About us

The Department of Education and Training provides education to young Territorians from the early years to adulthood.

It has a range of strategic policy, regulatory, delivery and support responsibilities including:

• ensuring quality early learning and development programs
• delivering high quality education services to maximise student learning
• providing pathways for school-aged students aligned with their further education, and work or career aspirations
• providing a regulatory function over the operation of early childhood services and non-government schools
• supporting Northern Territory (NT) institutions delivering tertiary education
• Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS).

The delivery of services in childcare centres is the responsibility of the Federal Government although the department does fulfil a regulatory role through Quality Education and Care NT (QECNT).

The NT Department of Education and Training CRICOS Registered Provider Number is 00780M.

The department employs about 4,800 people across the NT. This includes about 4,000 teachers, principals and other school-based staff.

Every school day, we provide public education to about 33,000 students in 151 schools.

Education services are also delivered to about 40 homeland learning centres (HLCs). HLCs are small remote sites delivering education services to small groups of students who are unable to attend the central school in their area.

Of the 188 government and non-government schools in the NT, 83 schools have nearly 100% Indigenous enrolment.

Ninety-one schools have Indigenous enrolments of over 80%, which accounts for about 23% of all students.

For more information about the department, view the annual reports.

Our management

Aderyn Chatterton
Acting Chief Executive
Department of Education and Training

Aderyn has more than 27 years' experience in public service, working in both principal and system-level leadership roles across the Northern Territory and Queensland.

She is an experienced leader committed to strengthening school improvement and student outcomes.

Throughout Aderyn's career, she has helped transform organisational cultures, developed and implemented evidence-based programs, and reformed service delivery to support success across schools and corporate settings.

Aderyn is driven by a strong commitment to equity and excellence in education and training.

Our minister

Hon Jo-Anne (Jo) Hersey
Minister for Education and Training