‘The current situation is untenable and unsustainable an that immediate action be taken’: Meeting minutes
A NO-CONFIDENCE motion was “unanimously” passed by staff at a First Nations committee meeting to sack several executives at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, according to a document obtained by the NT News
Northern Territory
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A NO-CONFIDENCE motion was “unanimously” passed by staff at a First Nations committee meeting to sack the chief executive, chief operating officer and acting director of operations at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, according to a document obtained by the NT News.
The First Nations committee meeting minutes, dated February 10, showed 20 staff members were present, with the interim chair named Doctor Sue Stanton.
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The minutes said the meeting opened with a statement around the “very serious issues” Batchelor was facing around claims about staff behaviour, student neglect and a lack of Aboriginal leadership. “The current situation is untenable and unsustainable,” it read.
The no-confidence motion described an intolerable work and learning environment at Batchelor. “That there has been a complete lack of communication and decisions regarding this Institute’s future direction,” it read.
“That BI has become a culturally unsafe place for Aboriginal staff and students, there is an increasing disrespect and continued animosity towards students and Aboriginal staff. The treatment of students poses a risk to the Institute and the continued bad service to our stakeholders ... is unacceptable to us.
“A no-confidence motion in the CEO, chief operating officer and acting director of operations was raised and passed unanimously. It was decided that this motion should be taken to all staff and their immediate dismissal be implemented.
“The reports around student neglect and staff abuse pose an ongoing threat and would be damning if released to (redacted) … We require urgent and swift action to ensure BI ongoing future.”
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Batchelor’s current chief executive is Professor Steve Larkin.
The NT News understands he has been on leave for a number of months but could not determine whether it was sick, personal or annual leave.
Batchelor Institute confirmed investigations were taking place but could not comment on the nature of the leave or the employment status of the chief executive, chief operating officer and acting director of operations.
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