Northern Territory Distance Learning Service
Staff - Your Questions Answered
Staffing
History/Background
New Structure
Funding
Promotion
Staffing
When will I know how the new arrangements for the NT Distance Learning Service (NTDLS) will affect me?
Over the next four weeks DEET will work with the relevant unions on the change management process. You will be advised of the details of how the decision affects you as soon as possible after that. In the meantime, if you have any queries, you are invited to contact Chris Hancock, Human Resources Director Building Better Schools, on telephone 890 14995 or mobile 0401119166.
What support is available to me throughout this change process?
The dedicated Human Resources Director is available to help with any questions about staff wellbeing and employment conditions matters arising from implementation of the Northern Territory Distance Learning Service.
Will counselling services be available?
Yes. Confidential counselling support is available through employee assistance programs. For further information please contact Chris Hancock, the Human Resources Director on 890 14995.
What will happen if the NT Open Education Centre has more staff than positions at my level for 2007?
The annual transfer round is the first step in the process and this has been brought forward this year to allow staff the time and support to ensure a smooth transition during the implementation process. If necessary, the Displacement Procedures as agreed in the Teachers and Educators Certified Agreement 2005 will apply.
If you are an Executive Teacher or in a non-teaching position, the procedures for filling of vacancies arising from substantial change set out in your Certified Agreement will be followed. DEET will work with the appropriate unions to reach agreement over precisely how these procedures are applied in relation to the NTOEC.
In general terms, the Certified Agreements provide that, where DEET, the Commissioner for Public Employment and the relevant union agree, staff whose jobs or functions remain unchanged can be transferred to a similar or like job within DEET. This means that where there is one vacancy and only one suitable officer, that officer can be matched against the position.
If NTOEC loses more than one position at a particular level, whether Executive Teachers or non-teaching positions, expressions of interest will be called for all of the positions at that level in the school.Only existing staff in the school at that level are eligible to apply for these vacancies. Selection panels assess applicants on merit in the usual way, including interviews where necessary, to compare the relative merit of applicants.
It is proposed that, once this process has been completed, officers who have not won a position at their level in their school will be able to apply to be matched to any remaining vacancies at level within DEET
Executive Teachers or non-teaching staff who do not win a position in the change process will be referred to the DEET Placement Committee and be afforded priority consideration for vacancies.
If I don’t win a position in the new structure at my level, what will happen to me?
If you are an Executive Teacher or in a non-teaching role, the Placement Committee will regularly review your situation and ensure that you are given priority consideration for suitable vacancies. If you remain unplaced for a long period of time because you do not win positions to which you are referred, or because you decline suitable vacancies, on advice from the Placement Committee the Chief Executive may place you in a suitable vacancy at your level as allowed for in the Public Sector Employment and Management Act (Section 35).
If I am on a temporary contract, what will happen to me?
DEET will work closely with temporary contract employees and their relevant union and the Commissioner for Public Employment to progress this matter in order to clarify individual status by the end of Term 3, 2006. Ongoing employment within NTOEC will depend on the final structure and job design.
What is the process for the annual teacher transfer round? Can I still apply to transfer through that process?
The timeline and process for teacher transfers for 2007 is set out below. If you are a Teacher at NTOEC you will be able to apply to transfer through this process.
24 July 2006 |
A memo will be sent to all teachers inviting applications for teacher transfer in 2007. This year, applications will be completed on-line. |
25 August 2006 |
Closing date for teacher applications for transfer. |
From 28 August to 22 September 2006 |
The annual teacher transfer round will be conducted. |
Week commencing 25 September 2006 |
All teachers will be advised of the results of their transfer application for 2007. |
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How are the needs of staff on long leave, or on long term higher duties addressed in the change process?
Each person’s situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the individual and the relevant union. The current Certified Agreements detail how this will occur. Clause 20 of the Teachers and Educators Certified Agreement and Clause 17 of the ‘General’ Agreement refer.
Will 29 teachers at NTOEC lose their jobs?
Some teachers will continue to provide direct and indirect tuition to students, other teachers may work as Regional Learning Agents, and others will have the opportunity to apply for positions in the Distance Learning Materials and ICT Innovation Unit. The dedicated HR consultant will work with staff and the AEU and CPSU during the implementation process to ensure a smooth transition for all.
Will voluntary redundancies be available?
The Department of Employment, Education and Training will work towards placing all staff in a position.
What if teachers don’t want to teach in a remote area?
Nobody has to teach in a remote area if they don’t want to. Teachers will be able to apply for positions using the annual teacher transfer round process, beginning in Semester Two.
What are Regional Learning Agents?
Regional Learning Agents (RLAs) are distance education teachers that will be located in remote schools/communities to support the delivery of secondary education. They will work with remote schools to expose them to the range of NTDLS services available, professionally develop teachers using these services and engage in the exemplar teaching practices for Indigenous students.
Why are there fewer Regional Learning Agents than recommended in the report?
RLAs will be placed in remote communities where there are sufficient student enrolments.
Why are teaching positions being converted to administrative positions?
A number of the positions in the new model require specific skill sets e.g. instructional designers and desktop publishers. Teachers with these skill sets are encouraged to apply. These positions will work closely with teaching staff of the NTDLS.
No other teaching positions have job descriptions so why are there job descriptions for teachers in the distance education schools?
As the report recommended this is a unique environment, and it is imperative that the role of teachers be made clear – because teachers share a range of clients who require varying levels of service. DEET will continue to work collaboratively with the AEU and with staff during the implementation process.
Will teachers have the training to apply for a position in one of the new streams?
Current NTOEC teachers have been working in these streams.
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History/Background
NTOEC was providing a perfectly good service, so why change it?
One of the reasons we are creating the Northern Territory Distance Learning Service is because until now the three schools have operated as independent entities. There was a lack of continuity and consistency. Some of the services, technology and teaching and learning materials, need to be streamlined and there needs to be cooperation and coordination between all three schools. We have the basis of a wonderful, world-class distance learning service. By combining resources and coordinating the delivery, we will deliver a much more relevant learning experience.
If NTOEC was not providing a perfectly good service, are you saying it has been grossly overstaffed for the past few years?
No, NTOEC has not been overstaffed for the manner in which it has delivered distance learning. We are simply changing the emphasis and the approach to bring our distance education service in line with leading edge practice.
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New Structure
You say that the schools will still have three principals but they will report to an Advisory Group. So who is in charge?
The position of principal of NTOEC will be reclassified as Director of the NTDLS, taking responsibility for the program management of the service while still having responsibility for NTOEC. He or she, and the two principals of the Schools of the Air, will report to the Deputy Chief Executive Education Services in relation to policy, strategy and program delivery. The Deputy Chief Executive Education Services will be advised by an Advisory Group that will include the Director of the NTDLS and the Schools of the Air principals, the three school council chairpersons, an ICPA representative, the General Managers of Schools and the General Managers of Curriculum and ICT.
Will Government be releasing the consultation report?
Government has released the Report and it is available here.
What are the leading edge aspects of the model?
The NTDLS provides the framework for leading edge practices to be developed across all distance-learning environments in the NT. Some of the leading edge elements are the Distance Learning Materials and ICT Innovation Unit, the establishment of a virtual schools trial and the allocation of Regional Learning Agents in remote communities.
What is the difference between Direct and Indirect learners?
Direct refers to those students who directly receive instruction from NTOEC teachers. In the main, these students have a sound proficiency in English literacy and are capable of independently undertaking distance learning with the support of a study coach.
Indirect refers to those students who receive services from NTOEC indirectly and through an intermediary (teacher and/or assistant teacher) who understands the context of the learner and is able to select appropriate learning/materials to match different cultural and language needs. In the main, this cohort is largely Indigenous (students in homelands, CECs and group schools).
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Funding
Is this reform being adequately resourced for the implementation and ongoing to maintain a leading edge in distance education?
The new NTDLS will be adequately resourced to ensure the successful implementation. The $1 million for the Distance Learning Materials and ICT Innovative Unit will give the NTDLS the ability to improve the service and maintain a leading edge focus. A review will be undertaken in three years to assess effective implementation.
The report recommends 13 positions in the Distance Learning Materials and ICT Innovation Unit, but you are employing only seven. How will you deliver the same service?
The funding identified for these additional positions has been used to increase the budget to $1 million to allow greater flexibility in the purchase of materials or bringing in specialists expertise from external sources. This Unit and the subject teachers will then be able to concentrate their focus on refining materials for the NT context, particularly for Indigenous learners.
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Promotion
How will the strong media attention around distance education over the past two years be addressed?
The new NTDLS will develop a communication strategy to positively promote the new service and the schools, highlighting improved educational delivery for all distance education students.
For further information:
Links
NT Distance Learning Service home
NT Distance Learning Service Report
New Direction for Distance Education [PDF 130kb]
Parents and Students - Your Questions Answered
This is a Distance Education initiative. |
