Panel of Speakers

The 2012 Seminar was held at the School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE) where 23 prospective tutors came to hear what we are all about from an excellent panet of speakers.

Carolyn Halleen, our chairman, an outback mother who has educated all her children at home, opened the Seminar. She gave a short talk on the role of ICPA (Isolated Children and Parents’ Association) in relation to REVISE WA and how we were conceived and set up to fill the needs for home ecucators in remote areas. She explained how the tutor system works and how it is funded through grants and donations.

Christine Bevans, Principal of Meekatharra School of the Air (MSOTA), gave an interesting power point presentation which showed tutors with their students in a variety of work and play situations. She explained the operation of the SOTAs throughout the State which caters for K – 7 students who live in isolated locations or are unable to attend a regular school. SIDE deals with isolated Secondary students as well as K – 12 students currently interstate or overseas. SOTA started in 1939 first with pedal radio, then two way radios and now with computers linked to Satelite communication.

Christine explained how tutors helped both the students and the parents and how accompanying spouses can assist in the classroom and / or around the Station. She encouraged prospective tutors to contact SOTA teachers both before and during a placement for help and advice about their students.

Jo Jackson-King, an outback mum, gave an excellent talk and a very vivid perspective of what it’s like being a busy mum on a Station – in the house, garden and classroom, as well as possibly holding down a job. It is an intense lifestyle with lots of responsibility and no respite. She emphasised how valued REVISE tutors are. They give the home tutor a much needed break to do things that have been on the “to do” list for a very long time. Tutors can see the children and their work through a fresh pair of eyes and, on many occasions, this can result in a break through with pleasing improvements in the children’s confidence and work. Parents are given support and new ideas to help tackle problems, to keep lessons interesting and to reassure themselves that they can continue doing a good job as the home tutor after the REVISE teacher has left.

Barbara Vickridge, who is an experienced REVISE WA tutor with 17 placements under her belt, spoke of both the teaching and the living aspects of tutoring on the Station. She reiterated Jo’s comments about how helpful a spouse can be and gave a couple of instances of what her husband John had done on stations over the years. She explained about the accommodation, the meals with the family, joining in with some of their activities and the importance of allowing for time to oneself.

Barbara emphasised the need for organisation and sticking to the timetable! “Don’t do your own thing because it makes it harder for the home tutor after you have left”. She advised tutors to have a break after lessons then prepare for the next day planning for more than enough activities just in case the satelite connection or the generator fails.

Lyn Wolyniek from SIDE introduced her colleague Angela Signorile who conducted a helpful and reassuring session on working with Centra and the computers. Everyone had a turn using the computers, headsets and microphones exactly as they are set up in the classroom for the daily Centra lessons. Angela showed how to recognise and use some basic but important icons to start then participate in a lesson with the SOTA teacher.  This session was aimed to increase tutors confidence and to lessen their anxiety about using this important but foreign learning / teaching aid.

Ray and Mary Cahalin spoke briefly about their new role as REVISE WA coordinators and the process they go through to try to match a suitable tutor to the parents’ requests. They advised everyone to refer to the REVISE WA website for guidance.

The seminar concluded with a panel (consisting of a representative from each of the abve organisations) taking questions from the floor.

Finally Carolyn thanked both the speakers and the visitors and invited those interested to take a “first time” package, expressing the hope that she would hear that they had applied to be REVISE WA tutors.

The scheme provides voluntary tutors  to assist parents in the supervision of their children’s education received through the School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE) and regional Schools of the Air (SOTA).

There are times on a station when the parents may find it difficult to adequately supervise their children’s education:

• at times of peak workload, say shearing or mustering
• when there is illness or an accident
• when it is felt professional help from an experienced teacher would be beneficial
• or when a parent  just needs a break to preserve their sanity

Under these situations REVISE WA can send a tutor, typically for a period of four to six weeks, to supervise the children’s school work while the supervising parent is freed to attend to other tasks. The parents can be confident that the children are in good hands and their education is progressing under capable guidance.

Tutors are unpaid volunteers. REVISE WA organises and pays tutor’s transport to and from the properties. The scheme relies for funding on parents’ contributions, donations from organisations and individuals and an annual Government grant. Parents are required to provide suitable accommodation, including meals.

Each year, on average, about 30 teachers are placed with families in remote areas (mostly sheep and cattle stations), occasionally a mining settlement, farm or roadhouse.

Applications may be made online.

If you would like to donate to us feel free to contact us at revisewa@bigpond.com. For further information please contact the Coordinator.