Three Benefits and Three Challenges
of Regional Education at
Esperance Anglican Community School
Jordan Smith, Principal, Esperance Anglican Community School
The Benefits
An education outside of the hustle and bustle of a city allows for unique opportunities. In Esperance, many of these are found with the beautiful coastline and natural surrounds. Others relate to community connections, providing service opportunities and engagements with local businesses who authentically care about the growth of young people within the community, as they recognise the importance of positively influencing the next generation.
A regional setting also provides for a small school where each child is known. Our distinctly Anglican approach to pastoral care, which ensures inclusivity, community, and connection, allows each child to develop their own gifts and be celebrated by all within the community. Partnering with local groups and organisations can often allow a fortunate few to gain real-world experience not available in the city.
Providing the opportunity for students to board in our 40-bed Boarding House in the centre of our school grounds provides a unique country boarding experience, often fostering additional connections to their families by reducing burdensome travel. Boarding also provides a unique dynamic to a school, as the school’s operations are always happening 24/7!
The Challenges
Students often travel about 10 hours on a bus to attend opportunities in Perth that many metropolitan schools take for granted, such as interschool sporting events, university visits, or opportunities to hear guest speakers. This usually also includes additional costs of overnight accommodation and personal food expenses. Likewise, additional time spent away from family and friends, or missing out on engaging in community events such as sports, always presents challenges.
Our School has a committed and dedicated number of teaching and support staff, however, in a small regional town, there are only so many teachers available at any one time. This can present challenges when a staff member with a particular skill set leaves, as there may not immediately be someone to replace them. Likewise, the Esperance community can be transient, with families moving in and out of the town as work is available. Sometimes this means students and families who love the School leave simply due to the economic circumstances of the town.
The cost of living is a topic of conversation everywhere in Australia. However, the cost of living in regional areas is significant factor, with larger overhead costs relating to the limited population and the cost of transporting goods to the regions. In a school setting, freight expenses are considerable, often aligning with the comparative costs associated with purchasing locally. This challenge also extends to access to services; one example is the lack of mental health support services with limited trained professionals accessible. While online connection can overcome some aspects, it is not yet at a level that can replace the connections made in-person.
While there are both benefits and challenges to regional education, the gratitude of our students and their families for the opportunities provided energises us to continue to provide the best possible educational experiences, and we are committed to highlighting and celebrating the benefits while overcoming the unique situational challenges.