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NTPA Executive meetings with the CE and Deputy CEs
Key items discussed
- 2025 Budget Implementation
- Secondary Review Implementation Update
- Swimming in Schools
- Agency interstate travel guidelines
- Government Employee Housing
- Pay Disparity between ECP, PLO, Assistant Principals and Senior teachers
Leaders’ Summit
The Leaders' Summit provided NTPA the opportunity to promote our association as a key stakeholder in education. This year, I was invited to speak and used the platform to present some alarming findings from the 2023 Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey. NT principals face significantly higher challenges than the national average, with 64.7% experiencing physical violence (national: 48.2%), 61.8% receiving threats (national: 53.9%), and 47.1% showing serious mental health risk indicators (second-highest nationally). Parent/caregiver interactions remain particularly concerning, with elevated rates of threats (65.6%), bullying (57.9%), and reputational damage (65.1%).
NTPA continue to partner with ELCC to strengthen Principal Wellbeing support.
The feedback from Chapters on the Leaders' Summit had the following Common Themes:
Report: Understanding Critical Incidents Empowering Australian School Leaders. This report was released 26 November. This report was undertaken by ACU Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University. Principals Australia Research Foundation (PARF) funded this research and the Tasmanian Principals Association (TPA) commissioned the report.
This report highlights that school leaders are experiencing cumulative trauma from repeated critical incidents. The report has some general recommendations that could be used/adapted/applied by NTPA and DET regarding School Leaders’ Wellbeing in the NT.
The past semester has been challenging, through it all, principals, assistant principals, and school leaders have demonstrated unwavering dedication, resilience and an unwavering commitment.
With less than two weeks remaining in the school term, now is the time to plan for genuine rest and renewal. The Christmas break offers a vital opportunity to prioritise your wellbeing through intentional disconnection. Taking time away from work isn't just a luxury – it's an essential investment in your sustainability as a leader. Allowing ourselves to truly disconnect from the stresses and worries of our work helps prevent burnout and restores our emotional and physical reserves. Resist the urge to check emails or take calls; instead, be present with family and friends, pursue activities that bring you joy, and give yourself permission to rest without guilt. Remember that self-care isn't selfish, it's the foundation of effective leadership. Whether you choose to spend time with loved ones, engage in hobbies, exercise, read, or simply enjoy quiet moments of reflection, these activities rebuild the energy and clarity needed to lead with purpose. Your wellbeing directly impacts your ability to support your school community, making rest not just beneficial, but necessary.
Carolyn
Carolyn Edwards
Penny Weily and I attended the October AGPPA meeting in Adelaide, connecting with presidents and vice presidents from across Australia. Key discussions included changes in State and Territory governments and impact on education, school governance, teacher shortages, EBA impact and the Better Fairer Schools Agreement (BFSA). This strategic work informs AGPPA's advocacy representing 5,300 school leaders nationally.
Meg Brighton (Deputy Secretary Schools, Department of Education) provided insights on the BFSA, which focuses on three areas: Equity and Excellence, Wellbeing for Learning and Engagement and Teacher Workforce. The Federal Government has offered $16B to States and Territories, tied to reforms that would increase government funding by 2.5% of the SRS (40% for NT), aiming to achieve 100% SRS funding for all schools by 2029. While States and Territories manage their own funding distribution, non-government schools must implement these reforms as a funding condition.
Connect with AGPPA on their LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-government-primary-principals-association/
The ASPA Board November meeting in Canberra was another opportunity to connect with Secondary Association Presidents around the nation to discuss, share and learn about the strengths and challenges in each of our jurisdictions. The ASPA Board had the opportunity to meet with Deputy Secretary for Education Meg Brighton, Senators Penny Allman-Payne and Sarah Henderson. Time was spent discussing the new funding agreement for schools.
Connect with ASPA on their linked in page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspa-australia/
ASPA, AGPPA and NATSIPA
ASPA President Andy Mison, AGPPA President Patrick Murphy and Dyonne Anderson of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduates Association (NATSIPA) presented to the Senate Committee at the Parliament House with a collective voice for funding for Public Education.
Bilateral Agreements
Currently, Northern Territory, Western Australia, Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory have signed up to the 10- year agreement. NT and WA have signed up to the 5-year Bilateral Agreement. Other states are negotiating for an additional 5% beyond Minister Clare's offered 2.5% increase. The reason that Bilateral Agreements are for 5 years is to allow changes to be made to the Agreements for the next 5 years.
The first BFSA uplift and impact on budget has presented challenges, particularly for schools many schools. The transition away from effective enrolment in 2025 is to be acknowledged. I encourage all members to continue question and work with Finance. As always I am ready to advocate on you behalf.
Advocacy and Consultation
- Top End AP day
- Providing feedback to the development of the Early Career Principal Program
- Participated in two Strategic Education Advisory Group (SEAG) meetings and
- Established future collaboration pathways with Be You
- Reform School Voice Advisory Group
- NT DET Workload Reduction Action Plan
- NTPA presence at Middle Leaders’ Summit
- NTPA representation on 20 Principal Panels
- Pilot of Principal Capability Framework
- Youth Justice Steering Group
- Workshop Planning for enrolment growth Secondary/Special Schools
- Swimming and Water Safety Education in Schools Working Group
- NTLC Expo
- FOILs Induction
Education Minister Meeting
Members of the Executive had their Face to Face Meeting with the Education Minister Jo Hersey. During this meeting we raised three key topics that represented the most common challenges and discussions raised by our members:
- Executive Contract Principals frozen contracts and Principal Level positions in the Northern Territory
- Government Employee Housing in the Northern Territory
- Occupational Violence and Aggression in the Northern Territory.
I spoke extensively to the Minister explaining ECP frozen contracts and addressing the increasing pay disparity. We also presented three position papers on the topics discussed. The Minister committed to raising this to the OCPE Commissioner.
World Teachers Day
Congratulations to the Regional Winners and Tony Clegg NT Principal of the year!
Celebrating Robyn Thorpe
NTPA celebrated two significant milestones at the recent AGM, the retirement of Robyn Thorpe and her Life membership of the NTPA. Robyn's dedication to the Northern Territory Principals' Association is significant.
As NTPA President, Robyn played a pivotal role in shaping educational policy and reform in the Northern Territory. She ensured strong principal representation across various boards, committees, taskforces, and advisory groups and making significant contributions to the Department's Reform Agenda. Under her leadership, professional development emphasised building resilience, enhancing wellbeing, and developing trauma-responsive leadership practices.
Robyn's leadership style is characterised by curiosity, inspiration, and a genuine commitment to developing future leaders. She mentored and developed aspiring leaders by building their capacity and growing their talents. Her relational approach, emphasizing care, compassion, and respect for all stakeholders, has created lasting positive impacts in school communities. Her unwavering dedication to improving educational outcomes, coupled with her professional integrity and moral purpose, has earned her the highest regard among colleagues.
For her outstanding contributions to education at school, system, and national levels, and her tireless advocacy for principal professional development and student success, Robyn Thorpe is most deserving of Life Membership in the Northern Territory Principals' Association.
NTPA support the Principal Wellcheck initiative that has been provided by DET. Please see the information below that was sent to all Principals by the CE in November:
Wellcheck appointments are available now and have been extended to Term 1, 2025 to enable as many principals as possible to benefit from this offering.
This is a free of charge, completely confidential opportunity for you to make your health a priority.
The wellchecks are a proactive wellbeing strategy designed to support you to:
engage proactively with your mental health and wellbeing
- increase your wellbeing and mental health literacy
- explore wellbeing interventions and strategies that support your selfcare.
Wellchecks will be delivered by qualified and highly experienced psychologists from the FBG Group. Refer to the flyer attached for more information.
After your wellchecks, you will receive a confidential wellbeing plan with tailored strategies to proactively support your wellbeing.
I want to assure you that the wellchecks are completely confidential and no personal information is shared with the department.
This is a valuable opportunity to take proactive steps for your own wellbeing, enabling you to continue making a positive impact in our schools.
NTPA memberships are for a calendar year - so its time to renew for 2025
Feel free to email ntoa.admin@education.nt.gov.au with any queries.
Read the latest news from ICP here
Charles Sturt University has secured $4.3 million in funding to launch the Aspire to Teach pathway program, specifically designed to help school support staff transition into teaching roles in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Tasmania.
Aspire to Teach is designed to address workforce challenges by providing a pathway for skilled, local school staff to become qualified teachers, especially in areas where they are needed most.
I wanted to reach out personally to inform you about this program, as your school is an Eligible Placement School, and to invite you to share this opportunity with support staff at your school.
About the Aspire to Teach Program:
- The program will support 100 participants over the next three years, with an initial intake of 30 scholarship places beginning in 2025.
- Participants will receive:
- A Commonwealth Supported Place in a teaching degree at Charles Sturt University
- A $15,000 scholarship
- $3,200 in placement support payments
- Flexible study options to allow continued work in their current roles
- Access to a supportive community of practice, including mentors and ongoing professional development.
Application Details:
- Applications close on December 9th, and CSU recorded an online information session on Friday, November 15th. This recording can be found on the Aspire to Teach Program Website.
- For further program details, visit: Aspire to Teach Program Website