Although it’s renowned as a major mining and regional port city, Port Hedland is an attractive choice for growing families. There is plenty of opportunity to entertain the kids, particularly for families who love the outdoors and want to explore the Pilbara region.

Schooling

Port and nearby South Hedland have five pre-primary schools, six public and one private primary school called St Cecelia’s. There is only one high school, Hedland Senior School. Visit the Department of Education website or the Private Schools Directory for more information.

Beyond high school, students interested in vocational education or training can consider North Regional TAFE.

Child Care

There are a number of child care options in town for children under school age, as well as after-hours school care, and school holiday programs. One of the popular programs is run by the JD Hardie Youth Zone for young people of all ages.

Family Recreation

Family activity days and events are advertised in the community throughout the year, including carnivals and fetes and sporting days. Special family days include the Spinifex Spree and Family Race Day. More information can be obtained from the Town of Port Hedland.

There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities available in Port Hedland. For kids, sporting and extracurricular activities range from football and BMX, to dance and gymnastics. There are multiple leisure facilities offering great programs for toddlers through to teens. There is also a well-resourced toy library.

Since average temperatures are generally high, these facilities offer great indoor activities for families.

• Wanangkura Stadium
• Gratwick Aquatic Centre
• South Hedland Aquatic Centre

If you prefer the outdoors, Port Hedland has a number of beautiful parks and green spaces including the recently opened Marquee Splash and Play Water Park, as well as the new and vibrant multi-use Town Square in South Hedland. The Town Square facilities include a grassed outdoor amphitheater with access to power, water-play features, interactive public art structures, public toilets and open spaces.

Check out this interactive map illustrating some of the attractions and services across Port Hedland.

Employment

There are plenty of services and employment opportunities available due to the stable economic growth fostered by local industry. Living costs can vary depending on lifestyle and average prices in the region can be higher depending on the state of the mining sector.

Port Hedland’s main industries are mining and construction, but employment opportunities exist in other industries including transport and warehousing, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services and manufacturing.

There are several employment service providers and recruitment agencies in Port Hedland to assist with finding employment opportunities for your partner.

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