NT Education department says Yipirinya staff facing redundancies ‘welcome’ to come work for them
Staff who could be made redundant – such as one of the longest serving Aboriginal educators – at an independent Alice Springs school are ‘welcome’ to come and work for the Department of Education and Training, the chief executive says.
Staff facing the chopping block at an independent school in Alice Springs – which is supposedly set to include some of the longest serving staff at the school – are “welcome” to come and work for the NT Department of Education and Training.
The offer has been extended to staff at Yipirinya School by department chief executive Susan Bowden, who said “we are committed to welcoming impacted staff into roles where they can continue to make a meaningful contribution to education in the Northern Territory”.
Up to 20 staff could be getting the axe at the school, NT government appointed statutory manager Stuart Reid told staff on November 12.
“Impacted staff are welcome to seek employment opportunities within the Department of Education and Training, including schools and the wider agency. The department is committed to supporting affected staff and ensuring a clear and supportive transition into suitable roles,” Ms Bowden said.
“The Department of Education and Training recognises the challenges faced by Yipirinya College staff during this time.
“Positions are available across a range of levels, from classroom teaching roles through to support staff appointments.”
Ms Bowden then provided contacts to the department’s recruitment team.
The comments came prior to Save Yipirinya School, an Alice Springs community group fighting the redundancies, announcing that staff member Doris O’Brien is reportedly facing redundancy.
Ms O’Brien has taught at the school since 1978, the group says, and is the daughter of one of the now deceased Indigenous leaders behind the founding of the school.
“Her contribution is immeasurable. Her knowledge cannot be replaced,” the group said.
Yipirinya School, located in the west of Alice Springs, specialises in “two-way” learning: educating kids in multilingual curriculum featuring local Indigenous languages.
The school was set up by Elders of the local town camps in Alice Springs, who fought the Territory government in the 1970s to establish the school.
Save Yipirinya have set up a petition against the redundancies, which had close to 500 signatures at the time of writing.
Close to 150 academics have also signed an open letter in opposition to the proposed redundancies at the school.
In his announcement to staff, Mr Reid – who’s been in the role since June – cited how enrolments at the school had fallen, with the school’s funding tied to student numbers.
Mr Reid was appointed to the school to fulfil the recommendations of a special report, the product of an investigation into the school due to a “number of complaints”, Ms Hersey told parliament in March this year.
While the school’s board has been relegated to an advisory capacity in the wake of Mr Reid’s appointment, this masthead understands the board asked for a statutory manager and for the school to be investigated.
On Monday, NT Education and Training minister Jo Hersey said “the Northern Territory Government will not be providing emergency funding for Yipirinya School”.
“We will continue to support the school through the Department to implement the recommendations of the special report,” she said.
Federal Indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy has previously said the federal government has been “engaging with the school on its financial situation”.
Mr Reid and Save Yipirinya School have been contacted for comment.
While under statutory management, Yipirinya School has been directing all comment to Mr Reid.
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Originally published as NT Education department says Yipirinya staff facing redundancies ‘welcome’ to come work for them
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