Children in the Australian Outback often live hundreds of miles from regular schools and from each other. Providing quality education to those who live on remote sheep and cattle stations, in Aboriginal settlements, or in isolated mining communities is an enormous challenge. Determined that Outback children should not be disadvantaged by where and how their families live, Australian educators have developed some unique and innovative solutions to problems posed by distance and social isolation. Chris Tudor, who has taught Outback children for most of his career, puts it this way: "Here we are in the middle of nowhere.... If this place is to survive the kids must have the same opportunities as anywhere.... The whole thing is to break the shackles of isolation."

Schools of the Air

Foremost among the innovative solutions developed by Australian educators are Outback Schools of the Air. These schools...