• Positive engagement with new teaching recruits during the 2-day orientation held by the Education Department prior to the commencement of term 1 2025. 250 new recruits attended and many new memberships.
• 17 Top End/ PARR visits in week 1-5 (including Berry Springs School) Remote school visits planned for the dry season.
• 17 Darwin meetings from week 1-5.
• Michelle and Julie visited Katherine (Big Rivers) Region in week three this term. All Katherine town schools were visited along with Barunga over the 5 days. Contact with fifty members and interested staff, including preschool teachers during the visit. Katherine Regional Council at Knotts Crossing was held on the 13th of February. Good attendance and the election of a new Regional Executive at the AGM.
• Carly Phillips visited Alice Springs in week 6. This visit involved supporting schools to hold AGMs, elect sub-branch representatives, elect conference delegates and write motions for conference. A successful meet and greet was held on Tuesday 4th March at the Mercure to build solidarity.
Concerns for Katherine members:
New school attendance policy instituted by the DOE has increased the number of children at school. Many of these children have a history of non-engagement and now need further support to reengage with education. Many of these students have complex needs. Teachers are concerned about the need for classroom supports for these students and the high number of students requiring support. Workload and health and safety concerns are a feature of classrooms in Katherine. This situation is exacerbated by understaffing and issues with housing supply, and cost in Katherine and housing supply and maintenance in remote locations.
Further Information:
• The closure of Owen Springs Youth Detention Facility has alerted teachers to the need for the
• DoE to undertake consultation with teachers during a major change.
• Organises have emailed Reps in Darwin and Palmerston region to inform them of a 2-day training course at Palmerston Rydges on the 31st of March and 1st April. The training is designed to improve understanding of the various structures and roles within the union; increase familiarity with the EA and the relevant DET policies; and improve organising and campaigning skills to build confidence in recruiting new members. Please RSVP.
• Regional Councils meetings held in 2025 include Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs, Arnhem, Barkly and the PARR (Top End Region). Regional Presidents, VPs, Secretaries and Councillors elected in every location.
We are striving towards having active healthy sub-branches that are solutions focused and collectively advocating for more equitable and just schools and communities which benefits all stakeholders.
Ultimately, we would like to support schools to build informed sub-branches that actively work to collaboratively and collectively resolve issues in the workplace before they escalate as is outlined in our Enterprise Agreement.