How a metro-rural partnership is inspiring the next generation of educators

​​​​It started with a simple question: What if more young people saw themselves as teachers?

That idea sparked the creation of Loganlea State High School’s Investment in Future Teachers (LIFT), a program designed to help students see teaching not just as a career but as a calling.

'When we first surveyed our students, many weren’t interested in teaching. There were myths about past experiences that shaped their views,' says Kiri Griffiths, Loganlea SHS Deputy Principal and LIFT program lead.

'We knew we had to do something different to change the narrative.'

That 'something different' included a recent study tour to Malanda, a small rural town in the Queensland Tablelands.

This visit, made possible through philanthropic grant funding, was an opportunity for Loganlea students to experience teaching life in a rural setting. Kiri says the trip led to some unexpected shifts, including for Year 9 student Gad, the visit sparking a re-evaluation of where he sees himself teaching.

'I originally thought I wanted to work in a high school environment, but after spending time with the Year 6s, I connected with them really well,' he says.

'Now I’m on the fence between primary and secondary.'

Malanda Principal Natasha Lyndon says hosting the students was a natural extension of her long-standing commitment to growing the teaching workforce in rural and remote communities.

'We can’t always get to the city to attend recruitment fairs,' she says.

'So, we decided to bring the experience here and show students what it’s really like to live and work in a rural town.'

Natasha says one of her goals is to highlight that rural teaching doesn’t mean 'tumbleweeds and isolation'.

'Far North Queensland has beautiful rainforests and tight-knit communities. The biggest surprise for many students is how interconnected everything is,' she says.

That sense of connection proved powerful, as Loganlea students got a feel for rural teaching and what it means to be part of a school that’s deeply embedded in its community.

'It was like everyone knew each other at school and outside of school,' says Year 11 student Katrina.

'You could really feel the sense of community, and that’s something I’d love to experience in a school one day.'

That close-knit feel also struck Year 10 student Daina.

'You could tell that even the high and primary schools were part of the same community,' she says.

'It showed what it means to be part of something bigger.'

At Malanda, the visit sparked interest among local students, too.

'A few of my own students came to me and said, "Mrs Lyndon, if I became a teacher, would I get to do a trip like that?"​' Natasha says.​

'It’s started a really meaningful conversation about teaching as a career.'

A model for other schools

​Natasha says the partnership's success lies in its simplicity and authenticity: relationships built on shared values.

'I hope other schools see the model as something they can replicate, with or without grant funding,' she says.

'There’s this idea that we’re competing for teachers, but the truth is we’re all in this together.

'Every student deserves a great teacher, whether they’re in Logan, Malanda or anywhere in between.'

For Kiri, the impact has been immediate. While Loganlea officially launched the LIFT program in 2023, the school has been running different versions of its Future Teachers initiative for several years.

Over that time, there has been a steady rise in the number of students pursuing education degrees, including 1 former student returning to teach at the school.

'Even if a student decides teaching isn’t for them, they’re making an informed choice and that’s a win,' she says.

Natasha says that, looking forward, both schools plan to continue the exchange, with Malanda exploring how it can send its own students south to see urban schools in action.

'Whether you're drawn to the outback or the city, teaching can take you further than you think,' she says.

'It all begins with opening students' eyes to the possibilities.'