24th June, 2025
The school is located in east Arnhem Land, in a homeland-town of around 100 people. The community is a rich, vibrant home of thoughtful, considered Yolŋu determined to remain on their ancestral estates. Rich in tradition, knowledge, and connection to country, this town offers an immersive and enriching experience for teachers seeking to engage meaningfully with Yolŋu students and their families.
This remote, community-led school holds a vision for “independent lives of dignity on ancestral estates.” The school values of education, cultural integrity, social justice, and reconciliation are woven into every aspect of daily life. The school operates as part of a broader social enterprise that empowers local families and Elders to govern their own educational and vocational programs.
Programs centre on multi-generational learning, adding depth to students’ self-awareness through learning on and about their ancestral estates; valuing kinship and ancestry; promoting academic achievement through purposeful literacy and numeracy; with students encouraged to develop strong aspirations, confidence and pride in their cultural competence.
Teachers in both the Primary and Secondary classes work as members of teaching teams with approximately 26 students spread across both classes. Each teaching team consists of a registered teacher and two Yolŋu Team Teachers. All students speak Djambarrpuyŋu as a first language and are learning to speak English as an additional language.
You will be a primary-trained teacher with strong initial literacy and numeracy teaching skills, who can deliver contextualised, purposeful learning experiences aligned with the overarching "Big Idea" each semester. Walking Talking Text is the literacy pedagogy implemented at the school. There are no off-the-shelf programs – educators have the flexibility to create meaningful, relevant learning in collaboration with Elders and community members. A contextualised bilingual approach is essential, and a deep respect for Yolŋu protocols and knowledge systems is fundamental to success in this role.
Engagement is at the heart of everything the school does, seeking deep involvement across all aspects of its operation. The school empowers Yolŋu students to stay deeply connected to their history, practices and values while building the skills and confidence to engage positively and productively with the wider world.
Are you the right fit?
Do you hold deep respect for Indigenous values, authorities, histories and languages?
Are you:
- Committed to Traditional Owners making family futures on their ancestral estates?
- A passionate EAL/D educator who can develop students' literacy and numeracy skills in a bilingual classroom?
- Enthusiastic about learning and working collaboratively in teaching teams with Elders in multi-age classrooms?
- A practical person who can develop creative, purposeful learning on a very remote, Yolŋu ancestral estate?
Responsibilities include;
- Developing and maintaining positive and harmonious teaching team relationships.
- Implementing the College Curriculum Policy and ensuring continuity of the established class routines and pedagogies.
- Planning, preparing and delivering purposeful and effective teaching and learning programs consistent with best practice EAL/D, bilingual and numeracy pedagogies.
- Continuously engaging with, and supporting the Yolŋu Team Teachers through co-developing and implementing teaching and learning programs, co-planning and implementing meaningful activities relevant to the Mäpuru context.
- Enriching the learning program through a range of relevant applied activities including song, music, the arts, ranger activities, enterprise education and sports.
- Applying your strong literacy teaching skills to support the Yolŋu Team Teachers to implement the Djambarrpuyŋu literacy and culture program. The Yolŋu Team Teachers will support you to teach English literacy, and numeracy alongside the integration of the Australian Curriculum across all learning programs.
- Providing for the physical, social, cultural and emotional well-being and safety of students whilst in the broad range of education environments.
- Regularly assessing students (diagnostic, formative and summative) for developmental, feedback and reporting purposes.
- Maintaining student records and evidence of learning portfolios and report on student performance to students, parents, the YE Board and other stakeholders as required.
- Supporting the Yolŋu Team Teachers to develop stronger literacy and numeracy skills.
Positions are for the remainder of 2025, however preferably 2026, and beyond. There may be opportunities for partners to work within the community, up to 10 hours a week. Teaching couples or friends, willing to share the same accommodation are encouraged to apply. There are also two other roles available: a primary teaching position working with secondary-aged students, and a teaching principal position
Benefits The school will provide the following benefits:
- Salary between $92,215 - $131,349 plus super.
- Fully subsidised private two or three bedroom furnished house (not pet friendly), with ability to host relief staff. Fully subsidised internet, utilities and phone.
- Annual remote allowances of $8,486, paid pro-rata fortnightly with salary. $11,836 with dependents.
- Support with return interstate flights at beginning and end of an 18 month to 2 year contract. Support with return NZ flights at beginning and end of an 18 month to 2 year contract.
- Travel Allowance – equal to 4 return flights from community to Darwin annually.
- Remote Retention Payment: Year 1 - $1,000, Year 2 - $2,000, Year 3 - $3,000, Year 4 - $4,000
- Study Leave – After 4 years, 1 semester paid full-time or 1 year part-time.
- Recognition of teacher excellence allowance, classified by TRB NT: Highly Accomplished - $13,363, Lead: $27,981.
- Will match current employers Study Leave points at completion of a two year contract.
- Support with studying Yolŋu Languages and Culture at Charles Darwin University
All incentives to be finalised with employer.
Footprint Placements will provide benefits to assist you in your transition to remote life, including:
- Trauma Responsive Practice in Education course with the Australian Childhood Foundation.
- Cultural Competency course with Stronger Smarter Institute (one term+ contracts).
- First aid certification (6 month+ contracts).
Requirements Registered (or ability to) with TRB NT, hold a NT Working With Children check (Ochre Card), Current national police check in addition to:
- Bachelor’s degree in Primary education or equivalent.
- Current manual driver’s licence.
- Demonstrated ability to collaboratively plan, prepare, deliver and assess teaching and learning programs to meet the diverse characteristics, needs and learning styles of students; which are consistent with relevant curriculum policies, work programs and best practice in bilingual, EAL/D and numeracy education.
- Knowledge of, and the ability to implement effective and inclusive teaching and learning processes, including the use of learning technologies and assessment.
- Ability to differentiate for a variety of learning needs and levels.
- Ability to work flexibly, collaboratively and communicate effectively with school staff, parents and members of the local school community in order to establish and develop productive partnerships.
- Demonstrated deep respect for cultural diversity and adhere to the school’s Cultural Safety Guidelines.
- Ability to work alongside and productively with Yolŋu Team Teachers and Elders.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills.
- Details of other requirements available upon request.
Candidates must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work.
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