Discover the Goldfields - Western Australia’s largest region, where opportunity meets growth and prosperity.
Located in the south-east of Western Australia, the Goldfields stretches from the Southern Ocean coastline to the Great Sandy Desert. The region spans over 955,000 square kilometres – nearly 4 times the size of the United Kingdom.
The Goldfields is sparsely populated with most of the region’s 57,000 people living in the major centres of Kalgoorlie and Esperance. The remaining population is found in towns and Aboriginal communities spread throughout the region.
This region has a diverse and multicultural heritage, shaped by the gold rush era. There is a rich Aboriginal history with the traditional land ownership shared among several Aboriginal communities.
Find out what it's like to live and work in the Goldfields.
Schools
Schools in the Goldfields are as diverse as the landscape, catering to students from a range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Working in a Goldfields school is an opportunity to build meaningful collaborative relationships with students, their families and communities to support student learning.
Students
Outside of Esperance and Kalgoorlie, schools have multi-aged classes with smaller student numbers and prioritise working closely with surrounding Aboriginal communities to create welcoming and supportive learning environments.
Teachers and staff
Our teachers are flexible, resilient with a solution-based approach, and proficient in literacy strategies. Teaching loads and roles are likely to change in response to the needs of a diverse student population, which fluctuates throughout the school year.
Teamwork, collaboration, good interpersonal skills and a positive outlook are required for school teams to work together effectively. Schools often include a mix of experienced staff and those new to teaching or leadership positions. School staff are passionate about meeting the education needs of their students, providing high levels of enthusiasm and support.
There are opportunities for diverse job roles in Esperance at the agricultural school or the residential college, or in Kalgoorlie at the Goldfields Education Regional Office.
Beyond the classroom, the Goldfields boasts well-established communities and many large towns have access to services including:
- family and children’s amenities
- modern health facilities
- cultural and sporting activities.
The Goldfields is the place to create meaningful community connections and lifelong friendships.
Weather and climate
The Goldfields boasts mostly hot, dry summers and cool, dry winters throughout most of the region with the south experiencing a more Mediterranean-type climate throughout the year. People are socially oriented, enjoying community and sporting events and exploring the region’s many natural and historical features.
Economy
The region is known for gold and nickel mining, being the premier gold producer for the state. Agriculture, fishing, and tourism are the main industries along the coast. These industries provide a broad range of employment and business opportunities to residents.
Regional services
Services and accessibility vary in each location, most small towns will have at least a supermarket or store and a health centre or nursing post with locum staffing. Towns are supplied by regular road transport and the Royal Flying Doctor provides emergency medical treatment.
The Goldfields is an ideal gateway to exploring WA and beyond, with access to the Great Eastern Highway, Central Highway, Nullarbor Plain and more. Kalgoorlie is a 7-hour car or train trip and a 1-hour flight to Perth. Esperance is an 8-hour drive and a 1.5-hour flight to Perth.
Housing options
Housing for teachers and some other eligible staff is provided through the Government Regional Officers Housing (GROH) program with generous allowances and additional benefits. Houses are air-conditioned and subsidies are offered to help with the costs of living in the region. Find out more about the GROH program1.
Encompassing a large geographic area, the Goldfields region offers a rich cultural heritage and striking landscapes, filled with destinations to explore.
Things to do
The region has a diverse nature offering with pristine white sand beaches and endless diving, camping and fishing destinations along the coastline. There are picturesque national parks covering desert, granite and bushland terrains and you can experience the authentic Australian Outback, with walking and driving trails available.
In addition to adventures in nature, the region has a rich whaling, prospecting, and Aboriginal history to immerse yourself in with guided experiences, museums and galleries capturing the fascinating and unique heritage of the Goldfields.
