Media Release
Teacher safety
Tuesday 30 August 2005
Recent allegations in the media regarding widespread violence in Northern Territory schools are untrue.
The Department of Employment, Education and Training regards the safety and wellbeing of its teachers as of paramount importance. Every incident involving violence against a teacher is treated seriously and dealt with urgently.
Counselling support is provided by Student Services Guidance Officers and other support services for the victim of the assault, other staff and students within the school community. This response is immediate and followed up with ongoing consultation.
Guidance Officers may also be involved in liaising with the family and the student who has allegedly committed the assault to provide assessment of the students' personal, social and behaviour development. Advice is provided to the school and families on the range of support services provided within the community.
Department of Employment, Education and Training has no evidence that the level of assaults in schools has increased.
The Student Services Division has provided support to schools as a result of assault twice this year, once in primary and once in a high school.
There are several programs available to support students and schools in dealing with violence.
Eleven Well-being Teachers and nine Behaviour Advisory Teachers are located across the NT that deal specifically with students behaviour issues in primary and secondary schools. These advisors assist teaching staff to develop individual behaviour plans and preventative strategies for students with extreme behaviours.
Inclusion support funding provides supplementary resources to schools to assist in meeting the needs of students with social/ emotional and behavioural issues. This often takes the form of one-on-one support for the student with an inclusion support assistant.