options. eg even small town 9hours from Perth, had 2 state primary schools, one christian fee paying school, and a fee paying Catholic school that went from kindy to age 16.

Eg my eldest is at a fee paying Catholic school, as he is very academic. This offered the best grades and his science subjects. Also he had been in International schools so maybe would settle better in the fee paying school.

You dont have to be Catholic to send your kids to these fee paying schools. Also fees very very cheap and can pay fortnightly direct debit.

My advice is dont rush into enrolling your kids in the first school, ask around town.

Gems

Wow Gems...9 hours from Perth!!!! Which town was that???

Kar-Kier - Pinjarra isnt the metro area of Perth. I have relatives who used to live there, I have been there, and it is about 90kms south of Perth and the most beautiful little town. It is about a 20-25 minute drive from Mandurah and the best beaches, and I would say, you have struck so lucky! I would love to be placed there. I know DET keeping going on about "rural" and "subsidised housing" and I never realised they would place anyone where there wasnt housing provided, but maybe your skills fitted the position and they couldnt fill it from local applicants. And as another poster on this site has said, big allowances have to be for a reason. Just imagine if you got placed somewhere really remote and couldnt see the sea unless you drove for 8 or 9 hours, but got a good allowance! The allowances are for a reason. Like lousy geographical position, tough school, and high cost of living in the town. Remember everything in WA is transported from Perth and you pay Perth prices plus the cost of transport. You guys have hit the jackpot in my view!

Personally I wouldn't class it as Perth Metro, but the DET do. I totally appreciate that we have been lucky getting so close to Perth. I just wanted to make others aware. We were banking on cheap housing - now we are having to find large deposit ($1000) and more money for the rent each month.

i completly understand what your saying k, very valuble info

Hi Kar-Kier - sorry if my message came across the wrong way... just wanted you to realise that although you havent got cheap rent, you will make up for it in cheaper prices at the shops! Which is probably why the DET dont provide housing in Pinjarra. You can always rent in Mandurah and commute for 20 minutes to Pinjarra every day. Those of us who go to far flung places that are a flight away from Perth might get the cheaper rents, but pay through the nose every day for food and petrol etc at much higher costs because everything has to be transported from Perth. Swings and Roundabouts stuff I suppose, but so good of you to let everyone know the situation. Something we all have to be aware of with the budgeting side of things too!

And Leeh36 your comment about people being placed in adult learning areas concerns me greatly. I did some relief (supply) work for the DET when I was on my working holiday visa, and at that time they only placed primary and secondary teachers. Does this mean that things have changed and as a secondary trained teacher, I could end up in adult education? Not sure if I want to go that route!