A strengthened Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act has passed through Parliament today, the first update to the legislation in nearly a decade.

The Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 contemporises the legislation for the registration of teachers and regulation of the teaching profession.

Among the key amendments are increased powers for the Teacher Registration Board for disciplinary proceedings and increased openness, transparency, and availability of information regarding the Board’s operations and decision making.  

The amendments, informed by a comprehensive review of the legislation, take into consideration recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that relate to teacher registration, and the national review of teacher registration undertaken by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership last year.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Selena Uibo.

“Children are at the centre of Territory Labor Government decisions and their safety and wellbeing is our absolute priority.

“These amendments to the Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act strengthen and contemporise the legislation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of school children continues to be paramount.

“These proposed amendments will also enable the Teacher Registration Board to publish information about the outcome of an inquiry through de-identified case summaries.”

Media contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144