Being part of our Association is critical to ensuring that our school leaders have a collective voice which represents the interests of all. NTPA are key stakeholders in our organisation and play a strong advocacy role with strategic partnerships with Education Minister/s and Department Heads. We encourage all school leaders to join so that your voice can be represented as we start our advocacy work with the new Government. Membership is now free for the remainder of the year if you join for 2025. Please encourage members of your leadership team to join, to ensure a strong and collective voice.

I would like to acknowledge the past Government for their positive efforts to work collaboratively with NTPA to address our issues and concerns. In particular we would like to acknowledge our past CE Karen Weston for allowing NTPA to have a strong voice and working relationship with our department. Our biggest win has been getting a funding agreement which addresses the underfunding of schools in the NT over the past 10 years under the last NRSA, and removal of effective enrolment as a measure for funding.

NTPA are looking forward to working with the new Government to ensure funding is secure, equitable and transparent, and supports schools to deliver the best possible outcomes for our diverse student cohorts.

We also congratulate and welcome our acting CE Susan Bowden, who NTPA has a strong working relationship with. We appreciate the knowledge and expertise she brings of the issues which impacts our schools, and we look forward to working collaboratively on delivering the Reform Agenda, including the Funding and Secondary Review. NTPA are represented on the Reform School Voice Advisory Group and providing feedback and input into the reform agenda for 2025 onwards.

Last week, NTPA facilitated a School Leaders Day to build leader knowledge and capacity. Members appreciated the opportunity to connect with Susan Bowden and share their biggest concerns. It was reassuring to hear that as we become the Department of Education and Training, there is no intention to restructure or to make significant changes to our current agency structure.

Learning which occurred on the day included:

A debrief from the new TRB Director Debra Bateman on the national workforce trend data. Debra spoke about the increasing number of Authority to Teach (ATT) teachers and how to mitigate the challenges that this presents for school leaders. Members were also reminded that ATT applications would be scrutinised thoroughly to prevent a decline in teacher quality.

Hayley Green and Hulus Hasan  from Education, Leadership, Culture and Care (ELCC) provided a presentation on how leaders will be supported through End to End Recruitment. This process is a collaborative one to help support school leaders with the administrative tasks of recruitment. See the flow chart below.

End_to_End_Recruitment_process.pdf

End_to_End_Recruitment_process _pdf 300.10 KB

NTPA, as part of the Reform School Voice Advisory Group are working with ELCC and  Deloitte to implement a Strategic Workforce Plan Framework. This will be critical for school leaders making decisions about the workforce needs of their schools and an opportunity to think differently about what expertise might be required to meet the needs of your school, as more funding comes into school budgets. This may include an Operations Manager, who can support you and your Business Manager, an Engagement Officer, additional Senior Teachers, Literacy, Numeracy or EAL/D coaches, media and marketing manager, Allied Health professionals, etc. Principals will be required to think strategically about expenditure of the additional funding, as recruiting additional teachers will be a challenge. As part of this process, ELCC will provide a suite of Job Descriptions so that schools do not need to start from scratch and will support your eRecruit requirements.

Investigations and Complaints – this session was presented by Krissy Breed and Yvonne Sundmark from Quality Assurance Services.  It was an opportunity for school leaders to gain a deeper understanding of ICAC investigations, and the importance of understanding legislation and polices which educators must follow.  As school leaders there is a raft of legislation that applies to education and it is important we understand what we are responsible for and what we are delegated to be responsible for.

To mitigate risk ensure you implement systems and processes in your school

• Manage Conflicts of Interest and avoid Conflicts of Interest.
• Know NTG and DoE policies, systems and training requirements
• Document your decisions and follow the Good Decision Making Guide

Congratulations NTPA 2025 Executive

NTPA are proud to announce the incoming Executive for 2025-26.

• Carolyn Edwards- President
• Joe Hewett – Vice-President Secretary
• Penny Wiley- Vice-President Primary
• Jane Arnott – Secretary
• Sarah Corry- Treasurer

They will be joined by the region Chapter Chairs:

• Leah Crockford- Darwin
• Cindy Mclaren- Top End
• Joe Hewett- Arnhem
• Stephen Nimmo- Barkly
• Jane Arnott- Big Rivers
• Joanne Alford- Central

Chapter Chairs are elected by Chapter members in Term 1 each year.

The incoming NTPA Executive will be welcomed and endorsed at the NTPA AGM to be held on Friday 1st November, immediately following the close of the 24 Leaders’ Summit. Following a short AGM, NTPA will be hosting a networking and celebration event at the Waterfront.

Carolyn Edwards will begin her presidency from Term 4 2024, whilst I take leave before finishing in the role at the end of 2024.

Robyn’s Message

It has been a great privilege to represent all school leaders in the NT, to be your voice, to represent the interests of school leaders, to be a support when you have needed it, to provide you with information and guidance and to provide feedback on your behalf to many in and outside of our organisation, at both a local and national level. 

I have made many connections and friendships along the way and am incredibly proud of the work of our school leaders, your commitment, your dedication, and passion. Each day you make a difference to the outcomes of our students by creating the conditions in your school to support staff, families and students, never underestimate this! Being a school leader is the most rewarding job I have ever done, and I will always be in awe of those who make the decision to become a principal. Please stay connected.

I look forward to catching up at the NTPA AGM following the Leaders' Summit.

Thank you all for your support, collegiality and advocacy.

Robyn

Robyn Thorpe