Careers in education

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Aboriginal Educator Workforce Initiatives

Quality education engages and empowers children and young people: through positive relationships in safe, supportive and welcoming learning environments where cultural, social and linguistic diversity is valued, celebrated and embedded in learning.

Young people in the Northern Territory (NT) start in early learning programs and school education already equipped with deeply established knowledge systems, cultural values and ways of learning that have been shaped by their families and communities.

Teachers have the biggest in-school impact on positive student learning outcomes. Local Aboriginal teachers provide continuity for student learning through an ongoing commitment to their communities, helping to increase engagement and provide experiences for Aboriginal students that make learning more meaningful, relevant, accessible and culturally responsive.

The NT Department of Education is setting a new course for student engagement as outlined in the Education Engagement Strategy 2022 to 2031. Strategic initiatives that support this include:

Remote Aboriginal Teacher Education (RATE), which encompasses the previous Assistant Teacher Project, streamlines support for Aboriginal educators through delivery of a targeted suite of professional development opportunities, including: non-accredited training; Vocational Education and Training, and tertiary education qualifications.

RATE builds capacity of existing Aboriginal educators in remote and very remote education settings at every step of their education careers, and creates opportunities for Aboriginal educators who aspire to become qualified teachers. RATE currently supports several initiatives:

  • School-based traineeships: in-school based education support for year 10 to 12 in Aboriginal remote schools.
  • VET education qualifications: certificate III, certificate IV, diploma and advice on further study options.
  • Initial teacher education qualifications: undergraduate certificate, diploma, bachelor and advice on further study options.
  • Professional Learning Grant: flexible vocational education and training initiative that provides coordination and grant funding to support Aboriginal educators to access professional learning that has an accredited training outcome.
  • Mentoring training: targeted at experienced assistant teachers who want to build their skills around supporting and mentoring emerging assistant teachers.

For further information about RATE or how the team can best support you, email assistant-teach.det@education.nt.gov.au.

Scholarships to the value of $15,000 per year (dependant on study load) are available for Aboriginal people in urban, regional and remote NT locations who are aspiring teachers and are currently studying, or are eligible to enrol in initial teacher education courses at a NT higher education institution.

For further information, go to the Teach in the Territory website, or email aboriginalschola.doe@education.nt.gov.au.


Working with children clearance

If you're a staff member working in a school, you must hold a current working with children clearance, also called an Ochre Card, or have a current exemption in place.

Staff members that need a clearance include:

  • relief teachers, in addition to being registered through the Teacher Recruitment System (TRS) - managers must verify the currency of an Ochre Card and TRS registration before engaging a relief teacher
  • any worker who may, during the ordinary course of their work or duties, have access to student information or student records, whether in electronic form or hard copy - this includes any worker providing information technology services, at a departmental site or otherwise.

Read the following policy documents for working with children clearances:

Other workers

If it is not readily apparent whether a worker may perform child-related work, and the worker does not fall within one of the above categories, the manager must determine the need for an Ochre Card.

They must take into account the following:

  • if the worker will have any form of physical contact with children
  • if the worker will have any form of verbal contact with children, either face to face or by other means
  • if the worker will have any form of written communication with children.

Situations must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, always ensuring the wellbeing of children is the paramount consideration.

School representative bodies

School representative bodies are expected to adopt the same standards and requirements for the engagement of their own employees and contractors, as set out in the working with children clearance policy.

Principal requirements

Principals need to ensure the school’s Ochre Card register is up to date, and every staff member holds a current Ochre Card or has a current exemption in place.

Fees and how to apply

The Department of Education will pay the application fee for the issue or renewal of an Ochre Card for workers directly employed by the department in schools.

To find out how to apply, go to the NT Government website.


Teacher exchange

Program update

The International Teacher Exchange Program is currently paused.

Teacher exchanges give Northern Territory (NT) teachers the opportunity to exchange with teachers from other school systems in Australia and overseas.

Teacher exchange operates within agreements between cooperating education authorities in:

  • Canada (British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, including the Northern Territories)
  • USA (Colorado)
  • the Australian States of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

Requirements

Each exchange teacher must:

  • meet the selection criteria
  • be a qualified, permanent, current employee of the NT Department of Education
  • have a minimum five years of teaching experience (three years in the NT), preferably consecutive full-time teaching in the last five years, although part-time service and with some leave will not exclude an applicant
  • be in good health (for visa requirements)
  • be a permanent Australian resident or citizen
  • be aware that a police clearance will be undertaken by the overseas or interstate authority
  • provide suitable accommodation for the exchange.

More information

For more information email Education Regulation at internatregs.doe@education.nt.gov.au.


Teacher responsibilities guide

The teacher responsibilities guide clarifies the role of teachers working in schools.

Teacher responsibilities guide PDF (1.1 MB)
Teacher responsibilities guide DOCX (667.2 KB)

The guide aims to help teachers meet the needs of students, work with parents or caregivers and other staff, and liaise with the public.

It also provides clear statements of expectations for teachers in a Northern Territory Government school.


Other careers with the department

This page has information on employment programs for young people, graduates and trainees about work integrated scholarships, and vacation employment within the Department of Education.

Early career programs

The department currently supports early careers participants in four early careers programs. 

The early careers programs aim to recruit and retain high quality young people and provide safe and healthy work environments.

These programs offer young people the opportunity to begin their career with the Northern Territory Public Sector in an environment that continues their professional development and training within a supervised workplace.

Graduate development program

The department’s graduate development program is aimed at providing graduates with a good understanding of the operational and strategic environments of the department. 

The program is structured to comprise three rotations, each spanning four months, to allow graduates to gain experience and develop a broad knowledge in a number of areas across the department.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous traineeship program


The traineeship program offers a head start in a chosen career for Territorians, with paid work and structured training leading to a nationally recognised qualification. 

The knowledge and skills obtained during a traineeship provide a pathway from school to work, the basis for further education and training, or opportunities for existing workers to gain a qualification.

Vacation employment program


The vacation employment program provides students undertaking full-time degree studies at an Australian university with the opportunity to gain valuable learning opportunities in the public service. 

The department provides paid fixed-term employment with the opportunity to gain a range of skills through work placements during university semester breaks.

Work integrated learning scholarship


The work integrated learning scholarship is administered under an agreement between the Department of Education and Charles Darwin University. 

The program is aimed at high-performing students enrolled at the university in commerce, accounting, economics and law disciplines. 

The scholarship provides financial assistance to recipients as well as a 12-week work placement during semesters of study in their undergraduate qualification.

Contact

To find out more call (08) 8999 5986 or email wfcapability.det@nt.gov.au.

Go to the Northern Territory Government's Careers website for details of other opportunities at the Department of Education.


Increasing Indigenous employment

The Department of Education is committed to improving recruitment, retention and career development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) people.

To support this commitment and increase Indigenous employment, the department are implementing a special measures plan effective from 1 June 2016.

Special measures gives priority consideration to Indigenous people when applying for a position in the Department of Education. It also allows for certain categories of positions to be designated for Indigenous applicants.

Special measures will apply to all positions within the department with the exception of Teacher Recruitment System bulk recruitment for classroom teachers and the Northern Territory Public Service Graduate program. The department will look to extend special measures to these job categories in 2017.

Procedure for applying special measures

  1. Position is advertised and job description clearly indicates that special measures will be applied.
  2. Applicant indicates their Indigeneity and/or desire to be considered for special measures in their application and/or on e-Recruit in the ‘Workplace Diversity’ section.
  3. The selection panel assesses the ability of the special measures applicant(s) to meet the essential selection criteria and be suitable to perform the duties at a level commensurate with that of the position, and makes a recommendation to the relevant HR delegate. If there is more than on special measures applicant the selection decision will be based on merit.
  4. If the selection panel does not find an Indigenous applicant suitable, they must apply to the Public Sector Appeals & Grievance Review at OCPE for approval to be able to assess other applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions PDF (159.1 KB)


Teach in the Territory

As a teacher in the Territory you will support young Territorians to reach their potential and help build brighter futures.

We need exceptional teachers to join us in making a difference who are:

  • committed to providing students with a high quality education
  • professional and driven, with the enthusiasm to make a difference
  • passionate about community engagement.

You will have the opportunity to live and work in a unique environment.

Go to Teaching in the Territory website for more information about living and working in the Northern Territory.


Early Childhood Education and Care career pathways

The Early Years Rewarding Careers campaign, an initiative of the Northern Territory Government, aims to showcase the professional opportunities available in early childhood education and care and provides a roadmap that will help you navigate career options available in the Northern Territory.

Early childhood education and care is a growing, dynamic sector with opportunities to enter and expand your career in all kinds of stimulating and professionally rewarding ways.

  • The Early Years Rewarding Careers Guide is a go-to resource for anyone looking to start, or further their career in the early childhood education and care sector. Essential Guide download PDF (1.6 MB)
  • The Essential Guide features inspiring Northern Territory early childhood professionals and highlights their career experiences and learning pathways.
  • The Essential Guide also contains information about courses, entry requirements and vocational education training pathways for early childhood education and care career qualifications. Vet Qualification Information download PDF (108.9 KB)
  • Secondary students can commence vocational education and training studies in early childhood education and care as part of their Northern Territory Certificate of Education and be workforce ready upon leaving school - VET for secondary students | NT.GOV.AU.
  • Early Years Rewarding Careers scholarships are also available for students studying a Certificate III or Diploma in early childhood education and care or a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education through Charles Darwin University - https://www.cdu.edu.au/scholarships

National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy

The National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy aims to foster a sustainable and high quality workforce of early childhood teacher and educators. For further information go to: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy

Free training courses

The NT and Australian governments are jointly funding a range of courses in priority areas during 2023 including early childhood education and care. For further information go to: https://nt.gov.au/learning/adult-education-and-training/free-training-courses

Professional development support

Commencing in July 2023, the Australian Government provides financial assistance to services and early childhood educators to support ongoing professional development. For further information go to: https://www.education.gov.au/child-care-package/early-childhood-workforce/professional-development-opportunities

Early childhood educator stories



Contact details

Early Years and Primary Policy and Programs
T: 08 8901 1350
E: earlychildhood.det@nt.gov.au
M: GPO Box 4821, Darwin NT 0801