Alice Springs schools to engage students and reduce anti-social behaviour

The Territory is home to almost 3000 teachers, with about 150 joining the ranks in 2023. Read about the critical role they will play in helping children stay on the right path.

Re-engagement programs in Alice Springs schools could be key to alleviating the town’s current wave of anti-social behaviour.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said Yipirinya School’s sunset school had led to some “really great things” in Term Four last year.

“It’s about when the kids are turning up, making sure they’re taught,” she said.

“There’s been some really long-term engagement programs like Alice Outcomes, the work at Centralian Middle School, as well as St Joseph’s.

“What we saw in Term Four around having those attendance officers much more visible, doing those laps of the CBD basically, confronting families – that saw some results in Term Four, that work will continue.”

Ms Lawler said the “issues we’ve seen in Alice” have escalated over summer and the NT government would continue to focus on getting kids to school.

Education Minister Eva Lawler talks to students at the NT Learning Commission. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

It comes as the Territory welcomes about 150 additional teachers and 11 principals ahead of the new school year.

The NT’s new staff gathered on Tuesday for a two-day orientation program where they were introduced to the Territory’s education systems and curriculum.

Ms Lawler said about 100 of the new staff had relocated from interstate, and about 50 had completed their studies at Charles Darwin University before joining the workforce.

The Territory currently employs 2788 in government schools, with just 36 vacancies.

Charlotte Gorman relocated to the Territory from Ballarat and will be teaching Year 8 students at Katherine School of the Air.

“I’m happy to be here and get to know people and meet this other side of the Australian lifestyle and story that I haven’t had as much to do with over the past 15 years of my life teaching.”

Jack Burke and Charlotte Gorman are among 150 teachers and 11 principals new to the NT. Teachers who work in remote schools for four years could become eligible for having their university fees reduced or waived. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Perth resident Jack Burke will be working at Maningrida School.

Mr Burke has already joined a local footy team.

He said it was to important to build “strong, positive relationships with your community so that students can understand that you’re a person as well”.

“There’s a divided sort of look at the teacher as the ‘other’ and I think just creating those bonds and relationships can bring you down to earth and get them to come along and engage, and actually be interested in the learning,” he said.

Ms Lawler said schools were strongest when teachers, families and communities worked together.

“It is our responsibility to ensure Territory kids are supported, motivated, and inspired to engage with their learning every day,” she said.