Good evening members,
I hope you and your families stayed safe over the weekend. Many of us are still dealing with the aftermath of TC Fina: power outages, fallen trees, damage to your homes and yards, disrupted routines and the kind of tired that only shows up once the immediate danger has passed. This is a lot to be dealing with for all of us in the effected area at the start of Week 8 of Term 4.
Apologies for the late email. It has taken longer than expected to gather the following information, and we wanted you to have it this evening so that you are able to make an informed decision about returning to work in the morning.
Returning to School
The Department has advised principals that all teachers and school-based staff are expected to attend work tomorrow, including at schools that will remain closed to students. Staff at closed sites may be asked to assist with clean-up, administrative work or other tasks at their own school, or be deployed to another school or shelter that needs extra support. Principals will continue to receive regular updates and remain your first point of contact for official information about your school’s operational status.
Everyone’s circumstances are different right now. Some people can return without much disruption; others are dealing with damaged homes, health impacts, ongoing power issues, caring responsibilities or sheer exhaustion. You are not expected to ignore your own reality in order to help. The following information should help you to assess your situation and determine the appropriate action to take. The lists and examples are not exhaustive. Updates and FAQs will be available on our website as the situation evolves.
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Scenario 1 – You are dealing with an active emergency at home (Emergency Leave)
If your home or living situation has been directly impacted — structural damage, flooding, unsafe conditions, major debris, evacuation or displacement — you should be eligible for Emergency Leave.
This leave is designed to give you time to:
- make your home safe
- organise urgent repairs
- arrange temporary accommodation
- deal with insurers or essential services
- stabilise immediate living arrangements.
A template email for requesting Emergency Leave is available here.
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Scenario 2: You volunteered as part of the official emergency response (Emergency Management / Miscellaneous Leave)
If you:
- volunteered with an official emergency service (NTES, Bushfires, Fire & Rescue, etc.), or
- volunteered or were directed by the Department to assist in a shelter or other emergency operation,
you should be entitled to Emergency Management / Miscellaneous Leave, or to have that time treated as duty.
This leave ensures you are not disadvantaged in your own leave balances because you contributed to the Territory’s emergency response.
A template email for requesting Emergency Management / Miscellaneous Leave is available here.
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Scenario 3: You are injured, exhausted, or otherwise not fit for work (Personal Leave)
If you are:
- physically unwell or injured
- emotionally depleted
- experiencing distress or anxiety
- caring for a family or household member who is not coping
then Personal Leave is appropriate.
If you are not fit for duty, you can say so. You should obtain a medical certificate or documentation if possible.
A template email for requesting Personal Leave is available here.
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Scenario 4: You are able to attend work
If your home is safe, you are fit for duty and you can make it in, your presence will support colleagues who need time and space to deal with the impact of the storm on their homes, families and health.
Government schools form part of the Territory’s essential public services. In situations like this, you may be asked to take on tasks that sit outside your usual day-to-day duties. Your enterprise agreement and contract allow for this flexibility in such exceptional circumstances — including helping with clean-up, supervision, administrative work or supporting operations at another site.
At the same time, your capacity matters. Being part of an essential service does not mean disregarding your own safety or wellbeing. We encourage you to use the leave options above if they better reflect your situation. Remember the advice of every flight attendant – fit your own mask first before you assist those around you.
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Contacting the union
Power is currently out at the AEU NT office, so our phones are not yet operating as normal. We will staff the phones as soon as systems are safely restored.
In the meantime, if you need support or advice:
- check with your sub-branch rep,
- check our website which will be updated with FAQs as questions come in
If your enquiry is not answered by those methods then please complete the enquiry form on our website. We will triage amongst our team to have someone reach out to you as soon as possible.
If you can’t reach us and you are in doubt – we will support you to take the day off as necessary.
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Finally
I want to acknowledge the many DET staff and leaders across the Territory who worked through the weekend to coordinate emergency shelters, assess sites and prepare for reopening. Many AEU members were directly involved in this work. It has been a huge effort across the system at a time when everyone is already stretched.
Thank you for everything you have done — in your schools, in your communities and in your own homes — throughout this event. Please continue to look after yourselves, and keep letting us know when what’s happening on the ground doesn’t line up with what these entitlements are meant to provide.
In solidarity,
Michelle Ayres
Branch President
Australian Education Union NT
08 8948 5399 | president@aeunt.org.au
www.aeunt.org.au | www.facebook.com/aeunt
3/8 Totem Rd Coconut Grove Darwin | PO Box 41863 Casuarina NT 0811