New houses are supporting public school teachers across South Australia with eight new regional properties being provided through a State Government program, already handed over to new tenants.

Over the past year, eight homes have already been occupied by teachers in Mount Gambier (two), Renmark (two) and Moonta Bay (four) plus an additional three properties will be handed over in Ceduna early this year.

The homes are managed by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) with residential placements managed by the Department for Education’s Country Housing Service – a component of the Country Education Strategy, which supports teachers to take up placements in country schools.

Other housing initiatives include the upgrade of existing government housing – such as work undertaken as a former retirement village in Port Augusta to refurbish eight units for the use of Department for Education staff.

This work has created safe and suitable housing in a region where there is an acute shortage of rental accommodation. Three of the units are specifically set aside to provide short term accommodation for relief teachers and student teachers on placements.

Government housing is available to both permanent and contract teachers, who work more than 100km away from Adelaide, at a subsidised rental rate.

Rental subsidies are also available for teachers moving into private rentals where there is no suitable government housing, and the Department works closely with DIT and local real estate agents to find appropriate properties.

Country schools account for half of all public education, and the availability of safe, suitable and comfortable housing is key to ensuring teachers can settle into new communities and start working at their new schools as quickly and easily as possible.