Educators happy to stay locally these school holidays but mass exodus likely over Christmas, says union

EDUCATORS are prepared to spend these school holidays in the Territory but a mass exodus could occur over Christmas, according to a local union.

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EDUCATORS are prepared to spend these school holidays in the Territory but a mass exodus could occur over Christmas, according to a local union.

Australian Education Union NT branch secretary Adam Lampe said overall, educators were happy to stay in the Territory during the two-week school holidays but he did not expect them to stay put over Christmas.

“In general they’re happy to hang around but it will be a different story over Christmas, no doubt about it,” he said.

“And we’re all hoping by that stage COVID is really under control, or there’s a vaccine or we’re close.

“They understand the consequences if they leave the Northern Territory and they get caught.

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“However, they are getting uncomfortable, and coming up to Christmas there’s going to have to be more consideration about what’s going to happen, because those people will go home.”

Mr Lampe said remote teachers in particular were choosing to stay in the NT during the two-week holiday out of respect for remote communities trying to protect their people from COVID-19.

“A lot of remote teachers respect the fact those remote communities don’t want any chance of COVID coming into the communities,” he said.

“They’re showing due respect to that, and a lot are saying if you leave the NT anyway (to a hot spot) you’d have to do two weeks anyway, so those teachers are leaving communities and going someplace else in the NT.”

During the mid-year school holidays, 30 teachers had to undergo mandatory quarantine after travelling to Victoria and NSW before and during the school holidays.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said that a small number of staff had advised they intended to travel interstate during the mid-semester holidays.

“The mid-semester break will provide time to recharge and prepare for Term 4,” she said.

“It is acknowledged that some staff may choose to travel interstate during this time.

“The department is collecting information in relation to staff movements for the purpose of supporting the safety of staff, students and school communities.

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“There is a small number of staff who work in schools that have advised they intend to travel interstate during the mid-semester break.

“The advice is for all staff to continue to be cautious and responsible in their approach to interstate travel and to stay informed of the Northern Territory Chief Health Officer directions.”

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