Schools in the Pilbara Education District
The Pilbara Education District is situated in the North West of Western Australia in a region that extends from the coastal town of Onslow, 540 km north to Port Hedland, and inland 780 km to Jigalong Remote Community in the east. It is a region of contrast and spectacular scenery. There is a lot of industry (iron ore, salt, natural gas) with exports concentrated around the coastal towns of Dampier and Port Hedland. With strong local government and business support there is a diverse range of cultural and recreational activities.
Education opportunities in the Pilbara range from pre-school to post secondary. Both government and non-government schools are present in major towns. For primary and secondary students in areas too remote to attend regular schools, the Port Hedland School of the Air provides opportunities for children to study by correspondence.
There are 32 government schools in the Pilbara including School of the Air (SOTA) and Dampier Camp School. The Dampier Camp school is located in the coastal town Dampier. The camp school is managed by Mr John Lalley (Principal) who has had many years experience in the Pilbara and can arrange dynamic programs for students and teachers. Many remote and isolated schools access the camp's special programs.
Some schools may have a high percentage of Aboriginal students. This can be the case in Onslow, Roebourne, Port Hedland, and Newman and remote schools of Yanderyarra, Jigalong, Marble Bar, and Nullagine. Others schools tend to have a lower percentage of Aboriginal students. The smaller communities of Jigalong, Onslow, Yandeyarra, Ngurrawanna, Marble Bar, Nullagine, and Roebourne have strong local Aboriginal community involvement. (Jigalong, Marble Bar, Nullagine and Ngurrawanna are remote areas that sometimes become isolated from communication links or road access following cyclones.)
There are approximately 82 Aboriginal DET staff in the Pilbara that work in schools or the district office as either gardeners, cleaners, AIEOs, teachers, assistant teachers, or language teachers.