Western Downs area

Jandowae

Half an hour north-west of Dalby is the small community of Jandowae, a charming town filled with classic Queensland architecture, heritage shop fronts and friendly locals. There is a lot of support within the community and a strong community spirit, making it a great place to live and teach for both singles and families. The town is surrounded by some of Queensland’s richest and most productive agricultural land, where you’ll find wheat, sorghum, oats, barley, sunflower, safflower, millet and linseed being grown.

For more information about living in Jandowae, including things to do in the local area, check out the Western Downs Regional Council's welcome to Jandowae guide.

Jandowae Prep–10 State School supports students from the local town and the surrounding farms. The school has built an inclusive and compassionate community of teachers, students and parents which provides the ideal environment for fostering individual strengths, meeting student needs and challenging the abilities of each student. In addition to ensuring that teachers at the school gain the latest in professional development, the school has fostered a team approach to teaching to ensure the best educational outcomes for each student.

Chinchilla

What do fishing, fossicking and fruit festivals have in common? You can find them in the Western Downs town of Chinchilla, located 80km west of Dalby and 300km west of Brisbane. Known as the Melon Capital, Chinchilla produces approximately 25% of Australia’s watermelons, rockmelons and honeydew melons and is famous for its biennial festival celebrating this important industry. There are a range of other local events held here throughout the year, including races, an annual show and camp draft, all of which are prime opportunities for you to soak up the country atmosphere. While you’re there, try your hand at fossicking in Chinchilla, with petrified wood in abundance, much sought after by lapidary enthusiasts for its quality and colour.

Check out the Western Downs Regional Council's welcome to Chinchilla guide for everything you need to know about living in this colourful town and watch the video (transcript) to hear from Kate who moved her family to Chinchilla in 2018.

Chinchilla State School is a vibrant and prosperous school with great students, staff and parents. The school has a strong focus on literacy and numeracy, with teaching and learning supported by a support teacher as well as a guidance officer and student support committee. The school grounds and buildings have been revitalised recently to ensure a modern teaching and learning environment.

Chinchilla State High School’s motto, ‘Learning together for a happy and productive future’, underpins a positive school culture that has been forged upon a strong sense of community support and high standards of uniform and personal discipline. Staff members at the school are enthusiastic in their work and there is a strong focus on student wellbeing and a supportive school environment. The school is proud of its history of academic achievement, social connection and student development. They recognise that this would not have been possible without the local people, teachers, staff and students who value education as an enormous benefit to individuals, society and to the country and look for teachers who exhibit this ethos so that they may continue this legacy.

Tara

Soak up the chorus of birds as they fly across the candy-coloured skies of sunset, while the sun slowly dips below the horizon, illuminating the water of Tara Lagoon. If you’re after dreamy sunsets, then Tara, at the start of Queensland’s Sunset Way and only 3 and a half hours from Brisbane, should be on your radar. As a new teacher in town, you’ll fall in love with the warm, friendly atmosphere and welcoming locals who are always happy to stop and chat. There are plenty of opportunities to get to know them better too, with a range of recreational activities available (tennis courts, golf course, bowls club and a swimming pool) and community events (including sheepdog trials, sheering competitions, rodeos, country show, race meetings and the annual camel races) offering you the chance to become more involved in the local community. If you’re interested in making Tara your next home, check out this local’s guide on the Experience Western Downs website for more.

The local school, Tara Shire State College is at the heart of the community and offers a seamless education for local students from Prep to Year 12. Staff at the school are passionate about providing quality learning experiences that are relevant and appropriate to their students. Thanks to local community support, approximately one third of senior students undertake a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship across a broad range of industries. All students benefit from a range of extra-curricular activities, including sport, instrumental music, agriculture, camps and eisteddfods.