Dear Colleagues, 

Happy World Teachers Day for this Friday 28^th October.  Congratulations to our school leaders and staff who have been shortlisted for the NT World Teachers’ Day Awards. It is great to see many of our members in this category and recognised for their outstanding leadership. I hope that you can all celebrate this day in some way, no matter where you are. This year it is extremely important to celebrate and recognise the exceptional resilience and commitment of our school leaders and educators who kept schools open during the most challenging times.

Wellbeing Conversations

As you get on with business this term, please take time to rebalance and recalibrate after the stressors and challenges of 2022. These are the words of Kristen Douglas, Head of headspace Schools and Communities, who recently provided NT School Leaders a free webinar to talk about school leader wellbeing. Kristen’s sessions are always full of great tips and advice from a professional who has worked with many school leaders during the pandemic. See further details for registration for the next session to be held on this Thursday 27^th October at 3.30pm.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the ACU Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey. Not only does this provide you with a personal comprehensive report, but a public report will be released which is used to initiate discussions and actions from the Department.

Currently, the department is inviting all educators, teachers and leaders to participate in a NT Teacher Wellbeing Survey. Please complete the survey yourselves and encourage your staff to complete this, as the data will be used to determine future recommendations. See details further below. 

NTPA AGM and Leaders’ Summit

Professional learning doesn’t just benefit us professionally; it can be a nourishing source for our wellbeing. The Leaders’ Summit provides you this opportunity to connect with your peers without the distraction of the demands of school. Don’t forget to look out for our stand at the 2022 Leaders Summit to be held next week. This is great opportunity to have a chat with the President and our Executive Team about what matters most. NTPA will conduct their AGM at the end of the second day in the downstairs breakout room, followed by drinks and a networking session at the Precinct.

High Conflict Personality Workshop

Last week NTPA provided a workshop on Strategies to Respond to High Conflict Personality behaviours. Often, we step into a school leader role without the skills to manage people (staff or parents) who display high conflict behaviours. Often these are the people who just don’t seem rationale! This is often cognitively and emotionally demanding, and adds to the stress and burden of the job. Megan Hunter, from the High Conflict Institute, provided leaders an insight into what causes these behaviours, identification of a high conflict situation, and when and what is the best way to respond. Megan spoke about a new description ‘The Jackhammer Parent’, as a successor to the Helicopter and Lawnmower Parent. They are often relentless, loud, destructive and powered by fear.

See the attached documents which provide a framework for managing these situations.

• How to calm people with an EAR Statement Empathy Attention and Respect Effective when you are dealing with someone who is really upset.

         Calming Upset People with EAR Statements

• The BIFF (Brief Informative Friendly and Firm) method to write a response to high conflict hostile emails 

         How to Write A Biff Response

• High Conflict in the Schools: Tips for teachers and parents (link)

         High Conflict in the Schools_Bill Eddy Article

“Conflict is inevitable. A safe culture of managing conflict is created by continuing to use empathy, attention and respect while assertively setting limits and providing consequences.” —Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq

Due to the great success of this workshop, which was held in Alice Springs, Darwin and online, NTPA hope to run a second workshop in 2023.

BTS SPARKS ASPIRING LEADERS PROGRAM

NTPA have partnered with BTS Sparks to conduct an Aspiring Leadership Course to senior teachers, HALTS and aspiring leaders in the Alice Springs region in 2023. The first day is a full day workshop conducted by ex NT principal Gail Smith, followed by two small group online coaching sessions. This is ideal for anyone who wants to build their personal leadership skills. Please see the attached flyer for more details and contact ntpa.admin@education.nt.gov.au to register your interest.

Please see other opportunities being provided by BTS SAPRKS below.

Consultation

NTPA have been consulted on a number of committees and groups over the past year. It is an important part of our work to ensure principal voice influences policy and practices, and that consultation occurs with a diverse range of school leaders. NTPA appreciates that we are recognised as key stakeholders and that authentic consultation ensures that schools are supported to do the right work.

Inclusive Education Principals’ Reference Group

Thank you to all members who offered to be a part of the Inclusive Education Principals’ Reference Group (PRG). This Principals’ Reference Group will support the Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Programs and Services (SWIPS) division in shaping the future of inclusive education in NT schools, and in particular the implementation of the Inclusion Framework.

Quality Standards Framework for Flexible Education Program Implementation Steering Group

This week the Minister launched the Quality Standards Framework for Flexible Education Programs. Both the president and vice president have been a part of this Steering Group to ensure there is guidance and support for flexible education programs in schools. The framework provides an understanding of what high quality flexible education program elements look like and measures of success, with the aim to increase the quality of flexible education programs and improve outcomes for students.

FARMS Manual Steering Committee

NTPA President have been involved in this strategic work to provide expert advice and feedback to support the development of a one stop manual to address the policies, procedures and guidelines for Finance and Resource Management. This will become a great resource for Business Managers, School Leaders and School Bodies who require an easy to navigate system to access the right information, and replace the 1998 School Management Handbook.

Positive Behaviour and Occupational Violence Taskforce

NTPA have been a key stakeholder on this group and are looking forward to the release of the report in the next few weeks. This has been an important part of our work to implement the School Leader Wellbeing Action Plan 2021-25. NTPA have advocated for real actions using the data from the ACU Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey to inform and action this report and its recommendations. We look forward to continuing this work in the future to ensure all leaders and their staff can work in safe and respectful workplaces, and when they experience violence or aggression, this is addressed appropriately with the right support.

Advocacy

Teacher Shortages

For many years this has been a concern raised by NTPA. Now that this has become a critical issue nationally, we have been consulted at both the local, Territory and National level.  NTPA have worked with the Leadership, Culture and Care Division to provide feedback and suggests on how we attract, recruit and retain the best teachers in the NT. This has included national campaigns, streamlining the application process to Teach in the Territory, Early Career Teacher Support Grant and Strategy, supporting principals with VISA applications, advocacy for addressing staff housing shortages in Alice Springs and Katherine, fast tracking workload reviews for both educators and principals, strengthening engagement with CDU and universities across Australia, and the Roving Relief Program. NTPA are concerned that teacher shortages will or already have, transpired into principal shortages. We will ensure this remains an important part of our advocacy work.

As members of ASPA, APPA and AGPPA, the President and Vice President have been working nationally with our peak associations to address and discuss this issue. Our Associations are disappointed that consultation with those that work in the profession is at times lacking when major decisions are made by the Commonwealth. Therefore, our feedback has been invaluable for the National Teacher Workforce Action group who have been nominated by the Federal Minister to create a National Teacher Workforce Action Plan by the end of the year.

Please see the communique from ASPA who have recently spent many hours providing feedback into this plan.   (attach ASPA communique)

Teacher Shortages Issue Paper (attach)

Articles of interest re Teacher Shortages:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-12/teacher-shortage-crisis-education-minister-meeting/101323920

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-12/education-ministers-meet-over-teacher-pay-shortages-burnout/101326140

https://abclisten.page.link/QeXfwf57CsZnwYzn8

Education Minister Meeting

Many of you would have seen much media attention in regards to the funding of schools across Australia. This is timely, as the National Schools Reform Agreement (NSRA) is due to be renewed at the end of 2023. This determines our funding agreement with the Federal Government. We are advocating with other key stakeholders for serious consideration be given to the conditions of our current funding agreement. NTPA advises all members to have conversations with members of parliament to raise the issue of inequity. The NT has some of the most disadvantaged children in Australia, in some of the most remote areas, and yet is the most unfunded jurisdiction across Australia.

Please see the attached communique from AGPPA.