What would it mean to live an extra-ordinary life—one filled with adventure and profound purpose? For Kerri Dunn, a newly graduated teacher from Brisbane in the 80s, it meant moving thousands of kilometres from home to teach near the top of Australia.
Her career saw her teach in some of Queensland's most remote communities for over 8 years, cementing a lifelong passion for teaching First Nations students. Kerri remains a relentless campaigner for First Nations education, and her dedication to reconciliation and closing the gap continues in her work as Principal of Burnside State High School on the Sunshine Coast.
Adventure awaits
In 1986, at the end of her first year of teaching secondary home economics on the Gold Coast, Kerri's principal walked into her classroom while she was teaching and handed her a transfer to
Aurukun, a remote community on the Cape York Peninsula, in Queensland's far north.
'I had no idea where Aurukun was, so the Manual Arts teacher went to the local petrol station and got me a map. I was a little shocked and, being a Brissie girl, said, “Do you think there will be a Myers there?” Everyone laughed,' Kerri said.
Kerri said she had always wanted to go remote, so she packed her bags and dove head-first into the adventure, embracing the teaching lifestyle in an Aboriginal community.
Kerri barramundi fishing and basket weaving in Aurukun 'I had so many fantastic life experiences there. Including getting my boat licence, cattle mustering in the chopper on the cattle stations, camping, trips to Weipa, going to church singing in Wik-Munkan and learning from the female elders how to weave baskets, which I still have to this day,' she said.
'I just loved the students in Aurukun and even taught cooking to preschool students.
'I gained such an affinity for First Nation students that when it came time to leave Aurukun 2 years later in 1988, I decided to go where I could continue to use my skill set for these students. So, to my mum's disappointment, I transferred to Cairns instead of back to South East Queensland.
'I asked to be placed at
Smithfield State High School because, at the time, the Indigenous students from Kuranda attended Smithfield. I especially loved that they were teaching the First Nations Language.'
A return to the remote
Kerri spent 3 years teaching First Nations students in Cairns but said she missed living in Community and the remote lifestyle she had grown to love, so she returned to Aurukun in 1990.
'I spent another year in Aurukun, then my next remote teaching area was in
Kowanyama State School,' she said.
'I continued to use my skills to teach First Nation students and live the lifestyle I had grown accustomed to in these communities. I even had the opportunity to teach art, which I couldn't select as a second teaching area during college but excelled in at school. To this day, I have 3 lino prints in my house by renowned Aboriginal lino print artist Vanessa Hudson. She was my artist-in-residence in Kowanyama, and one of her lino prints named “Eels” is in the National Gallery of Australia.'
Kerri's last remote teaching adventure brought her to Coconut Island (now known as Poruma), a tiny 1.4km long and 400m wide island.
'I actually took my 2-week-old baby Charlotte back to Poruma,' Kerri said.
'The whole island came out to see the arrival of this 2-week-old European baby; all 100 odd of the islanders standing out at the airstrip.'
'As a new mum, the people were amazing. The ladies would often come and take Charlotte so I could get some rest as a new mum. I loved this experience. I spent my maternity leave days fishing and spearing crayfish, and the ladies would come to watch “Days of Our Lives” with me.'
Vanessa Hudson's lino prints displayed in Kerri's house
Principal's vehicle on Poruma
Poruma Island landing Professional opportunities
Kerri has been the principal at Burnside State High School for 16 years and credits her leadership and career trajectory with the opportunities given to her when teaching in remote locations.
'I was given fantastic opportunities during my time there. At only 26, I was acting Principal in Kowanyama for 6 months after being the Head of Department in Aurukun in my 5th year of teaching,' Kerri said.
'My time there shaped the person I have become and who I am now as a principal. I have become very driven, significantly focusing on First Nation agendas and global partnerships.
'Burnside has a partnership with the Bangarra Dance Theatre's Rekindling Youth Program and sister schools in Japan, Indonesia and India. Without my experiences in remote communities, I would not have forged these connections for my students, community and school. I feel very blessed, and my time teaching remote has made me who I am.
'It is also amazing how life comes full circle with my daughter, Charlotte, now a prep teacher in Brisbane.'
Curious about a remote adventure?
There are 22 state schools located in identified Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland. When asked what her advice is to anyone undecided about teaching in rural and remote locations, Kerri said 'Get out there and become the best version of yourself as a teacher and a person.'
To explore the personal and professional benefits of teaching in some of Australia's most unique and culturally rich communities, head to our
rural and remote incentives page. Your own adventure awaits.
*Images provided by Kerri Dunn.