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- President Update
- Have Your Voice Heard: Join the 2025 Australian School Leader Occupational Health & Wellbeing Survey
- Advocacy & Representation
- 2025 APPA Conference Leading Well Together
- APPA Leader Wellbeing Thought September 19 2025
- Joint Statement by ASPA and AGPPA
- Check our our upgraded website!
- Other Professional Learning and Resources
- 50% off 2025 NTPA Memberships
Happy Week 10 Term 3
Has been a busy term for us all.
NTPA ended the term with two workshops from Polly McGee. Polly’s workshops in Darwin and for remote Territory leaders where titled “Regulate to Lead: Rest, Resilience and Recovery for Trauma‑Responsive School Leadership.” Participants learned to recognise secondary trauma, burnout and compassion fatigue, practised real‑time regulation techniques and explored polyvagal‑informed approaches to nervous‑system responses.
They reflected on leadership culture, worked to restore psychological safety and began designing a “regulation first aid” toolkit for coregulation, team resilience and boundary‑setting. Members reported that the program deepened their skills and emphasised intentional self‑care and to regulate in the moment and how to set healthy workplace boundaries.
Participants also received the Trauma Responsive People, Teams and Culture video series for ongoing support.
I attended the We Are More event in Alice Springs, which aims to reimagine learning systems in Australia to reflect young people’s capabilities and aspirations.
Over three days we heard stories of courage, innovation and vision: from universities reshaping pathways, to schools prioritising belonging and agency, to young people demanding codesign.
It was clear that youth must be involved at every decision‑making level as leaders and equals, because their perspectives and power drive meaningful change.
Alice Springs Language Centre presented a ‘story’ at We Are More.
Principal Susan Moore shared that over the past eight years the Centre has trained School Based Trainees to grow the Arrernte educator team because hiring Arrerte educators was difficult. The first trainee Crystal Rose Furber Swan studied Arrernte all the way to Year 12 is now mentoring two trainees each year. Another former trainee, Tanisha Davis, who speaks five languages, now teaches Arrernte from preschool to Year 6 in Mparntwe schools. Disengaged in Middle School, Tanisha found a traineeship ignited her passion for teaching and now has a successful career at the Language Centre. This approach helps address teacher shortages and ensures educators represent the local community.
I want to acknowledge the work that all our leaders undertake every day. Your commitment to your schools, delivering education programs and adapting to many challenges is commendable. I encourage you to complete the ACU Health and Wellbeing Survey.
Reconnecting to the Leaders’ Summit, I want to reinforce the importance of leadership wellbeing. Is your NTPA green frog, being a gentle reminder to prioritise your wellbeing? Great leaders know when to:
- Leap forward with confidence when opportunities arise
- Stay calm under pressure, even in the busiest pond
- Take time to pause on your lily pad before making big decisions
- Next term name one small win before you leave work each day
- Set clear boundaries for next term (email-free hour, no meeting morning) and protect it
- Next term move your body daily for 10 minutes either going for a walk, stretch or dance to shift energy
- Connect with a colleague for a brief check in or a shared laugh.
Schedule something you enjoy this break and treat it as non‑negotiable. Fill your days with small pleasures a walk, a good book, a favourite meal, or time with people who lift you up and let those moments restore your energy. Allow yourself permission to slow down, to laugh and to reconnect with what matters outside work.
Have a fantastic break and return refreshed, curious and ready to lead with renewed clarity.
Carolyn
Carolyn Edwards
Have Your Voice Heard: Join the 2025 Australian School Leader Occupational Health & Wellbeing Survey
Principals and school leaders, your wellbeing matters. The 2025 Australian School Leader Occupational Health and Wellbeing Survey, run by ACU’s Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, offers a confidential, evidence-based way to track your health, contribute to national insight, and shape better policy and support.
Why take part
- Personalised report: graphs compare your scores with other school leaders and the general population, track changes over time, and show individual data points to guide next steps.
- Real policy impact: Last year’s participant input helped put principal health and wellbeing on the national Education Ministers’ agenda.
Who should participate
- All school leaders: principals, deputies/assistant/acting principals, head teachers, teaching principals, wellbeing leaders, and retired/on‑leave principals.
- The survey is supported by state/territory principal and school associations.
What system-level data provides
- Clear evidence of occupational risks, stressors and protective factors across contexts.
- Benchmarks for jurisdictions, targets for interventions, and demonstration of return on investment for wellbeing programs.
- Comparative context so your individual report is meaningful within a robust national dataset that drives policy and school-level change.
Important notes
- Ongoing participants: check your email for your survey link; contact ACU admin if your email has changed.
- No longer in a principal role? Complete the shortened survey by contacting email address below
- New participants: register now at healthandwellbeing.org
- Questions: admin@healthandwellbeing.org
- Survey is open until 20 October 2025.
Make your wellbeing count, complete the 2025 survey today!
NTPA are proud to be a part of The Expert Design Advisory Group who are guiding the design of the new Palmerston Secondary Special Education School, a purpose built, 200 student facility beside the current Rosebery Middle School. Thank you to Carolyn Edwards, Annie Keighran, Sarah Corry, Maisie Floyd and Inclusion and Engagement Services (DET) for the work you are undertaking. Consultation with families and the community starts soon. The school opens Term 1, 2029.
Below is a snap shot of where NTPA have been represented in Term 3:
- Australian Government's Anti-Bullying Rapid Review Consultations | Northern Territory Stakeholder Roundtable
- AGPPA/ASPA inaugural first meeting
- Suspension guidelines review
- Secondary Special Education School Expert Design Advisory Group
- DCE meeting
- Excursions Working Group
- Attended the conversation with the Minister for Early Education on Child Safety in the Northern Territory.
- NT Leaders’ Summit
- DET Relocation and storage policy review feedback
- Meetings with the Minister of Education, Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive,
- Meetings with School Leadership Culture & Care, School Support and School Business services
- Education and Training Executive Board
- National meetings with the Secondary and Primary Principals Association- APPA, AGPPA, ASPA
- APPA Conference
- EMTP Explorer Network Updates
- School Based Police Program Consultative Group
- Swimming and Water Safety in Schools - Working Group
- We Are More Alice Springs
2025 APPA Conference Leading Well Together was held 26-29 August in Brisbane.
The NTPA had two representatives attend this event. The event provided invaluable insights and fostered deep discussions on pressing issues within our profession.
Some of the highlights were:
Danielle Einstein argues anxiety has increased due to overprotection, lowered expectations, constant technology and reduced opportunities to practise coping, and they recommend gradual exposure, concrete coping skills and coordinated parent–teacher–clinician responses.
The Queensland Minister outlined pragmatic supports for school leaders (reduce red tape, unified processes, resourcing for behaviour support and safety, anti‑bullying/taskforce actions).
Ben Sacco urged proactive anticipation using systems, agreed plans and balanced effort to prepare for Gen Beta, AI and hyperconnectivity.
Dr Cam McDonald promoted precision learning: tailored instruction and behaviour supports to individual learning profiles to harness strengths.
Gemma Munro offered a “Peaceful Peak Performance” toolkit to reduce burnout (shifts to Alpha state, demote threat-driven thinking, pause–go–pause rhythms and simple daily practices).
Kirstin Ferguson highlighted leadership blindspots and the value of humility, vulnerability and psychological safety.
Justin Coulson emphasised connection and trust in schools with principals as “Chief Relatedness Officers,” with trust built from credibility, reliability, intimacy and low self‑orientation so students and staff feel seen, heard and valued.
Please enjoy this week's
Leader Wellbeing Thought September 19 2025, Slide
by APPA President Angela Falkenburg
Howdy surfers of the slide
We’re in that odd patch of the year, not the exciting launch of Term 1, not the triumphant end of Term 4, but the Wednesday afternoon of the school year. Energy dips, tempers fray, and even the coffee seems to be working half-time.
It’s what I call the September Slide: motivation is a little slippery, and the to-do list feels like it’s reproducing overnight. Staff, students, and leaders all feel it.
The good news? Slides can be exhilarating. The trick is choosing how you land. A few ideas:
- Pace yourself: don’t sprint the marathon. Break big jobs into “September-sized chunks.”
- Change the scenery: take a meeting outdoors, swap the desk for a walk-and-talk, go on an actual slide.
- Find small sparks: celebrate little wins; they matter more than ever right now.
- Laugh on purpose: *humour really is a wellbeing strategy. Sometimes the best leadership move is a shared guffaw in the staffroom.
The September Slide is normal. Instead of resisting it, cross your arms over your chest, embrace the ride, and save your energy for the heroics of Term 4.
* Humour ideas
- “I had to visit the trauma unit last weekend. He prefers the term dad.” Andy Gleeks, winner of the (Some Guy Called) Dave Joke of the Fringe 2025 at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- “Everyone is worried about AI. I’m more concerned with what the other vowels are up to.” Rob Auton
- “This spider has been in my house so long, it should pay half the Wi-Fi. As a web developer, it can afford to.” Sikisa
BTW: Heard a new Acronym from an IT buddy this week: PICNIC: Problem In Chair, Not In Computer. (Hope he didn’t mean me!)
Angela
Angela Falkenburg
APPA President
It's been a long time in the pipe line- but finally our website has had the facelift it needed!
We would love for you to check it out: https://www.ntpa.org.au/
ACEL and headspace Schools & Communities are partnering together to develop a nationally consistent mental health and wellbeing initiative for school leaders and their staff. Supported by our key association stakeholders, we’re inviting all school leaders across Australia to help shape a groundbreaking national pilot.
What is Reflective Practice for school leaders and teams
Reflective practice enables school leaders to critically examine personal experiences, decisions and professional practice within a highly supportive and focused framework. They are safe, structured conversations, led by experienced facilitators, and recognised as a highly effective practice for professionals in high-pressure, complex environments. Reflective practice safeguards wellbeing, identifies practical strategies to mitigate longer term adverse impacts and reduces the likelihood of psychosocial impacts such as burnout and compassion fatigue.
How can you support this national pilot?
School leaders are invited to register their expressions of interest in accessing future Reflective Practice sessions designed for school leaders. Reflective practice sessions can be adapted to broader education and wellbeing staff.
By registering your interest, you’ll be advocating for the demand to increase mental health and wellbeing supports for Australian school leaders, wellbeing staff and educators.
Register your expression of interest
Click here to complete the registration form. Your expression of interest is obligation-free.
For any questions, you can contact the team directly at schools&communities@headspace.org.au
Read the full article here
Read the full article here
Your Voice Matters – Take part in the Australian Teacher Workforce Survey
The 2025 Australian Teacher Workforce Survey is now open and school leaders play an important role in encouraging participation.
The survey helps build a national picture of the teaching profession – from employment conditions to career intentions and wellbeing – and helps inform policies and drive change within the teaching profession.
Please encourage your staff to take part by:
- Reminding them to check their inbox for their unique link
- Sharing information about the survey in your staff notices/bulletins
- Allowing time during a staff meeting
- Leading by example and completing the survey yourself
Support your staff’s future – complete the Teacher Survey today. It’s anonymous and takes just 10 minutes. All registered teachers receive their unique survey link via email from their teacher regulatory authority.
Learn more about the survey and download resources to help promote it.
Stronger data today builds a stronger profession tomorrow!
Discounted NTPA memberships for 2025
Annual memberships are based on the calendar year. Haven't renewed for 2025 yet?
We've got you covered! We're offering 50% off to account for the fact that we're already halfway through the year.
Feel free to email ntpa.admin@education.nt.gov.au with any queries.
