The Rural and Remote Education Access Program (RREAP) provides funding to eligible rural and remote state schools and their communities to improve the educational outcomes and opportunities for students who are disadvantaged because of their geographical isolation so that students' learning outcomes match those of other students.
RREAP is governed by the department's
Rural and Remote Education Access Program (RREAP) procedure which should be followed when administering RREAP funds. The procedure is complemented by the
ideas for RREAP projects (DOCX, 143KB) which provides examples of RREAP activities that support and enrich a curriculum that is appropriate for the educational needs of geographically isolated students.
Eligibility and funding
State schools classified as 'Very Remote' and 'Remote' are eligible for RREAP funding. 'Outer Regional' schools are eligible if they are 90km or more from an urban centre locality of 20,000 people or more. All
Schools of Distance Education (SDEs) are classified as 'Very Remote' for the purposes of RREAP, with funding provided to SDEs based on their student's home address meeting the geographic criteria above.
Eligible schools and clusters automatically receive funding to support projects that:
- enhance their students' curriculum opportunities by providing access to services and programs supporting specific learning areas that cannot be sourced locally or incur additional costs compared to urban school communities
- supplement their school's access to information and communication technologies by extending the department's existing equipment and software provisions
- provide professional development to their staff and capability building opportunities for school community members to contribute towards improved educational outcomes for geographically isolated students.
RREAP funding and eligibility is detailed further in the
RREAP appropriation profile.
Information for individual schools
All
eligible schools receive funding automatically through school grant payments each year in line with the RREAP appropriation profile in February and July. Staff can view their school's funding allocation by searching for 'RREAP' on OnePortal.
The decision-making for each school's RREAP payments remains the responsibility of school principals. Principals undertake consultation with the P&C or parents of children attending the school and local community members, including Traditional Owners and other key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, regarding how to best expend funds. This is to take place during regular P&C meetings and by engaging with members of the school community who may submit proposals for RREAP projects to principals.
School principals or their proxies represent their school, P&C or parents of children attending the school and local community members at their School Cluster Committee meetings.
Information for School Cluster Committees (SCC)
School Cluster Committee (SCC)
host schools receive funding automatically on behalf of their cluster through school grant payments each year in line with the RREAP appropriation profile payment details in February, July and September. Staff can view their cluster's funding allocation by searching for 'RREAP' on OnePortal.
SCCs are the decision-makers on this funding and ensure that cluster funds are used to support the improvement of educational outcomes and opportunities for rural and remote state school students through projects that provide: curriculum enhancement opportunities to students; supplementary access to information, communication and technology; and professional development and capability building.
Membership on SCCs consists of each school principal in the cluster or their proxy who represent their school, P&C or parents of children attending the school and local community members. SCCs meet periodically to collaborate, plan, budget and report on RREAP expenditure.
SCCs can change their host school by emailing
RREAP@qed.qld.gov.au with approval from the relevant principals.
Information for parents and school communities
P&Cs or parents of children attending the school and local community members are encouraged to actively engage with their local school principals regarding how best to expend RREAP funds for their local school and cluster.
The
ideas for RREAP projects (DOCX, 143KB) document provides examples of RREAP activities that support and enrich a curriculum that is appropriate for the educational needs of geographically isolated students.
Parents and school communities can engage with their local school principals during regular P&C meetings or by submitting proposals to their local
RREAP school offering or promoting projects that provide: curriculum enhancement opportunities to students; supplementary access to information, communication and technology; and professional development and capability building.
Parents and school communities can also submit proposals for cluster projects through their local school principal. Projects may include joint school initiatives or partnerships with community-based organisations providing extra-curricular programs targeting RREAP school students.
RREAP contacts
Other educational programs
Regional and Remote Schools Touring Service
Developed in consultation with Queensland teachers, the Regional and Remote Schools
Touring Service is delivered by Shake and Stir Theatre Company and supported by Arts Queensland and the Department of Education.
The service offers curriculum-aligned live performances, workshops, residencies and
tailored engagement models for Early Years through to Secondary across a range of
artforms such as theatre, music, dance, circus and writing. Programs including wellbeing, pastoral and behavioural support are also available.
QLD Artsbook
Complementing the Regional and Remote Schools Touring Service, the QLD Artsbook is an accessible, user-friendly website connecting Queensland educators with high-quality local and touring artists, arts organisations and experiences.
QLD Artsbook offers opportunities for students to engage with curriculum-aligned arts experiences that inspire creativity, cultural understanding and lifelong learning, regardless of their location.
For further information on these offerings visit the Arts Queensland website.
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
The Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art 'In Residence' program is a Department of Education program supported by QAGOMA.
In Residence is held annually for 3 days through November/December at QAGOMA,
providing Year 10 Queensland visual art students with the opportunity to strengthen their
understanding of the academic, experimental, collaborative and reflective nature of
contemporary visual art and gain an appreciation for the breadth of opportunities in the
creative industries. Visit the Creative Generation website for more information.
Related links