Roma, Maranoa and South West Queensland

Charleville

Bilbies, the Milky Way and the Flying Doctor Service. These are 3 things you might think of when you think of Charleville, however, there is much more to this beautiful country town located 3 hours’ drive west of Roma. Surrounded by rich pastoral land, you’ll also find friendly locals who welcome teachers to their community with open arms and a laid-back country lifestyle.

Nature-lovers will enjoy their time in Charleville, with beautiful wildflowers in early spring and its own Outback Native Timber Walk showcasing the local native trees around a pond where birds love to assemble. The avid history buff will be in their element surrounded by colonial history, including the nearby Graham Andrews Parklands which is home to the famous Vortex Rainmaking Guns.

The students of Charleville and surrounds are well supported with Charleville State School, Charleville State High School and Charleville School of Distance Education located in town and other schools within an hour’s drive of Charleville. This means there are a range of opportunities for teachers and their families in this area.

Cunnamulla

Immerse yourself in a true outback adventure just 2 hours’ drive south of Charleville in the country town of Cunnamulla. When you live in Cunnamulla, say goodbye to lengthy commutes to and from school which leaves you with more time to spend with loved ones, hobbies, or taking a casual stroll or catching dinner on the Warrego River (the locals are always happy to share their tips for the best spot!). This is the perfect base for teachers who are looking for a laid-back lifestyle with the option of weekend daytrips exploring amazing locations, attractions and events. Whether it’s kayaking or swimming on the Warrego River, checking out over 200 of the region’s native bird species, sandboarding on some of the best natural sand hills in Australia, or camping or bathing in natural bore water at Charlotte Plains, you will be spoilt for choice in Cunnamulla.

The local school, Cunnamulla P–12 State School caters for students from Prep to Year 12. The leadership team values teachers who build strong caring relationships with their students, families and wider community and bring real-life learning experiences into their classroom by making use of local contexts as much as possible. Staff at the school agree that they receive useful feedback and enjoy working at the school.

Check out Outback Queensland’s video about Cunnamulla and then learn more about the benefits of living in the area from the Paroo Shire Council.

St George

St George is a typical Queensland country town located 370km west of Toowoomba. It is here that you’ll find a town equipped with good coffee, quality pub food (including one famous for its family sized burgers!), gourmet delis, a butcher, bakery, grocery and hardware stores, and much more.

In spring, it’s wide streets are lined with beautiful purple, pink and white flowers from the Bauhinia trees, while in November, the stunning purple flowers of the Jacaranda trees take centre-stage.

It’s laid-back country atmosphere makes it the perfect place to come for a change of pace.

There’s still plenty to do in St George, including a self-drive Cotton Trail and Heritage Trail (PDF, 1.3MB). Watch this video from Balonne Shire Council to learn about St George and then explore other things you can do in the area.

St George State School supports students with all learning abilities and needs from Prep to Year 6, with multi-age/straight year level class groupings reflecting the diversity of students who attend the school. All classrooms are fully air-conditioned and sound proofed and contain interactive panels, sound field systems and hearing augmentation devices.

St George State High School provides a setting where teachers, students, parents and the community work together in a positive and successful learning environment. They do this through high academic performance, quality vocational programs, community engagement, pastoral care and a technology-rich environment.

Quilpie

Located 200km west of Charleville and 830km west of Toowoomba, the outback town of Quilpie is a great place to start or take the next step in your teaching career. This small town has a lot of big things to offer (check out Visit Quilpie Shire’s Facebook video to find out what they are!). Residents of the town have access to a town library, swimming pool, museum, well-stocked stores, sports grounds, golf course, an air-conditioned hall and great fishing on the Bulloo River. They also enjoy hot summers and spring-like winters, making it the perfect place to escape the cold.

Quilpie State College caters for students from Prep to Year 10. Students in Year 11 and 12 have the option of accessing the school’s facilities, technology and staff to engage with distance education studies. The school maintains a safe and disciplined environment that promotes successful learners through quality teaching and learning, high expectations and dynamic partnerships with the school community. Their contemporary classroom environments feature the newest digital learning technologies to assist students to access all learning areas of the Australian Curriculum. Staff at the school are passionate professionals who are committed to helping students achieve success in a supportive environment through positive relationships and high-quality learning experiences.

Watch Outback Queensland’s video about Quilpie on YouTube.