Filter Content
NTPA are proud to be a part of The Expert Design Advisory Group who are guiding the design of the new Palmerston Secondary Special Education School, a purpose built, 200 student facility beside the current Rosebery Middle School. Thank you to Carolyn Edwards, Annie Keighran, Sarah Corry, Maisie Floyd and Inclusion and Engagement Services (DET) for the work you are undertaking. Consultation with families and the community starts soon. The school opens Term 1, 2029.
Below is a snap shot of where NTPA have been represented in Term 3:
- Australian Government's Anti-Bullying Rapid Review Consultations | Northern Territory Stakeholder Roundtable
- AGPPA/ASPA inaugural first meeting
- Suspension guidelines review
- Secondary Special Education School Expert Design Advisory Group
- DCE meeting
- Excursions Working Group
- Attended the conversation with the Minister for Early Education on Child Safety in the Northern Territory.
- NT Leaders’ Summit
- DET Relocation and storage policy review feedback
- Meetings with the Minister of Education, Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive,
- Meetings with School Leadership Culture & Care, School Support and School Business services
- Education and Training Executive Board
- National meetings with the Secondary and Primary Principals Association- APPA, AGPPA, ASPA
- APPA Conference
- EMTP Explorer Network Updates
- School Based Police Program Consultative Group
- Swimming and Water Safety in Schools - Working Group
- We Are More Alice Springs
2025 APPA Conference Leading Well Together was held 26-29 August in Brisbane.
The NTPA had two representatives attend this event. The event provided invaluable insights and fostered deep discussions on pressing issues within our profession.
Some of the highlights were:
Danielle Einstein argues anxiety has increased due to overprotection, lowered expectations, constant technology and reduced opportunities to practise coping, and they recommend gradual exposure, concrete coping skills and coordinated parent–teacher–clinician responses.
The Queensland Minister outlined pragmatic supports for school leaders (reduce red tape, unified processes, resourcing for behaviour support and safety, anti‑bullying/taskforce actions).
Ben Sacco urged proactive anticipation using systems, agreed plans and balanced effort to prepare for Gen Beta, AI and hyperconnectivity.
Dr Cam McDonald promoted precision learning: tailored instruction and behaviour supports to individual learning profiles to harness strengths.
Gemma Munro offered a “Peaceful Peak Performance” toolkit to reduce burnout (shifts to Alpha state, demote threat-driven thinking, pause–go–pause rhythms and simple daily practices).
Kirstin Ferguson highlighted leadership blindspots and the value of humility, vulnerability and psychological safety.
Justin Coulson emphasised connection and trust in schools with principals as “Chief Relatedness Officers,” with trust built from credibility, reliability, intimacy and low self‑orientation so students and staff feel seen, heard and valued.
Please enjoy this week's
Leader Wellbeing Thought September 19 2025, Slide
by APPA President Angela Falkenburg
Howdy surfers of the slide
We’re in that odd patch of the year, not the exciting launch of Term 1, not the triumphant end of Term 4, but the Wednesday afternoon of the school year. Energy dips, tempers fray, and even the coffee seems to be working half-time.
It’s what I call the September Slide: motivation is a little slippery, and the to-do list feels like it’s reproducing overnight. Staff, students, and leaders all feel it.
The good news? Slides can be exhilarating. The trick is choosing how you land. A few ideas:
- Pace yourself: don’t sprint the marathon. Break big jobs into “September-sized chunks.”
- Change the scenery: take a meeting outdoors, swap the desk for a walk-and-talk, go on an actual slide.
- Find small sparks: celebrate little wins; they matter more than ever right now.
- Laugh on purpose: *humour really is a wellbeing strategy. Sometimes the best leadership move is a shared guffaw in the staffroom.
The September Slide is normal. Instead of resisting it, cross your arms over your chest, embrace the ride, and save your energy for the heroics of Term 4.
* Humour ideas
- “I had to visit the trauma unit last weekend. He prefers the term dad.” Andy Gleeks, winner of the (Some Guy Called) Dave Joke of the Fringe 2025 at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- “Everyone is worried about AI. I’m more concerned with what the other vowels are up to.” Rob Auton
- “This spider has been in my house so long, it should pay half the Wi-Fi. As a web developer, it can afford to.” Sikisa
BTW: Heard a new Acronym from an IT buddy this week: PICNIC: Problem In Chair, Not In Computer. (Hope he didn’t mean me!)
Angela
Angela Falkenburg
APPA President
It's been a long time in the pipe line- but finally our website has had the facelift it needed!
We would love for you to check it out: https://www.ntpa.org.au/
