Bulletin 4 - improved offer for new enterprise agreement - issued 23 January 2026

On 20 January 2026 an improved offer was provided to the United Workers Union (UWU), for a new enterprise agreement to replace the existing NTPS Aboriginal Health Practitioner 2022 – 2025 Enterprise Agreement.

All union and employee feedback has genuinely been considered, with the offer presented providing a generous package of contemporary improvements, balancing job security and enhanced employee conditions. It aligns with the NTPS Bargaining Policy and delivers competitive wages and strong employment conditions over the next four years.

The offer provides a 3% per annum salary increase over the four years which provides real compounding wages growth of 12.55%. The offer will keep your wages above the CPI over the next four years and provides competitive salaries and solid employment conditions for employees.

It is now time to give employees the opportunity to have their say and vote on the proposed new agreement.

Summary of the improvement

The following key improvements have been made to the previous offer:

• Redeployment and Redundancy - the claim for proposed changes to remove the 2 year provision for an employee to remain on the redeployee database has been withdrawn.
• Consultation on changes to By-Laws and Determination, and Inconsistent Provisions including Retrospective approvals - the claim to revert to the previous provisions that were outlined in the NTPS Aboriginal Health Practitioners 2017–2021 Enterprise Agreement, inclusive of the proposed retrospective provisions, has been withdrawn.
• Compassionate Leave - under recreation leave a sub clause will be inserted to clarify that an employee may access compassionate leave during a period of recreation leave.
• Exemplary Practice Allowance – the new offer introduces an Exemplary Practice scheme that aligns with the nursing and midwifery scheme.
• Community Language Allowance – agreement has been reached with the union to amend the wording of the clause to better align with this agreement, including retitling it as ‘Community Language Allowance and Bilingual Recognition’.

You can also find a detailed outline of the improved offer in the information sheet PDF (788.1 KB).

Online Ballot Process - Your Vote is confidential

On Tuesday 27 January 2026, you will be sent information regarding the proposed Northern Territory Public Sector Aboriginal Health Practitioner 2025 – 2029 Enterprise Agreement, including a link to the proposed agreement and an explanatory document highlighting the changes compared with your current agreement.

Hard copies of these documents will also be available throughout your workplace. This will provide you the opportunity to understand the offer and see what changes are proposed.

The ballot process will be conducted by Vero Engagement and Voting Solutions Pty Ltd (Vero). You will be sent an email link by Vero on Tuesday 3 February 2026, which will provide your unique login credentials and details about how to cast your confidential electronic vote.

The online ballot will be emailed to you using your email account details contained in myHR. If you won’t have access to your NTPS email during the ballot period or would prefer the electronic ballot to be sent to your private email account, please contact support@verovoting.com.au or call 1300 702 898 and provide your updated details as soon as possible.

Ballot Timetable

The timetable for the ballot is:

The ballot count will be conducted at the Vero Voting office (5/100 Railway Road Subiaco WA 6008). I will advise ballot result via a bulletin and notice on the enterprise bargaining website for the Aboriginal Health Practitioner Enterprise Agreement negotiations.

More information

For further information on the proposed agreement or the ballot process, contact OCPE by emailing enquiries.ocpe@nt.gov.au or phone 08 8999 4282.

Tim McManus
Delegate of the Commissioner for Public Employment
23 January 2026