A pessimist sees a dark tunnel.
An optimist sees light at the end of the tunnel.
A realist sees a freight train.
A train driver sees three idiots standing on the tracks.

https://positivepsychology.com/pessimism-vs-optimism/

Recently, I have attended many regional Principal Collaborative Days to connect with colleagues, learning about some of the amazing work that you lead in your schools. Congratulations on your strategic leadership and innovation to do whatever it takes to change the outcomes for your learners.

In preparation for additional funding in 2025, our school leaders will need to be very strategic and innovative on how we can utilise additional funding to improve learning, engagement, and wellbeing outcomes for our diverse learners. 

Enrolment-based funding (still to be calculated) for 2025 School  Resourcing provides schools the opportunity to do this, but it will require strategic thinking as we work within the constraints of staffing and housing shortages.

We have much to learn from our Central Australia colleagues who navigated this challenge with the additional $40 million funding to schools in 2024. To be clear, the additional money cannot be spent on infrastructure needs, even though this is a huge issue for many. Congratulations to Joanne Alford who recently hosted the Prime Minister on his visit to Alice Springs to witness firsthand what a difference additional funding can make.

At our recent NTPA Executive Board meeting, the CE reflected her understanding of the housing and workforce challenges schools are experiencing but wants principals to confidently spend their funds to avoid budget surpluses. This will be critical for 2025 when additional funds come into schools. The CE has requested the School Funding Reform team design a simplified funding model, to make it more transparent, and supports the implementation of the Secondary Review and Effective Enrolment Review recommendations.

Our department are currently negotiating the next Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (previously NRSA), or more specifically the Bilateral Agreement. This agreement informs our commitments as part of the 40/60% deal to fully fund every child 100% of the SRS by 2029.

NTPA recently met with the Education Minister, Mark Monaghan to discuss and advocate for measures to address principal health and wellbeing, improve principal salaries and conditions to attract and retain school leaders, and the funding model for 2025. The Minister has expressed some concern that the current 40/60% offer, may not be agreed to if there is a change in government at the August elections.

 NTPA Executive have proudly welcomed Cindy Mclaren (Top End Chapter) and Penny Wiley (Central Australia Chapter) to the NTPA Executive. Chapter Chairs (elected by Chapter members) play a critical role in bringing your issues to our agenda so that the NTPA stays focused on the right work. This year NTPA elections will take place to elect a new executive including the President. Nominations for these roles will be called for in Term 3 and announced at the NTPA AGM in Term 4.

Thank you for your commitment and dedication as school leaders.

Take care

Robyn

Robyn Thorpe