An Australian case study in partnership: rural decline, the unstable curriculum and grassroots professional development

Abstract

Gourmet PD is a Professional Development (PD) programme for rural teachers in the Australian State of Victoria. Although it began in a small way in 1995, it is, in 1998, catering for the PD needs of over 4000 rural teachers. At a time of economic, social and educational crisis in rural Victoria, the success of Gourmet PD, which runs counter to rural decline, is founded on its grassroots philosphy, its culture of active partnership and its ability to match practice with theory. This article describes the political, social and educational context of Gourmet PD, its structure and process, and accounts for its success