Dear Members,
The ballot for the 2024–2027 NTPS Educators’ Enterprise Agreement is now open, and directions on how to vote have been sent by the NTEC. If you’re unsure or haven’t received your instructions, please reach out to us or the Department. The ballot closes on 19 September, so I encourage you to make your voice heard and help shape the future of education in the Northern Territory.
I’m excited to share that this agreement delivers significant salary increases and the Classroom Teacher (CT) restructure, which are vital steps in addressing the teacher shortage and building a foundation for long-term workload relief. From October, NT will stand out as one of the most competitive regions for teacher salaries. CT1 salaries will be $7k above NSW, $13k above Victoria, and $20k above South Australia. At the top of the scale, CT9 salaries will exceed NSW by $9k, Victoria by $14k, and South Australia by $26k. By 2027, graduates will be starting on $100k, making the NT one of the most attractive places to work for teachers at every level of their career.
Prioritising Salary Increases
Addressing the teacher shortage was at the heart of this agreement. We prioritised boosting salaries to ensure we could attract and retain more teachers. However, to make this possible, we had to make the difficult decision to delay the Primary NCT increases until 2026, based on member feedback from sub-branch meetings. Many raised concerns about how schools could implement additional NCT without more staff. By focusing on salaries now, we aim to bring more teachers into the system, which will in turn make future workload improvements, including increased NCT, more sustainable.
What’s Next for Workload Relief?
As more funding from the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (BFSA) begins to unlock in 2025, we expect to see workload relief through the addition of support staff and the implementation of the Workload Reduction Action Plan. Looking ahead, as the $1 billion BFSA funding continues to roll out and the teacher shortage eases, our focus for the next agreement will be on securing further class size reductions and NCT increases for all educators.
Reducing class sizes and increasing NCT will have a direct impact on reducing workloads, improving classroom management, and enhancing the quality of education we provide. These measures will help create a more supportive and balanced environment for all of us.
Supporting STs and Principals
While Senior Teacher (ST) and Principal salaries were not restructured in this agreement, please know that we will continue to fight for improvements in these areas outside of the enterprise agreement process. It’s vital that these leadership pathways remain competitive and attractive to our most experienced educators.
Why You Should Vote YES
This agreement is a long-term win for all of us. Higher teacher salaries mean more teachers next year, and that’s a key step toward reducing workloads and creating a better working environment. In the meantime, the 4.3% salary increase will provide real cost of living relief for all educators.
I urge you to vote YES to lock in these critical gains and help build a stronger, better-supported teaching workforce in the NT. Your YES vote is essential to ensuring we continue to move forward and secure the best possible future for education in our Territory. Don’t forget—the ballot closes on 19 September!
In solidarity,
Michelle Ayres
Branch President
Australian Education Union – Northern Territory