Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment

Bulletin 2 - negotiations have commenced - issued 4 March 2024

On 28 February 2024 I met with the Australian Education Union (AEU) and their delegates, and representatives from my office, the Department of Education, and Department of Corporate and Digital Development, to commence negotiations for a new enterprise agreement

We had a productive meeting with all parties listening and taking time to understand proposals, and I advised that I am seeking an enterprise agreement that falls within the Northern Territory Public Sector Bargaining Policy 2021-2024 PDF (70.8 KB).

It is important you are kept informed on the progress of negotiations as these proposals relate to your employment.  We will continue to work constructively together over the coming months to finalise a proposed new agreement.

Details of my proposals and agency initiatives

  • Salary and Allowance increases consistent with the Bargaining Policy to commence from the first pay period commencing on or after 11 October 2024
  • A 4 year agreement to provide certainty and security of conditions
  • Discussions on the current maximum rate of 27 students per classroom
  • Improvements to non-contact time for primary school teachers, and clarity for early childhood teachers
  • An attraction and retention allowance for Central Region Urban Schools, and to further consider  hard to recruit to schools
  • Discuss ‘stand down’ and ‘non-term’ provisions in relation to payment for first year teachers, and to clarify related conditions
  • Insert the Principals Determination into the new agreement, and consider salary relativities with Senior Teacher and Principal rates
  • Assistant Teachers:
    • Update the ‘Assistant Teacher’ classification title to more appropriate reflect their role
    • Consider career progression for Assistant Teachers at AT4 and or AT5
    • Considering aligning qualifications to the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) levels
    • Review Assistant Teacher Position Standards
  • Reduce the current 12 month probationary period to 6 months
  • Provide electricity subsidy for remote locations in line with the general NTPS provisions
  • Clarify intent of Remote Study Leave Program provision

Have your say – your feedback is important

Should you wish to express a view on the proposals or make a suggestion, you can provide your feedback to me by emailing enquiries.ocpe@nt.gov.au

More information

Regular bargaining updates will be posted to the OCPE webpage at NTPS non-contract principals, teachers and assistant teachers enterprise agreement negotiations.

Adj Professor Joanne Norton
Acting Commissioner for Public Employment