30 April 2018

Newsletter Articles

President’s Message

PTANT has had a busy and successful start to the year. In the first term we finalised our 2018 Strategic Plan, hosted the Annual General Meeting, completed the 2017 financial acquittal and held the first round of grants. I have been meeting with some of our key stakeholders to ensure our partnerships continue to remain strong to serve our associations. Earlier this month I met with our Chief Executive of the Department of Education Vicki Baylis to share the key achievements of PTANT and to thank her for the ongoing support that is provided. I also met with staff from the Education Faculty at Charles Darwin University exploring opportunities for greater collaboration between us in the future. It was wonderful to have Professor Sue Shore from CDU join us at our recent AGM. .

Over the Christmas break PTANT executive members spent time working on the strategic plan. I would like to thank them for their hard work, vision and determination to grow PTANT’s capacity and continue to support member associations. PTANT executive members continue to work collaboratively assessing grants for 2018, setting the calendar of events and preparing for our biennial PTANT Awards later in the year.

Vicki Baylis, Chief Executive of the Department of Education welcomed attendees at the AGM on 8 April. PTANT farewell and acknowledged Gayle Raymond and Leonard Freeman for their time and valuable contributions whist on the PTANT Executive Committee. The 2018/19 executive committee was elected and I am pleased to accept the nomination for President. I would like to congratulate the executive members that stepped up into new roles or continued in their current roles and I welcome Graeme Sawyer and Ambrose Nicholls-Skene to the committee.

We are committed to growing our capacity as a professional association. Recently we advertised the Executive Officer position on a permanent basis. This certainly provides stability around the future support for PTANT and ongoing security for our Executive Officer and we thank the Department of Education for their support in strengthening our capacity to deliver.

2017 was a productive year for PTANT and our associations. The financial acquittal highlighted the allocation of over $150,000 in professional learning grants and almost $10,000 in governance grants to 14 associations. 350 schools and 938 NT teachers participated in valuable professional learning events for the benefit of the students, schools and communities. At the Festival of teaching, 250 teachers were fortunate to choose from 44 workshops to listen and learn from two highly engaging key note speakers.

We are pleased to see the 2018 Round 1 Grants being rolled out with 17 applications received. Round 2 grant applications are now open and we are hosting a grant application writing workshop on 9 May. This will all ensure 2018 is equally productive and engaging to Territory educators.

We are here to support our NT teaching associations. We are always happy to hear from associations, whether it is an idea you would like to float, a request for support or an opportunity we can help you to develop.

Warm regards,
Jenni Webber

Annual General Meeting

PTANT hosted the 2018/19 Annual General Meeting on Sunday 8 April at the Novotel, Darwin Airport. The meeting was well attended with 16 associations represented. Sue Shore, the Director of International Graduate Centre of Education was in attendance along with the Department of Education’s Chief Executive, Vicki Baylis, accompanied by Maree Garrigan, the Executive Director of School Support Services.

Ms Baylis addressed the meeting discussing the important role associations’ play in advancing the careers and capacity of teachers. She shared her appreciation of the valuable work associations do and encouraged associations to put forward their propositions for future funding agreements between PTANT and DoE. Ms Baylis encouraged PTANT to continue liaising with the Minister for Education to strengthen PTANT’s agenda.

Ms Garrigan discussed education professional development needs highlighting the value for subject specific teachers in the middle years of schooling and encouraged the PTANT and TRB relationship to continue focussing on teaching professional learning requirements.

PTANT acknowledged the collaboration of associations in producing the Member Association Grant Activity for 2017 and launched PTANT’s Wellbeing Retreat for Teachers. Lorraine Hodgson, the PTANT Teacher Registration Board representative, provided a report of highlights and registration statistics from the TRB Annual Report. Member associations shared highlights and challenges from their associations’ activities over the past year and then networked at a lunch following the meeting.

PTANT Executive Committee 2018/19

The 2018/19 PTANT Executive Committee was elected at the AGM. The following educators were nominated and accepted into the following PTANT committee roles:

President - Jenni Webber
Vice President - Pam Adam
Secretary - Steve Hawkins
Treasurer - Rebecca Johnson
Executive Member - Virg Hughes

PTANT welcomed Mr Graeme Sawyer and Ambrose Nicholls-Skene to Executive Member roles.

Ambrose Nicholls-Skene is the Vice President for the Australian Society of Music Education NT and works at the NT Music School. Ambrose has a long history of teaching instrumental music in the Top End, recently moving to classroom teaching having completed a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning. As Vice-President of ASME NT chapter, Ambrose is committed to the ongoing professional development of teachers in the NT through facilitating events and professional networks.

Ambrose is passionate about music education, demonstrated by his nominations for the 2017 NT Teacher of the Year (Secondary), and achieving a top five National Finalist position the 2017 Education HQ - Unsung Heroes Music Teacher awards.

Ambrose is also a member of Drama Territory, actively working on developing performance skills with students in the NT Music School’s Darwin Beat Festival.

Graeme Sawyer is the Vice President on the National Executive Board for the Australian Association for Environment Education (AAEE), the President of AAEE NT and is the Managing Director at Entity 1. Graeme has a background in Education firstly as a teacher and then an educational adviser regarding technology in learning environments. Before moving into online business technology development and associated areas he worked as a lecturer and the NT University now CDU.

Graeme moved into the internet/ multimedia / ebusiness arena in 1995 with QANTM multimedia as a part of the creative nation project, researching and developing internet capabilities. In 2000 Graeme moved to entity1 to focus on the business management and ebusiness areas as well as general multimedia and e-learning and is also working in the BITS incubator Original IT as the chair of the mentor panel and the selection panel for business incubatees in the IT area.

Graeme worked on a range of business consultancies and projects, including work in indigenous communities. In 2003 I ran a research project, Closing the Digital Divide, looking at e-delivery of education and management support into remote communities.

In 2008 Graeme was elected as the Lord Mayor of Darwin and served a 4 year term. Graeme is passionately involved in wildlife issues since 1990 when he developed a multimedia integrated information system about native plants and animals. The system featured as a Questacon display for 7 years and was part of award winning project in indigenous education.

Grants

PTANT round 2 grants opened Saturday 14 April and close Sunday 20 May. Eligible associations can apply for 3 different types of grants;

• Governance Grant – up to $1 500
• Professional Learning Grant – up to $10 000
• National Conference Grant – up to - $15 000

For further information about grant types, eligibility and the application process please visit our website.

PTANT has organised a grant application writing workshop to assist association committee members when applying for grants. PTANT have engaged the services of Ms Jo Robertson at Com.un.i.cate to facilitate a workshop specifically designed for PTANT grant application writing. The workshop will be held Wednesday 9 May from 4pm to 5:30pm.

PTANT Membership

It is that time of year for member association to renew their PTANT Membership. Please follow the three steps below to renew your association’s membership;

1. Complete the membership renewal form by 1 May 2018.
2. PTANT will email an invoice once the form is received.
3. Pay the invoice by 28 May 2018 to remain a financial member.

Please contact Kristina Miletic, PTANT Executive Officer on 8944 9324 or email ptant.doe@nt.gov.au for further information.

Professional Learning and Events

The PTANT calendar is filling fast with great professional learning and networking events. Like PTANT on Facebook for timely updates.

PTANT Grant Application Writing Workshop

9 May in Darwin

Associated committee members, association members and other NT educators are invited to attend a workshop on writing effective grant applications.

The workshop is specifically developed by Jo Robertson from Com.mu.ni.cate and is designed to assist professional associations in preparing grant applications for PTANT grants.

Attendees will be able to network over refreshments before and after the workshop.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Visit the PTANT Calendar for more information.

The Territory of Drama

10 to 12 May 2018 in Darwin

Drama Territory is thrilled to present Brad Haseman, the co-author of Dramawise Reimagined: Learning to Manage the Elements of Drama, in Darwin from 10 to 12 May 2018. Haseman will present a mini conference titled “The Territory of Drama”, which is designed to cater for all teachers with an interest in drama. Thursday afternoon is specifically designed for primary teachers and Friday afternoon for secondary teachers.

Visit the PTANT Calendar for more information

MathsMeet Conference

18 to 19 May 2018 in Darwin and Alice Springs

Join members of the NT Maths community for a range of exciting presentations about the teaching of Mathematics. Simultaneous conferences will be held in Alice Springs and Darwin with the following keynote speakers:

• Alice Springs - Emeritus Professor Peter Sullivan Monash University
• Darwin - Joel Speranza, Nudgee College, Brisbane

Visit the PTANT Calendar for more information

Teachers’ Wellbeing Retreat

2 to 9 October in Phuket, Thailand

PTANT is proud to support the inaugural Teachers’ Wellbeing Retreat, where Territory teachers can relax and unwind in beautiful Phuket, Thailand, during the Term 3 break. Immerse yourself in yoga and wellbeing, eating healthy fresh food and experiencing deep relaxation through various spa treatments. This retreat may become your inspiration to start or maintain a more holistic lifestyle. The program gives you plenty of time to relax and reflect.

To maximise your time to relax and recharge, the program includes pre-retreat activities including a health questionnaire and a pre-program consultation to tailor the experience to your own unique needs. Space is limited, so get in quick!

Visit the PTANT Calendar for more information

ACTA Conference

2 to 5 October 2018 in Adelaide

ATESOL NT are going to be very active in this conference, hosting a number of workshops in Adelaide on the theme of English Language Learning in a Mobile World.

Visit the PTANT Calendar for more information

Gandel Holocaust Studies Program - Scholarship Opportunity

Applications close 22 June 2018

Gandel Philanthropy are seeking applications from active and qualified secondary school teachers for the 2018-19 program. This is a fully funded graduate program and teachers of any subject or discipline can apply as long as they are teaching or intend teaching the subject of the Holocaust. Applications are also considered from those involved in teacher-training in Australia as long as the applicant intends to include Holocaust education in their curriculum.

PTANT’s Secretary, Mr Steve Hawkins attended the program in 2017/18 and is happy share his experience with anyone considering applying. Please email Steve at steve.hawkins@ntschools.net

Visit the PTANT Calendar for more information

Water Safety and Life Skills Trial

ACHPER recently worked with the Department of Education and Royal Life Saving Society NT to undertake a Water Safety and Life Skills trial with the year 4, 5 and 6 students from Gray Primary School. All students were invited to attend the three-day trial for free. Up to 105 students from the school participated in three full days of on land and in pool activities to build their knowledge, confidence and abilities in swimming and water safety. The students attended the new Parap Swimming pool facilities over three Fridays in Term 1 where they participated in swimming and water safety session in the pool as well as participating in CPR awareness, team building, and scenario sessions where they could demonstrate their newly acquired skills and knowledge. Feedback from teachers, students, swimming teachers and all involved was very positive.

Vale Antony Vanderwey

The Home Economics Institute of Australia Northern Territory Division (HEIA NT) pays tribute to our long standing member and most recent Treasurer Antony (Tony) Vanderwey. Tony was a very proud Home Economics teacher and one of only two male members of our branch of HEIA. Tony has been actively involved in HEIA NT since 2011 holding various positions of office during that time. In 2012 he was elected as Vice President and stood in for the President in 2013 when the position was vacant. In 2013, Tony accepted the position of Treasurer and proved to be exceptional in the role. He was well known amongst friends and family to be quite fastidious with a particular attention to detail and HEIA NT has reaped the benefits of this over the years. Tony will be very deeply missed by all who knew him, including the committee and membership of HEIA NT who were privileged to know and work with him.

On behalf of PTANT we pay our respect and acknowledge Tony’s passion as a “teacher leading teachers”. His dedication to the Steering Committee for the Festival of Teaching helped ensure the event was a success. We will miss his enthusiasm, encouragement and collegiality. – Jenni Webber

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