An innovative QUT teacher education program that empowers towns to ‘grow their own’ teachers is underway for 2026 to help address the teacher shortage in Far North Queensland, North Queensland, Central Queensland and North West Queensland.
EQuIPT (Employing Queensland: Innovative Pathways to Teaching) is an Australian Government funded employment-based pathway program run by QUT.
The program began last year and has two streams.
The ‘Grow Your Own’ stream enables people from regional, rural and remote towns to start QUT teaching degrees as external students studying online, while working at their own local school in roles such as teacher aides.
The program’s four regional hubs are:
- Far North Queensland – Innisfail, Cardwell and Tully
- North Queensland – Mount Isa
- Central Queensland – Sarina, Emerald, Moranbah and Clermont
- North West Queensland – Doomadgee
The second stream, ‘Send Our Best’, sees existing QUT students from Brisbane head west and north – once they’ve completed at least half of their degree – to fill critical teaching vacancies in regional, rural and remote schools while still studying.
Professor Terri Bourke, who is the Dean and Head of the QUT School of Education, said this year 32 students were studying teaching at QUT as part of the ‘Grow Your Own’ stream.
Twenty-seven of those students travelled to Brisbane last week to visit the university’s Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point campuses, with their trip supported by EQuIPT.
They are all studying a Bachelor of Education (in primary or secondary school teaching) or a Master of Teaching.
Professor Bourke said QUT was proud to be helping regional, rural and remote education students follow their ambitions to become teachers in their local communities.
“Combining studying and work is a challenge but these students are succeeding because of their passion for teaching, their dedication to their studies and to their local community, and the support they are receiving from their schools and QUT,” she said.
“Importantly, all our students in the Grow Your Own pathway receive a scholarship ranging from $8000 to $12,000 as part of the EQuIPT program, which helps reduce financial barriers to study and supports their journey toward a new career.”
Seven QUT students (pictured at top of page) who are currently working at Mount Isa schools were among the group that visited Brisbane this month.
Michaela Clauson is the School and Community Partnership Facilitator at Townview State School, where she has worked for four years.
She is now studying primary school teaching through QUT and EQuIPT, while balancing work and family commitments.
She aspires to one day be a First Nations principal in her home town of Mount Isa.
Michaela has multi-generational ties with her school – she and her mum both went there, and now the next generation of her family do too.
“I have wanted to become a teacher for a long time, but previously lacked the confidence to apply for university,” she said.
“After attending an information session in Mount Isa about the EQUIPT program delivered by QUT, I realised that studying was achievable despite living remotely and balancing family commitments.
“Since beginning the program mid last year, I have appreciated the strong support systems and flexibility that allow me to continue working and caring for my family while studying.
“My long-term goal is to step into school leadership, with the aspiration of becoming a principal. That goal is very personal to me – being Aboriginal has deeply shaped my connection to community and strengthened my passion for supporting families and students.
“I want to lead in a way that builds strong, respectful relationships between schools and their communities, supports positive outcomes for students, and creates an environment where every child and family feels valued, understood, and connected.”
Spinifex State College Year 12 graduate Ashlee Toms has embarked on uni straight out of school, while also settling into a new job as a teacher aide at Mount Isa Central State School.
Ashlee grew up in Mount Isa and has always wanted to be a primary school teacher.
But she said her dream would have been out of reach if she had not been able to study online.
“I chose the EQUIPT program because the staff at QUT are so supportive and helpful – and this program also allows me to work at a primary school, which I love!” she said.
“I don’t think I would have been able to study straight after graduating high school if there was no online option for uni.
“To be able to study externally from home is so amazing, as I can work and save money at the same time as uni, without having to spend it all.”
Ashlee is currently working four days a week as a teacher aide, combined with her university study.
Jess Davies has previously studied social work and moved to Mount Isa for a job in youth work before becoming the school chaplain at Spinifex State College in 2023.
She is now studying secondary education through EQuIPT, with English and history specialisations.
She said she first started seriously considering doing a teaching degree at the beginning of last year.
“My biggest passion is supporting young people and I felt like there was an impact that I could be having on the lives of young people that I was missing out on,” Jess said.
“At the time, I had also done a lot of educational support with students and I loved that moment when the young person ‘got it’. So, ultimately, the idea of positively impacting young people every day was a strong motivation for becoming a teacher.”
Jess said she was loving her degree, and that her school and QUT had helped make it an easy transition.
“Every member of the QUT staff that I have interacted with have been incredibly helpful,” she said.
“And at school, I have had multiple teachers offer to pass on their notes, read assessment drafts, and give advice on managing workload and pathways.”
Jess hopes to teach in rural and remote communities after she graduates, or be a distance education teacher.
“I would love to eventually reach a point where I can work in a space that combines social, emotional support and education such as a guidance officer or year level head or even a deputy principal,” she said.
The Executive Director of EQuIPT, Associate Professor Jen Clifton, said the initiative reflected the belief that “strong teacher education is built on partnerships between universities, schools, and the communities they serve”.
Alongside the Grow Your Own cohort, 23 metro-based QUT students will take up employment in regional schools this year through EQuIPT’s Send Our Best stream.
Nine new teachers also became the Send Our Best program’s first graduates in December.
They started their teaching career early during their final year of uni, under the state’s ‘Permission to Teach’ provisions. Many have stayed in their new communities to continue teaching in 2026.
Main image at top: Mount Isa education students during their visit to QUT in Brisbane.
Back row – Jess Davies (Spinifex State College), Ashlee Toms (Central State School), Aria Miller (Spinifex State College), Michaela Clauson (Townview State School)
Front row: Myraldy Grace Balatan (Healy State School), Montarna Kippist (Healy State School), Lily Cameron (Healy State School).
QUT Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
