The Territory Labor Government is delivering on its promise to boost the NT’s frontline Aboriginal workforce with the reintroduction of Remote Aboriginal Teacher Education (RATE).
Territory Labor made a 2016 election promise to increase the number frontline Aboriginal workers such as teachers, nurses and police officers to 500 by 2026.
Today, Minister for Education, Selena Uibo announced the re-establishment of the RATE program to help provide employment pathways for remote residents to pursue a career in teaching at schools and in early childhood care.
A pilot program beginning in 2021 will be delivered in partnership with Charles Darwin University and the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education to enable remote residents to receive formal training while working in remote childcare centres and schools.
For program participants who then wish to become fully qualified teachers or early childhood educators, this program will support them to take the next steps into higher education.
There are currently 150 Aboriginal teachers in NT government schools, 68 of whom are based outside Darwin and Alice Springs. In addition, there are 224 Aboriginal Assistant Teachers working in remote schools across the Territory.
Preparations are underway to ensure communities are ready to engage in the pilot program in 2021.
As noted by Minister for Education and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Selena Uibo.
“Aboriginal teachers are seen as role models and leaders, not only within schools, but within their communities.
“During the 1980s and 1990s, RATE was delivered effectively and in significant numbers in many remote communities across the Northern Territory.
“RATE students from that era continue to work in their community schools as Assistant Teachers and fully qualified and registered teachers.
“Many went on to become Senior Teachers and School Principals, including my own mother, Didamain Uibo who studied on campus at Batchelor.
“I have spoken with community members across the Territory and there is a lot of interest the program’s reintroduction.
“The Territory Labor Government is investing in opportunities such as these to enable remote Aboriginal Territorians to undertake training within their communities and to boost the number of frontline Aboriginal workers, which in turn will inspire the next generation.”
As noted by Gapuwiyak Early Childhood Educator, Alison Wunungmurra.
“Creating strong and meaningful educational pathways like this for aspiring Aboriginal educators will only make our community that much stronger.
“Strong mentoring and support will help Aboriginal educators stay on the path to gaining further skills and experience to support our children in community.”
