"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbour.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore.
Dream.
Discover."

Palm Island RATEP proudly has 17 students from Palm Island currently studying to be teachers. Of this number, we have 15 students studying with TAFE and 2 students studying with JCU- one of which is in her final year.

The RATEP program enables students to undertake studies to become teachers without leaving their home. This allows the students to still keep up with family commitments and other commitments they have on the Island such as work.

The students are from different backgrounds and some are studying while they are working either in the school or in businesses on the Island such as the Council. RATEP students also help maintain strong ties within the community and the school.

The Ratep course is over five years (full-time study)-2 years through Cairns TAFE and 3 years at JCU. This is a full-time study load, and part-time study is available for the TAFE component.

The success of this program is already visible with two of our RATEP graduates form Palm Island teaching in Education Queensland Schools.