Coronavirus NT: Almost 100 per cent of remote teachers stay out bush to aid biosecurity measures during Easter

THE Remote Community Schools package was awarded to almost 100 per cent of the Territory’s eligible remote teaching staff over the Term 1 holiday period

THE Remote Community Schools package was awarded to almost 100 per cent of the Territory’s eligible remote teaching staff over the Term 1 holiday period.

Out of almost 1000 education staff entitled to the package, the NT News understands only about 10 decided to leave their designated biosecurity area during the Easter break.

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Those education staff who left were ineligible for the $500 stimulus and additional day of annual leave.

They also had to quarantine before returning to community at their own expense.

Education Minister Selena Uibo had high praise for the Territory’s remote education workers.

“I am extraordinarily proud of our remote teachers and school staff, whose dedication to their communities has extended to staying throughout their school holidays to help protect our most vulnerable Territorians,” she said.

“Our teachers and school staff are seen as role models to our remote community residents, so the fact that nearly 100 per cent of our almost 1000-strong remote education workforce did not leave their communities is testament that their passion goes well beyond education.”

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Alyangula Area School principal Noella Goveas stayed on Groote Eylandt with her colleagues and the local community over the school break.

“For us, the priority was to keep our community safe – it was basically a no-brainer for us,” she said.

“We were confident about what we needed to do, and we just rolled with it.”

As someone with an affinity for the bush lifestyle, Ms Goveas said it was a real pleasure to be able to relax and enjoy the creature comforts on the island for the holidays, like fishing and exploring, as opposed to coming back to the mainland.

“I enjoy the remoteness, it’s less distracting than being in most of the urban areas,” she said.

“I like the sense of community in any remote setting, it creates a sense of solidarity.

“We explored the different parts of Groote Eylandt, and fishing is a really big hobby and pastime, so a lot of our teachers went fishing.”

Ms Goveas said there were a few trade-offs with living out bush, and the benefits to the lifestyle outweighed the occasional yearning for some of civilisation’s comforts.