1 | Page
© Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory 2011
For further information please contact:
The Director
Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory
GPO Box 1675
DARWIN NT 0801
Telephone 08 8944 9388
Facsimile 08 8999 4195
Toll-free 1800 110 302
Website www.trb.nt.gov.au
Published by the Northern Territory Government
for the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory 2012
1 | Page
Annual Report 2011 - 2012
Contents
List of tables
Legend used in tables
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
THE TEACHER REGISTRATION BOARD
Establishment of the Board
Functions of the Board
Membership of the Board
Meetings of the Board 2011–12
Attendance register
The Board’s vision, mission and values
The Board’s Strategic Objectives and Goals at a Glance (2010-2012)
Committees of the Board
Initial Teacher Education Committee
Standards and Professional Learning Committee
Professional Conduct Reference Committee...... 11
Employer Reference Committee
OFFICE OF THE TEACHER REGISTRATION BOARD
Overview
Staff of the Teacher Registration Board
Office placements...... 15
Information technology support...... 15
Official travel
Finances
National Partnership funds...... 16
Information Management
Overview
Type of information held
Register of teachers
Accessing information and/or correcting information under Part 3 of the Information Act
Records and archives management
Information access and reporting
Information privacy
REGISTRATIONS AND AUTHORISATIONS
Who can be registered?8
Registration fees8
Number of teachers registered8
Application assessed8
New registrations9
Profile of teachers registered in the Northern Territory...... 20
Registration renewals...... 21
Names removed from the register...... 23
Authorisations...... 22
Appeals...... 24
Annual audit and compliance...... 24
INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION
Approving initial teacher education programs...... 25
National accreditation of initial teacher education courses...... 26
STANDARDS AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Provisional Registration...... 27
Full Registration...... 27
National Professional Standards for Teachers...... 27
COMPLAINTS AND INQUIRIES
Inquiries and investigations...... 28
Statistics
Sexual offences...... 30
Ensure that teachers and employers are aware of their statutory rights and responsibilities...... 31
Inquiries...... 31
Acknowledgements...... 31
APPENDIX
Acronyms and abbreviations
List of tables
Table 1 Applications for Registration Presented to Board by Schedule...... 19
Table 2 Number of New Teachers Registered...... 19
Table 3 New Teachers Registered Under Mutual Recognition...... 20
Table 4 Registered Teachers by Age...... 20
Table 5 Number of Registered Teachers by Schedule...... 21
Table 6 Registered Teachers...... 21
Table 7 Registered Teachers by Gender...... 22
Table 8 Schedule T Jan 2010-Dec 2010...... 22
Table 9 Schedule T Jan 2011-Dec 2011...... 22
Table 10 Authorisations Granted Jan 2010 – Dec 2010...... 23
Table 11 Authorisations Granted Jan 2011 – Dec 2011...... 23
Legend used in tables
Schedule AFour years of tertiary education with at least one year of preservice teacher education. Many applicants in this schedule have postgraduate qualifications beyond the required four years.
Schedule B
Less than four years of tertiary education but at least one year of preservice teacher education. All applicants in this schedule were employed as teachers in the Northern Territory in 2005 and registered under a transition clause in the Act.
Schedule R
At least three years of tertiary education, including at least one year of preservice teacher education, and registration with an Australian or New Zealand registration authority. Applicants in this schedule applied for registration under the provisions of the Mutual Recognition arrangements.
Schedule T
Application by a school to employ an unregistered person who does not meet registration requirements.
Hon. Robyn Lambley MLA
Minister for Education
Parliament House
DARWIN NT 0800
Dear Minister
In accordance with section 79 of the Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act, I have pleasure in submitting the Teacher Registration Board’s report for the financial year ending 30 June 2012.
Yours sincerely
Karen Blanchfield
Chair
30 September 2012
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
This is the eighth annual report for the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory (“the Board”) since its establishment in 2004 under the provisions of the Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act (“the Act”). /The Board appointed Ms Maree Garrigan to the role as Director at the end of 2011 and extended a warm welcome to her. Mr John Sarev who had been Acting Director for the previous nine months, took up a new position and the Board farewelled John who had been both a Board member and senior staff member.
Throughout the last financial year the Board has continued to implement provisional and full registration requirements in accordance with the amendments made to the Act in 2010. There has been continued growth in the work of the Board as the national agenda requiring consistent registration practices has progressed. The introduction of National Professional Standards for Teachers in 2013, to replace the NT Teacher Standards, has required ongoing information sessions and support for teachers and educators across the Territory.
The total number of registered teachers as of 30 June 2012 was 5884, being 5148 fully registered teachers and 736 provisionally registered teachers. Authorisations totalled 35, with 6 Teach for Australia Associates included for the first time.
The Board has continued to develop documents to assist in understanding the requirements of each category of registration, provisional and full. Provisionally registered teachers, their mentors and principals were supported through face-to-face and webinar information sessions. In preparation for the move to National Professional Standards, a range of support documents linking the Northern Territory Standards to the National Standards was developed to assist teachers. The Board worked closely with principals and employer groups to ensure they have an understanding of the requirements of the national agenda.
The Board has been involved for the first time in the accreditation of initial teacher education programs that will be implemented by Charles Darwin University in 2013. Panel training was conducted in Darwin by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (“AITSL”) to ensure there were enough trained panel members to participate in this work. Each panel must have a member from another jurisdiction to ensure consistency of assessment nationally.
The Board provided comment on the draft Performance and Development Framework and consulted in various forums across sectors in order to provide feedback to AITSL. A Principal was nominated by the Board to participate in a Focus Group of the Profession which provides advice and engages with AITSL’s work to support the implementation of the National Professional Standards for Teachers, and National Professional Standard for Principals in the areas of initial teacher education, nationally consistent registration, certification of highly accomplished and lead teachers, performance and development and professional learning.
The Board worked in partnership with the Centre for School Leadership Learning and Development to engage in a national pilot to trial the National Professional Standards for Teachers within existing structures and practices across Australia. Mr John Sarev, Acting Director and Ms Janine Matheson, Acting Manager Registration and Professional Standards, undertook research to determine in what ways graduate teachers located in regional and remote schools demonstrate their engagement with the Standards in their daily work, as they transition from Graduate to Proficient career levels and move from provisional to full registration. A case study was produced outlining how nine participants located in regional and remote schools across the
Territory collected evidence against the standards, with some recommendations on how to streamline the process. Ms Matheson, on behalf of the Board, is participating in Phase Two of the AITSL pilot.
Development of processes to accredit highly accomplished and lead teachers is well under way. The Director has worked closely with employers as well as the Centre for School Leadership Learning and Development to ensure that the Board will be well prepared to begin the accreditation process in 2013.
The Board continued to work collaboratively with Charles Darwin University (“CDU”) and the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (“BIITE”) to ensure graduates from the preservice teacher education courses will be entitled to registration.
In 2012, BIITE delivered the Batchelor of Teaching and Learning Primary and Batchelor of Teaching and Learning Early Childhood under a collaborative partnership agreement with CDU. The Australian Centre of Indigenous Knowledge and Education is in a collaborative partnership between BIITE and CDU for the delivery of tertiary programs to improve the access, participation and success of Indigenous students in higher education.
Teacher education programs for Indigenous students have been and will continue to be delivered by the institute in Batchelor and the Desert Peoples Centre in Alice Springs through the mixed mode approach. This approach combines intensive workshops, community based learning and online learning to support Indigenous students to achieve their teaching qualifications.
The Territory hosted a meeting for the first time of the Australasian Teacher Regulatory Authorities (ATRA) in September 2011 in Alice Springs. This was an excellent opportunity to showcase the work of NT schools and the beautiful surroundings of Central Australia.
In May 2012, Board member Ms Karen Piening resigned. I would like to acknowledge the strong contribution Karen made to the Board over many years, bringing with her a wealth of experience in urban and remote educational settings.
The office of the Board had a number of staff changes. Ms Rachel Dunn resigned her position as Manager Professional Conduct in January 2012 and Ms Melissa Frey acted in the position prior to the appointment of Ms Jodie Hill. Ms Leonie Wetherall has been with the Board since the start of 2012 supporting the general work of the Board.
The Board continues its important role in relation to undertaking disciplinary investigations for complaints and inquiries. Two matters have proceeded to inquiries this financial year and 15 preliminary investigations have been undertaken. One teacher unsuccessfully appealed a decision of the Board to impose conditions on registration and another appeal is ongoing in the Local Court. The Board works closely with the Solicitor for the Northern Territory and is appreciative of the legal assistance provided in disciplinary matters.
Negotiations took place for the Board to move into larger premises within the same building with increased workspace for staff and a conference room that will enable Board meetings to be held on site.
The Board continues to be well served by teachers who sit on various committees that provide advice to the Board. I extend my thanks to those members of the Board who chaired committees and to a range of teachers for their professional input. Their work contributes to ensuring that our profession is regulated appropriately and that students ultimately benefit by having quality teachers.
Karen Blanchfield
Chair
THE TEACHER REGISTRATION BOARD
Establishment of the Board
The Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act came into force in September 2004 with registration requirements beginning on 1 February 2005.
Functions of the Board
The objective of the Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act is to ensure that only people who are fit and proper and appropriately qualified, are employed as teachers in the Northern Territory and to facilitate the continuing competence of teachers in the Northern Territory. The functions and responsibilities of the Teacher Registration Board may be summarised into five areas of responsibility.
Registration of teachersThe Board is charged with ensuring the quality of the teaching force in the Northern Territory through the registration of all teachers and by granting employers authority to employ unregistered people where appropriate. The Board makes recommendations to the Minister in relation to the minimum qualifications and other requirements for registration in the Northern Territory.
Initial teacher education
The Board is responsible for accrediting education courses and liaising with institutions providing education courses in the Northern Territory.
Professional learning
The Board liaises with the agency administering the Education Act on strategic priorities for professional development of teachers in the Northern Territory and with employers of teachers to develop the competencies of teachers during all career stages.
Professional standards and ethics
The Board is charged with supporting professional teaching standards and using these to support the focus on quality teaching. The Board maintains a code of professional ethics for Northern Territory teachers.
Complaints and inquiries
The Board may investigate complaints made against teachers and prosecute offences against the Act.
Best practice
Where appropriate to do so, the Board may conduct research into the best practice in teaching in the Northern Territory. The Board must promote best practice in education based on research.
Membership of the Board
/ Nominee of the Chief Executive of the Department of Education and TrainingMs Karen Piening
BA, Grad Dip Ed, MEd Studs
To October 2014
Ms Piening resigned on 9 February 2012 / / One educator, nominee of the Catholic Education Office
Mr Greg O’Mullane
BA, Grad Dip Ed, Grad Dip Arts, MEd Studs, FACE
To October 2014
/ One indigenous registered teacher at a government school, the nominee of the Chief Executive of Department of Education and Training
Ms Yalmay Yunupingu
Dip Teach
To October 2012 / / One educator, nominee of Charles Darwin University
Prof Peter Kell
PhD (Deakin) MEdAdmin (Deakin) Grad Dip Ed Studs (CSU) DipT (Canberra)
To October 2014
/ Two registered teachers (one based at a remote school), nominees of the Northern Territory branch of the Australian Education Union
Ms Susan Stanaway
TTC, Dip Ed, Grad Dip Ed
To October 2012
Mr Stephen Nimmo
BA (Joint Honours), M.L.I.A (Dip), Cert. (ES) TESOL, Grad Dip Ed
To October 2014 / / One educator, nominee of the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education
Claire Kilgariff
BA (CDU), BEd (CDU), Grad Dip L’ship and Change (CDU), Dip Teach (Fine Arts), Grad Cert Public Sector Management
To October 2014
/ / One person, nominee of the NT Council of Government School Organisations
Mr Steve Carter
City & Guilds of London IMCC
To October 2014
/ One registered teacher, nominee of the Independent Education Union Queensland/Northern Territory
Ms Elsabe Bott
BEd, MEd
To October 2012 / / One registered teacher, nominee of the NT Joint Council of Professional Teaching Associations
Ms Lorraine Hodgson
Dip Teach
To October 2012
/ One educator, nominee of the Association of Independent Schools of the NT
Mr Christopher Tudor
BEc, Grad Dip Ed, Grad Dip Ed Admin
To October 2012 / / One registered teacher, nominee of the Association of NT School Educational Leaders
Ms Karen Blanchfield
TTC, BEd, Grad Dip PSM, MIM
To October 2012
Meetings of the Board 2011–2012
Meeting / Date / Description / Duration1 / 4 August 2011 / Teleconference / Afternoon
2 / 1 September 2011 / Darwin / Full day
3 / 13 October 2011 / Darwin / Full day
4 / 1 December 2011 / Teleconference / Afternoon
5 / 25 January 2012 / Teleconference / Afternoon
6 / 9 February 2012 / Darwin / Full day
7 / 15 March 2012 / Darwin / Full day
8 / 10 May 2012 / Teleconference / Afternoon
9 / 7 June 2012 / Darwin / Full day
Attendance register
Meetings / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9Members
Karen Blanchfield
Steve Carter / AP / P
Elsabe Bott / AP / P / P / AP / P
Chris Tudor / AP / AP / NA
Lorraine Hodgson / AP / AP
Susan Stanaway / P / AP
Greg O’Mullane / AP / P / P / P / P / P
Karen Piening* / P / AP / AP / RFB
Yalmay Yunupingu / AP / P / A / A / P / A / A / P
Stephen Nimmo / AP
Claire Kilgariff / P / P / P / P / A / AP / P
Peter Kell / AP / AP
*Ms Karen Piening resigned from her position on the Board on 9 February 2012.
Legend: A - Absent; AP - Absent with Apologies; NA - Not Applicable; P - Part meeting;
RFB - Retired from Board.
The Board’s vision, mission and values
Vision
A teaching profession valued for its highest standards of professional practice and conduct in the interest of students and the community in the Northern Territory.
Mission
To regulate the teaching profession in the Northern Territory to ensure only appropriately qualified, competent and fit and proper persons are members of the profession.
Values
The Board’s values reflect those of the Teacher Registration Board’s Code of Ethics for Northern Territory Teachers:
Integrity | Respect | Justice | Empathy | Dignity
Code of Conduct
As members of a Northern Territory statutory authority, Board members adhere to the Code of Conduct for members of Northern Territory statutory authorities recommended in Board Membership: A Guide for Members of Northern Territory Government Board, Committees and Statutory Bodies (NTG 2005).
The Board’s Strategic Objectives and Goals at a Glance (2010-2012)
In fulfilling its legislative functions, the Board will continue to focus on the following objectives and goals over the next 18 months:
Committees of the Board
All committees of the Board make recommendations on matters referred to them by the Board. Committee membership is at the invitation of the Board.
All committees have made a significant contribution to the Board’s work in reviewing processes, developing policy, promoting the profession and fulfilling the Board’s regulatory and professional responsibilities under the Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act (“the Act”).
Initial Teacher Education Committee
The Initial Teacher Education Committee fulfils the functions of the Board outlined in section 11(d) of the Act. The committee advises the Board and makes recommendations on the assessment and accreditation of preservice teacher education programs delivered in the Northern Territory to ensure graduates meet the Professional Standards for Graduate Teachers in the Northern Territory for the purposes of registration.
Membership June 2011 to June 2012
Ms Sue Crowe (Chair)Principal, Braitling Primary School
Ms Elizabeth MountfordManager of HALT Program, CSLLD
Ms Tania Thompson (nee Paull)Practising Teacher, The Essington School
Ms Lola SleepPractising Teacher, Kormilda College (currently on leave)
Ms Margie KesbySenior Curriculum Manager, DET
Mr Martin TrouwAssistant Principal, Dripstone Middle School
Ms Kate FeganActing Assistant Principal Wulagi Primary School (joined committee 24 May 2012)
Ms Lynette DelaneyDeputy Principal, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Dr John YoungPrincipal Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr College Wadeye (joined committee 29 May 2012)
Mr Laurence TamateaAssociate Professor of Pedagogy and Learning, CDU
Ms Teresa HughesSenior Lecturer Indigenous Teacher Education, BIITE
Dr Melodie BatSenior Lecturer, BIITE (resigned from committee January 2012)
Mr Cameron HughesDeputy Principal, Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School Xavier Catholic College Wurrumiyanga (resigned from committee January 2012)
Ms Janine MathesonExecutive Officer, Manager of Professional Learning and Standards, TRB
Meetings
10 & 11 November 2011 – National Accreditation Training
29 March 2012
22 May 2012
Standards and Professional Learning Committee
The Standards and Professional Leaning Committee, fulfils the functions of the Board under the provisions of section 11(e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) of the Act and has the following terms of reference: