Edition 2, April 2011

This is the second edition of the TRB Update for 2011. If you know a teacher who has not received an email from the Board, please encourage them to advise the Board of their current contact details.

Standards and Procedures for the Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs

The Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA) met on 15 April 2011 and approved a national framework for the accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia. The standards and procedures establish a nationally consistent approach to describing the key features of high quality initial teacher education. Over the coming months, the Board will incorporate the national system into its existing standards, guidelines and processes for accrediting initial teacher education programs in the Northern Territory.

Update on the National Professional Standards for Teachers

Each state and territory is responsible for determining the implementation of the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPSTs). Initial discussions have commenced with key stakeholders in the Northern Territory as to when the NPSTs will be implemented. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) is currently developing elaborations and evidence guides to assist jurisdictions to implement the NPSTs. For the time being, NT teachers should continue to use the Professional Standards for Competent Teachers in the Northern Territory for Provisional and Full Registration requirements. Further updates on the implementation of the NPSTs in the NT will be made available via the Newsflash section of the TRB Website and TRB Updates.

Inside Teaching

The latest edition of Inside Teaching is now available. Inside Teaching, the professional journal of the Australasian Teacher Regulatory Authorities (ATRA) is published online four times a year. Inside Teaching looks at the latest research findings and addresses the issues facing the profession, with content by educators for educators that has hands-on, practical application, to offer teachers new ideas and promote reflection on practice. In the April edition, Inside Teaching considers the practicum balancing act, investigates industry-school partnerships, explores how to turn students on to broccoli, talks with award-winning Queensland teacher Debra Smith, covers some top tips from Phil Beadle, and much more.

Teacher Registration Application Forms

The Board has implemented the use of PDF Smart Forms for those teachers applying for registration under the Mutual Recognition Principle (Form B) and for those teachers applying for Full Registration (Form D). These forms are now available on the forms page of the TRB Website. Please ensure that you print the form, sign it and attach all relevant documentation. Incomplete application forms will not be processed by the Office of the Board.

Provisional Registration – support documentation

Support documentation is now available for provisionally registered teachers, mentors and principals and outlines the process and requirements for provisionally registered teachers applying for Full Registration in the NT. The Guide and information sheets are now available. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation used in the Information Session is also available.

How to read your registration card

As of the 1 September 2010, the registration card issued by the Board to registered teachers was adjusted to reflect the amendments to the Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act. All teachers registered with the Board prior to 1 September 2010 were deemed to hold Full Registration and were subsequently issued a new registration card that stated the category of registration held, the term of registration and the financial expiry date, i.e. when they were next required to pay their annual fee.

Factsheets: when the Board imposes conditions on a teacher’s registration

To assist teachers, principals and employers to understand why the Board imposes conditions on a teacher’s registration, a Conditions on Registration (TRA) information has been prepared and applies to Form A, where the application is made under the Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act.

Members of the Teacher Registration Board

The Board consists of 12 members appointed by the Administrator of the Northern Territory for a term of four years. The composition of the Board provides for key stakeholder and geographic representation across the Territory and meets at least nine times a year in order to fulfil its functions as set out in s11 of the Teacher Registration (Northern Territory) Act.