NT teachers in remote communities to be offered $500 incentives to stay during school holidays
REMOTE teachers will be paid a $500 school holiday incentive to stay in their communities for the Term 1 break under a new Territory Government plan to fight coronavirus
Education
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REMOTE teachers will be paid a $500 school holiday incentive to stay in their communities for the Term 1 break under a new Territory Government plan to fight coronavirus.
The package includes a $500 school holiday incentive to encourage staff to remain in remote communities during the break, rather than risk not being able to return because of strict border controls intended to protect their communities from the spread of COVID-19.
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Any remote school staff who choose to travel outside of their community, will not be eligible for the Remote Community Schools Package and will need to self-quarantine at their own expense prior to returning to community and use their accrued leave or take leave without pay.
Education Minister Selena Uibo said she appreciated that staying in communities may be challenging for some teachers.
“However, our teachers are seen as role models in communities and so I ask that all school staff please lead by example to help us protect the lives of our most vulnerable Territorians,” she said.
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“We have implemented tough measures, including strict border control and enforced quarantine for interstate and international arrivals, to prevent the spread of coronavirus across the Territory, but we need our remote community residents to help us in this effort.
“Our remote teachers are some of our most passionate educators.
“We hope this incentive to stay in community throughout the holiday break goes some way to helping them through this unprecedented time.
“Through the Department of Education’s logistics team, we will ensure that supply chains and emergency needs are met for employees and their school communities while these travel restrictions are in place.”
The government said the Remote Community Schools Package is available to all NT public sector employees in schools and who reside in the designated area outlined by the biosecurity measures in response to COVID-19.
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Eligible employees will receive:
- A $500 retention payment for staff remaining in community for the period 9 April – 20 April 2020. This is in addition to any existing retention payments applicable within the relevant current Enterprise Agreement.
- Unused Fare Out of Isolated Locations (FOILS) retained for use before the end of 30 June 2021.
- An additional day of leave to conduct personal business for classroom and senior teachers to use by the end of 2020.
- Additional wellbeing support for staff including three additional individual sessions and group sessions for all schools.
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