Teachers Registration Board of the Northern Territory
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Authorisation to employ an unregistered person

1. What is authorisation?

The Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act makes provision for the employment of unregistered persons as teachers in certain circumstances. Part 5 of the Act provides for:

  • the conditions under which authorisations to employ unregistered person as teachers may be granted;
  • the obligations of the employer; and,
  • the obligations of the unregistered person.

It is important to note that authorisation is only granted for unregistered persons to be employed in teaching positions, not teaching assistant, tutor, instructor or other such roles.

2. What are the criteria for granting authorisation?

The Board may grant authorisation if it is satisfied that the unregistered person in relation to whom an application for authorisation is made:

  • is a fit and proper person; and
  • will be appropriately supervised to safeguard learning outcomes.

The Board may grant authorisation subject to any conditions the Board thinks appropriate for the applicant to employ the unregistered person as a teacher.

In considering whether a person is 'fit and proper', the Board will take into account whether the person is:

  • of good character
  • competent to teach the subject specified in the application at the level specified
  • not disqualified, in the Territory or elsewhere, from registration as teacher

[s. 43]

3. Who is responsible to the Board in relation to an authorisation?

All responsibility to the Board in relation to an authorisation to employ an unregistered person to teach lies with the Principal acting on behalf of the employer.

4. How does a principal apply for authorisation?

Please see Form C - Application to employ an unregistered person in the NT

5. Can I do an online search to check an authorisation?

The register of teachers does not include unregistered persons employed under authorisation.

Principals receive a letter from the Board granting authorisation to employ an unregistered person. This letter should be kept as a record of the authorisation.

6. How do I know authorisation has been granted?

Following each Board meeting, successful applicants for authorisation to employ unregistered teachers are advised by letter from the Director of the Teacher Registration Board that they have been granted authorisation. This letter sets out clearly:

  • the duration of the grant of authorisation;
  • the subject areas;
  • the level;
  • who are the supervisors and mentors; and
  • any other conditions relating to the authority such as an expectation on the part of the Board that an applicant continues to make progress in upgrading his or her qualifications.

Persons employed as teachers under authorisation may only be employed to teach in the circumstances outlined in the letter to the Principal.

7. What is interim authorisation?

The Board has delegated to the Director of the Teacher Registration Board the power to issue a letter of interim authorisation until the next Board meeting in those circumstances where the application is complete and has been assessed as meeting all the requirements for authorisation. This enables the unregistered person to be employed as a teacher pending a resolution of the Board to grant authorisation.

Because authorisations are assessed case by case by the Board at each meeting, letters of interim authorisation are issued less frequently than is the case in issuing Certificates of Interim Registration and most often interim authorisation letters will be issued to repeat applications rather than new applications.

8. What is the maximum time an authorisation is valid?

Authorisations may be granted for a maximum of one calendar year only. [s. 43]

9. Can a person employed under authorisation change schools?

No. To change schools, a completely new application for authorisation is required from the principal of the school at which the person will be employed.

Unregistered persons may only be employed under the circumstances described in of the letter granting authorisation.

10. When do authorisations expire?

Authorisation may be granted for a maximum of one calendar year and expires on 31 December or the date specified on the letter of authorisation. The letter to the Principal granting authorisation will state clearly the period during which the authorisation is valid.

A new application is required if the principal intends to employ a person under authorisation in the following calendar year.