Listening to student voices: Completing teacher education in an Australian rural context

In the context of a demand for higher graduation rates of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and the regions, this study examined the factors impacting on retention and motivation of teacher education students. The focus group data from a mixed method study provided an opportunity for students to articulate their perceptions of the barriers to success. The issues raised included the importance of support from family, peers and academics; the pivotal impact of contact with the profession; the stressful challenge of juggling paid work and cost of study pressures; and the challenge of adjusting to academic language culture and expectations.