QTAD Q&A: Teaching in remote locations – incentives and benefits

There is a range of incentives and benefits for teachers who work in rural/remote state schools. Incentives and benefits listed under the Remote Area Incentives Scheme include:

• compensation cash benefit (for the individual teacher and any declared dependents) – paid twice yearly in March and September
• incentive cash benefit – paid annually in September
• special incentive cash benefit – paid annually in September
• identified location incentive (for some schools) – paid annually in September
• extra emergent leave (2-5 days depending on location).

Locality allowance

As public servants, teachers are also eligible to receive a fortnightly-paid locality allowance if appointed to a specific centre outlined in the Locality Allowances Directive (www.psc.qld.gov.au/publications/directives/assets/1999-19-locality-allowances.pdf). The allowance offsets the extra costs associated with living in remote locations and varies upon location. Full-time teachers will automatically receive an amount equal to half the full rate of locality allowance with their fortnightly salary. To receive the full rate of locality allowance, the teacher would need to complete a locality allowance form declaring that they have a dependent spouse, dependent de facto spouse or dependent child. A dependent is defined as one who earns less than the Queensland minimum wage.

Do I still receive the full locality allowance if I am on leave?

This all depends on the type of leave you take. Teachers on leave at full pay will receive the allowance at the normal rate. Teachers on half-pay leave will receive the allowance at half pay. The allowance would cease during a period of leave without pay.

Will the amount of locality allowance be reduced if I am part-time?

Part-time teachers will receive payment of the allowance based on the rate of their employment fraction. You must advise the department of any changes to your circumstances as soon as they occur, to avoid any overpayments. Example: a teacher is receiving the full allowance because he/she has a dependent spouse. When the teacher no longer has a dependent spouse as defined by the Locality Allowance Directive (19/99), he/she must notify the department.

Other benefits to working in remote schools may include: access to transfer and relocation assistance (expenses), access to government housing at subsidised rates and accelerated transfer points.

DETE will provide teachers with information about the range of incentives and benefits when offering a position to a rural/remote school. Incentives and benefits vary depending on location.

For more, read the QTU RAIS brochure at https://stacks.qtu.asn.au/brochure-rais
or information from DETE at http://tinyurl.com/rais-policy and http://tinyurl.com/dete-guide

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 119 No 4, 23 May 2014, p30