Early Childhood Australia hosts candidates forum ahead of NT election

The Territory’s education leaders pitched their policy plans to sector stakeholders at a candidates forum last week. Here’s what made the top of their list.

Early Childhood Australia chief executive Sam Page and NT branch general manager, inclusion and early intervention Janet Williams-Smith. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Wraparound and holistic supports, attendance, pay, and administrative burdens are Territory politicians’ top priorities for early childhood educators.

Education Minister Mark Monaghan, Opposition Education Spokeswoman Jo Hersey, and NT Greens Candidate Suki Dorras-Walker joined Early Childhood Australia NT’s candidates’ forum last week to set out their plans for the sector.

Mr Monaghan said his key focuses were equity of access and needs-based funding.

He said if re-elected, the NT government would offer paid practicums to student educators to bolster the workforce.

It comes soon after the federal government doubled its paid prac subsidy for Darwin and Palmerston student educators to eight weeks, up from four.

Mrs Hersey pointed to the CLP’s plan to reinstate truancy officers to boost school attendance.

She said she would also focus on increasing kids’ literacy and numeracy skills through “outcomes-focused” programming.

In the midst of ever-increasing crime concerns in the Territory, Mrs Hersey said it would also be critical to make teachers feel safe, as well as offering permanency to teachers.

Ms Dorras-Walker said “we need children in all our policies” and pledged to create a “safe and stable” support system for families.

She said it was also important to reduce administrative “hurdles” and increase remuneration to attract more young people into early childhood education roles.

ECA NT Committee Chair Liz Chick said the forum was a “heartening” display of the Territory’s interest in the vital role early education plays.

“This gathering also underscored the importance of cohesive policies and serious consideration of how to address workforce issues across the Territory,” she said.

Last chance to hear early childhood plans before election

Territorians will have their chance to ask three politicians about their childhood development plans at a candidates forum just three weeks out from the NT election.

Early Childhood Australia’s NT branch will host the panel – made up of Education Minister Mark Monaghan, Opposition Education Spokeswoman Jo Hersey, and Greens Candidate Suki Dorras-Walker – on Tuesday evening.

Tickets to the free forum had almost sold out as of Monday morning, but families and educators could also register to tune in to the event virtually and pose their questions online.

National ECA chief executive Sam Page said the forum was an opportunity for Territorians to learn more about each candidate’s “track record” and their party’s proposed policies.

She said it was also an opportunity for families and ECA delegates to hear about the organisation’s priorities for the sector, such as staff retention, funding, and service integration.

“I would hope that the candidates are really clear about what they see as the priorities for early childhood and support for families with young children,” she said.

“I think it’ll be really interesting to hear what they think is working well in the Territory what they’d like to build on or strengthen.”

Ms Page said the complexities of elections were that stakeholders often wanted to see some cross-platform commitments to ensure stability in their respective sectors.

“But of course, that’s not what candidates are trying to do,” she said.

“They’re differentiating their party and establishing that their party has a better alternative.

“I would expect a little bit of both (tomorrow).”