NTPA eNewsletter

August 2023 Newsletter

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August 2023 Newsletter

President Update
The recipe for a Great Principal
Expert Panel and the National School Reform Agreement
Leaders’ Summit 23
HALF PRICE MEMERSHIP FOR REMAINDER OF 2023
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Links to other Professional Learning Opportunities, Publications, and Professional Reading
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Dear Colleagues

Today we celebrate National Principals’ Day. A day to recognise, acknowledge and pay tribute to school leaders across the NT.

I cannot impress on you strongly enough how important it is today, to recognise the commitment, dedication and energy you put into your work. Too often we have limited opportunities to be recognised for the tremendous work we do each and every day, so take this moment to celebrate and enjoy and to fill your bucket.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the APPA Conference with other members of the NTPA exec, Belinda Pearson and Jane Arnott. The theme was ‘Refreshing Leadership and Inspiring Futures’ and there was a strong focus on leader wellbeing.

My biggest take away was the concept of self-care. Not waiting for the system to reduce our workload, to fix teacher shortages, or to address the ever-increasing need of mental health and wellbeing for staff and students, but to take care of ourselves.

Michael Carr-Gregg spoke about the concept – if you had 30 eggs how would you distribute them into 3 baskets for self, family and work? Generally, most principals fill them as 5 for self, 10 for family and 15 for work. However, this model leads to feeling tired, overwhelmed and sadly burn out.

Michael shared with us the best way to flourish in our work is to distribute the eggs as 15 for self, 10 for family and 5 for work. Look at the quality of the eggs in the work basket, the golden eggs, when you invest in the self-basket! And when you invest in self, you get double yolkers in the family basket. Such an important message for us not to lose sight of.

Expert Panel Visit

Congratulations to those principals who used their voice to share the challenges and complexities of education in the NT to the Expert Panel, who have been tasked to provide recommendations to the Federal Government for the next NSRA. Principals spoke around the challenges of attendance, engagement, lack of funding, lack of teachers and teachers with expertise, lack of housing, violence in communities and schools, the increasing number of children with complex and challenging needs, the increasing levels of mental health and wellbeing challenges without support from other agencies and organisations, the issue that schools are becoming the ‘one stop shop’ for everything but are not resourced to do this.

NTPA have advocated at a national level for all schools in the NT to receive 100% of the SRS funding. Currently our government schools are the most underfunded across the country, yet work with the most disadvantaged children and young people.

The Panel for the Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System invited stakeholders to make a submission to a Consultation Paper outlining some of the key challenges and opportunities facing the Australian education system. NTPA have made a submission on behalf of principals in the NT.

Better_and_Fairer_Education_System_Easy_Read_Consultation_Paper.pdf

Better_and_Fairer_Education_System_Easy_Read_Consultation_Paper _pdf 4.63 MB

Better_and_Fairer_Education_System_Consultation_Paper.pdf

Better_and_Fairer_Education_System_Consultation_Paper _pdf 748.82 KB

Central Australian schools 40 million package

Central Australian schools, 46 government and non-government, have been informed of their allocation of the $40 million which was announced by Minister Clare earlier in the year. This additional funding was based on an enrolment and the needs-based formulae to help schools move towards 100% of SRS funding. Schools are identifying the measures they will implement to increase engagement, learning and community partnerships (On Country learning).

‘The Educators’ Most Influential Educators

Congratulations to Fathma Mauger, principal of Larrakeyah Primary who was announced a top winner in The Educator's Most Influential Educators Award.

Congratulations to Nick Lovering, Principal of Katherine High School who was also named in the top 45 of The Educator's Most Influential Educators.

It is a great credit to the NT to have two very accomplished principals recognised in these awards.

Stay well

Robyn

Robyn Thorpe

NTPA President

President Email: ntpa.admin@education.nt.gov.au or ntpa.president@education.nt.gov.au

The recipe for a Great Principal

Nakara Primary recently ran a compettition for the students. The brief was to either draw a labelled picture or make up a receipe of what they think makes a great principal.

The winners get to be honourary Principals for the day on Friday 4th August.

We think these entries are so creative and gave us a chuckle.

Expert Panel and the National School Reform Agreement

The Expert Panel (Review Panel - Department of Education, Australian Government) have been stood up by the Federal Minister Jason Clare to consider what should be in the next National School Reform Agreement. In December 2022, Education Ministers agreed to establish a panel (the Expert Panel) to inform the next NRSA agreement. The Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System will advise Education Ministers on what reform priorities should be included in the next agreement. The Expert Panel will deliver its final report to Education Ministers by 31 October 2023.

Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System - Department of Education, Australian Government

What is the NRSA?

Four years ago, on the back of a $319 billion funding deal, and amid concerns that Australia’s performance in international testing had fallen, the Commonwealth, States and Territories struck an agreement on national reforms to lift education outcomes — the National School Reform Agreement (NSRA). The objective of the NSRA is for Australian schools to provide a high quality and equitable education for all students. This continues a longstanding commitment by Education Ministers to equity and excellence in schooling. While equity and quality are not defined in the NSRA, these concepts are embodied in the NSRA’s outcomes, targets and national performance measures (sub‑outcomes).

To lift outcomes in student achievement, attainment and engagement, the NSRA outlines three reform directions, supported by eight National Policy Initiatives (NPIs) and bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and each State and Territory government. Implementing the reform initiatives is a condition of Commonwealth funding.

NTPA have been key stakeholders advocating for equitable funding for the NT at national meetings, and through our affiliated Associations: ASPA, APPA and AGPPA. This is a conversation we regularly have with the CE and Minister of Education and appreciate the efforts being made to support the NT to 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) funding. See table below which shows the NT public schools receive 76.6% of the 100%. According to the Federal Minister we will not achieve 100% until 2055. NT school students are the most underfunded across the nation with the greatest levels of disadvantage and challenges.

Leaders’ Summit 23

We are looking forward to catching up with you all at the Leaders’ Summit to be held in week 5 August 15^th and 16^th. Please drop by the stall and pick up your ducky!

NTPA will be providing a networking function after the conference on Wednesday 16^th August at the Precinct (across from the Convention Centre). This is a great way to reflect and recharge after the conference.

HALF PRICE MEMERSHIP FOR REMAINDER OF 2023

Remember memebrships are for a calendar year so now is is the time to renew or join for 2023. Click on this link to complete the form. Membership prices are now pro ratered for the rest of 2023.

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