Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we've been talking about, we know the Northern Territory
election is really each and closer and closer, not long
away at all. And the Northern Territory Council of Government Schools,
they are the peak parent body in the public education
throughout the Northern Territory. They represent and provide services to
government schools and their school representative bodies at a territory
and federal level. It is for the benefit of all
(00:22):
of our students and they've got some key areas where
they are keen for our politicians to focus as we
head to the polls on Monday. Those polls open, including
the expansion of school based mental health support in schools,
something that we've spoken about quite a bit on the
show after the issue was raised with us by students.
Now joining me on the show is Michelle Parker, who
(00:45):
is indeed the executive officer for nt COGZO.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Good morning to you, Michelle, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Lovely to have you on the show. Now, talk me
through what nt COGSO would like to see when it
comes to the expansion of mental health support.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Thanks Katie. Yeah, as you said, it's been such a
topical issue and it's been raised with us year on year,
So for those that don't understand or are aware. In
our government schools, we have school representative bodies, governing bodies
of the school and they meet annually and guide the
(01:25):
work of COGXOIT. So they'll put forward motions that they
want considered by members, and our members are every government
school and then they vote and approve those and then
that guides our work going forward. So something that has
been a high priority for them and year on years,
(01:45):
going back to sixteen seventeen, eighteen, twenty twenty one, has
been about mental health and well being of our students,
and in particular having though that mental health services, whatever
that might look like for a school, they have the
autonomy to choose whether that's a counselor you know, a
specific mental health worker, but to have those based actually
(02:08):
in the school Monday to Friday, belonging to that school,
and so that students can knock on a door and
have a qualified person open that door and be able
to respond to their needs.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I think it's such an important thing. And you know,
if kids have got if young people have got someone
that they trust that they feel that they can go
and have those conversations with It's an enormous, enormous thing.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
It's fantastic, you know, preventative early intervention, isn't it. You know,
so so many parents have said, and even people within
the Department of Ed with Education with children, my own
son who's now twenty, having that service to be able
to knock and say, hey, I'm just having a bit
(02:52):
of a hard time right now, it could be related
to anything, and somebody to talk that through and to
be able to provide support referrals if that's needed. I
know personally and for many, many, many parents over the years,
that has been the difference in their child staying in
education or spiraling off. So it's just such a key
(03:16):
important fabric and makeup of our schools well being teens.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Yeah, and Michelle, the thing that I've you know that
I've been really and I'm sort of proud of of
the young people of the Northern Territory on this topic.
Is it like they've been really trying to drive it
as well, which I think is such a huge thing.
Every time we've spoken about this issue, it's been something
that the young people that are at schools in the
Northern Territory have actually wanted to talk to me about
(03:42):
you know, and haven't always been able to come on
air and speak about it. But I just think it's
really brave that you know that they want to raise
this issue themselves.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Oh it was incredible. I remember at the time, I
was actually listening in from Baliol's on holidays because I've
been told that some students wanted to to talk with
Katie Wolf about having counselors back in their schools permanently
and Monday to Friday and the same counselors. And my
question back to the school body, the school governing body
(04:13):
at the time, was oh goodness, what about their schooling
and their classes and missing that, And they said, no, no,
they've scheduled it for when they don't have classes. They
were seeing the students and they don't have classes all
the time, of course, so in their own time they
went off and spoke to you very passionately, because for
the students, they know the value of this service, they
(04:36):
know what their peers need, they know what they need,
they know what it looked like and felt like, and
they want it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Look, I think it's a really To me, it seems
like a really positive thing to do. Have you had
much support from the parties on this from the two major.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Parties, Well, we sent out our election asks. Of course,
we've got twenty one which has been brought forward and
in saying that I must Katie be fair over the
years because we keep these actions, they don't go until
we've got a resolution for everybody. But we've had dozens
that have been supported and have been funded and so
(05:16):
we've got to give credit where credits due. But we
have these that have gone out to the major parties.
Certainly we've had conversations prior to caretaker mode with the
respective ministers that was in the LAWLA for a long
period of time. He's very supportive of school based counselors
and the opposition has certainly been in touch and said
(05:38):
we want to let you know that we support this also,
but it's about getting the detail now about what that
looks like in terms of the specific ask about them
being based full time in a school relationship based support.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Well, we'll be keen to find out what the parties
think of these and what they're prepared to commit to. Hey,
one of the other questions that we get asked regularly,
and I know that this is is one of the
points that you guys have made as well. Is an
expansion of school based policing. Talk us through cogso's view
on this.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Yes, such a fabulous program and highly successful. So it
actually we had it prior I started here over ten
years ago, and there were school based policing and unfortunately
that was disbanded by a previous government. And I will
give credit to the current government's credit. They embraced it
(06:32):
and said, yes, we believe in this program, so we'll
put it in. And we had at the time Acting
Commissioner Michael Murphy, and he was incredible. We went through
him and said trial it just put one or two
ins and we'll show you it works and expand it.
But he came to us with ten. He said, I'll
give ten police officers. I believe in proactive, positive policing,
and let's give it a go. So in twenty nineteen.
(06:54):
Incredibly successful and just really briefly, Katie, there was a
comment recently about you know where do we find police officers?
I can tell you there were two police comfortables based
it to me in college because it's a very large
school and those students were feeding back to families and
to the school governing board that they wanted to be
(07:15):
police after seeing you know, the relationships and the types
of humans that these police were, that they could envision
a future where they wanted to stay in the territory
and be police officers. So it's fantastic. Of course COVID
happened and they were reappointed elsewhere, but they are in schools.
There are ten across territory Nolan Boy, Catherine High Down
(07:35):
in Central Tenet Creek and our middle and senior schools here.
But what we need is additional resourcing so that for
those schools that are large, they have two, so that
for those primary schools that are really keen to have
school based policing as well, it can be expanded into that,
and so that there's enough to cover when you know
the police officers on leave you know sometimes they don't
(07:58):
on maternity leave, whatever, that there's enough resourcing to go
in and replace that so that it's an integral part
of policing in the territory.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Now, Michelle, what else? What else is cogso sort of
keen to see from the two major parties and commitments
I guess from Independence as well as we do head
into the election.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, thanks Katie, well quite a bit, but around infrastructure.
There is a focus in terms of Palmerston College being
the only government provider of education from year seven to twelve,
so looking for infrastructure commitments around a special education center.
So it's the only government school that takes all of
(08:40):
the primary schools in the area and Palmerston's growing really rapidly,
and so students with a disability need a purpose built facility.
So the one that's at the college at the moment,
and it's a fabulous school, I have a bias. I'm
on the governing body as an invited members. I want
to see that great work that they do. So it
was originally built for forty students and they now have
(09:01):
one hundred and twenty four students being accommodated, but not
in a purpose built center, rather in mainstream classrooms, so
that's really important. And also a steam center. We think
every major school and secondary school should have a steam center.
Catrine Highs got their commitments that Pumpston College is also
(09:23):
looking for that. Boarding in TenneT Creek has been something
that's been with us as a motion for six years.
There is federal funding four that we're asking that that
be that there's funding from the Northern Territory Government for
that to happen next year. We're just really wanting that
to be prioritized as a build so that it's open
(09:43):
in twenty twenty six. The Tenant Creek, Yeah, the Larachie
of Preschool, they have a preschool that can't accommodate the
number of families that have children that want to go
to preschool, so they're going to other preschools. And we've
also got to focus on nicotine use by students vaping
in the federal legislation. Hopefully we'll see a big reduction
(10:06):
in those that now we have students that are addicted
to nicotine. And the latest praise now is some snuff
some sort of tobacco from influencing. So we've just got
across it and on top of it. So so lots
and lots.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Yeah, but you know what, it's so important, Like the
education of our kids is so important and their you know,
their happiness and well being at school, I think is
is so incredibly important. You want children to you know,
I know that school's not always some kids love it,
some don't so much. They're just trying to get through.
But you want them to be able to learn and
(10:40):
and be their best selves and not have to worry
about about some of the issues that we've got. But
if they are having issues, that they're able to see
a counselor if possible, and the police presence at the
school is something that's a you know, that's a really
largely beneficial thing. But then even issues like vaping. You know,
there are things that that you and I know about, Michelle,
and I'm sure a lot of parents listening this morning
(11:03):
will also, So we've got to get it right when
it comes to education with our children.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Oh, it's critical. There are our future leaders, there are
our future doctors, nurses, tradees, which are so important. We
want their well being protected and supported. We want them
to have a quality education no matter where they live.
We want it to be equitable across the board and families.
For families, education is key. It's their children. So we
(11:31):
ask that parties and independence focus on the ass and
what's needed in education. And when you're casting your votes,
think about education and think about our kids and think
about the future of the territory.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Well, Michelle, lovely to speak to you this morning. We
always appreciate your time and we'll waiting here if you
get any answers back do let us know certainly will
Thanks Katie, thank you, thanks so much,
As we've been talking about, we know the Northern Territory
election is really each and closer and closer, not long
away at all. And the Northern Territory Council of Government Schools,
they are the peak parent body in the public education
throughout the Northern Territory. They represent and provide services to
government schools and their school representative bodies at a territory
and federal level. It is for the benefit of all
(00:22):
of our students and they've got some key areas where
they are keen for our politicians to focus as we
head to the polls on Monday. Those polls open, including
the expansion of school based mental health support in schools,
something that we've spoken about quite a bit on the
show after the issue was raised with us by students.
Now joining me on the show is Michelle Parker, who
(00:45):
is indeed the executive officer for nt COGZO.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Good morning to you, Michelle, Good morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Lovely to have you on the show. Now, talk me
through what nt COGSO would like to see when it
comes to the expansion of mental health support.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Thanks Katie. Yeah, as you said, it's been such a
topical issue and it's been raised with us year on year,
So for those that don't understand or are aware. In
our government schools, we have school representative bodies, governing bodies
of the school and they meet annually and guide the
(01:25):
work of COGXOIT. So they'll put forward motions that they
want considered by members, and our members are every government
school and then they vote and approve those and then
that guides our work going forward. So something that has
been a high priority for them and year on years,
(01:45):
going back to sixteen seventeen, eighteen, twenty twenty one, has
been about mental health and well being of our students,
and in particular having though that mental health services, whatever
that might look like for a school, they have the
autonomy to choose whether that's a counselor you know, a
specific mental health worker, but to have those based actually
(02:08):
in the school Monday to Friday, belonging to that school,
and so that students can knock on a door and
have a qualified person open that door and be able
to respond to their needs.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I think it's such an important thing. And you know,
if kids have got if young people have got someone
that they trust that they feel that they can go
and have those conversations with It's an enormous, enormous thing.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
It's fantastic, you know, preventative early intervention, isn't it. You know,
so so many parents have said, and even people within
the Department of Ed with Education with children, my own
son who's now twenty, having that service to be able
to knock and say, hey, I'm just having a bit
(02:52):
of a hard time right now, it could be related
to anything, and somebody to talk that through and to
be able to provide support referrals if that's needed. I
know personally and for many, many, many parents over the years,
that has been the difference in their child staying in
education or spiraling off. So it's just such a key
(03:16):
important fabric and makeup of our schools well being teens.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Yeah, and Michelle, the thing that I've you know that
I've been really and I'm sort of proud of of
the young people of the Northern Territory on this topic.
Is it like they've been really trying to drive it
as well, which I think is such a huge thing.
Every time we've spoken about this issue, it's been something
that the young people that are at schools in the
Northern Territory have actually wanted to talk to me about
(03:42):
you know, and haven't always been able to come on
air and speak about it. But I just think it's
really brave that you know that they want to raise
this issue themselves.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Oh it was incredible. I remember at the time, I
was actually listening in from Baliol's on holidays because I've
been told that some students wanted to to talk with
Katie Wolf about having counselors back in their schools permanently
and Monday to Friday and the same counselors. And my
question back to the school body, the school governing body
(04:13):
at the time, was oh goodness, what about their schooling
and their classes and missing that, And they said, no, no,
they've scheduled it for when they don't have classes. They
were seeing the students and they don't have classes all
the time, of course, so in their own time they
went off and spoke to you very passionately, because for
the students, they know the value of this service, they
(04:36):
know what their peers need, they know what they need,
they know what it looked like and felt like, and
they want it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Look, I think it's a really To me, it seems
like a really positive thing to do. Have you had
much support from the parties on this from the two major.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Parties, Well, we sent out our election asks. Of course,
we've got twenty one which has been brought forward and
in saying that I must Katie be fair over the
years because we keep these actions, they don't go until
we've got a resolution for everybody. But we've had dozens
that have been supported and have been funded and so
(05:16):
we've got to give credit where credits due. But we
have these that have gone out to the major parties.
Certainly we've had conversations prior to caretaker mode with the
respective ministers that was in the LAWLA for a long
period of time. He's very supportive of school based counselors
and the opposition has certainly been in touch and said
(05:38):
we want to let you know that we support this also,
but it's about getting the detail now about what that
looks like in terms of the specific ask about them
being based full time in a school relationship based support.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Well, we'll be keen to find out what the parties
think of these and what they're prepared to commit to. Hey,
one of the other questions that we get asked regularly,
and I know that this is is one of the
points that you guys have made as well. Is an
expansion of school based policing. Talk us through cogso's view
on this.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Yes, such a fabulous program and highly successful. So it
actually we had it prior I started here over ten
years ago, and there were school based policing and unfortunately
that was disbanded by a previous government. And I will
give credit to the current government's credit. They embraced it
(06:32):
and said, yes, we believe in this program, so we'll
put it in. And we had at the time Acting
Commissioner Michael Murphy, and he was incredible. We went through
him and said trial it just put one or two
ins and we'll show you it works and expand it.
But he came to us with ten. He said, I'll
give ten police officers. I believe in proactive, positive policing,
and let's give it a go. So in twenty nineteen.
(06:54):
Incredibly successful and just really briefly, Katie, there was a
comment recently about you know where do we find police officers?
I can tell you there were two police comfortables based
it to me in college because it's a very large
school and those students were feeding back to families and
to the school governing board that they wanted to be
(07:15):
police after seeing you know, the relationships and the types
of humans that these police were, that they could envision
a future where they wanted to stay in the territory
and be police officers. So it's fantastic. Of course COVID
happened and they were reappointed elsewhere, but they are in schools.
There are ten across territory Nolan Boy, Catherine High Down
(07:35):
in Central Tenet Creek and our middle and senior schools here.
But what we need is additional resourcing so that for
those schools that are large, they have two, so that
for those primary schools that are really keen to have
school based policing as well, it can be expanded into that,
and so that there's enough to cover when you know
the police officers on leave you know sometimes they don't
(07:58):
on maternity leave, whatever, that there's enough resourcing to go
in and replace that so that it's an integral part
of policing in the territory.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Now, Michelle, what else? What else is cogso sort of
keen to see from the two major parties and commitments
I guess from Independence as well as we do head
into the election.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, thanks Katie, well quite a bit, but around infrastructure.
There is a focus in terms of Palmerston College being
the only government provider of education from year seven to twelve,
so looking for infrastructure commitments around a special education center.
So it's the only government school that takes all of
(08:40):
the primary schools in the area and Palmerston's growing really rapidly,
and so students with a disability need a purpose built facility.
So the one that's at the college at the moment,
and it's a fabulous school, I have a bias. I'm
on the governing body as an invited members. I want
to see that great work that they do. So it
was originally built for forty students and they now have
(09:01):
one hundred and twenty four students being accommodated, but not
in a purpose built center, rather in mainstream classrooms, so
that's really important. And also a steam center. We think
every major school and secondary school should have a steam center.
Catrine Highs got their commitments that Pumpston College is also
(09:23):
looking for that. Boarding in TenneT Creek has been something
that's been with us as a motion for six years.
There is federal funding four that we're asking that that
be that there's funding from the Northern Territory Government for
that to happen next year. We're just really wanting that
to be prioritized as a build so that it's open
(09:43):
in twenty twenty six. The Tenant Creek, Yeah, the Larachie
of Preschool, they have a preschool that can't accommodate the
number of families that have children that want to go
to preschool, so they're going to other preschools. And we've
also got to focus on nicotine use by students vaping
in the federal legislation. Hopefully we'll see a big reduction
(10:06):
in those that now we have students that are addicted
to nicotine. And the latest praise now is some snuff
some sort of tobacco from influencing. So we've just got
across it and on top of it. So so lots
and lots.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Yeah, but you know what, it's so important, Like the
education of our kids is so important and their you know,
their happiness and well being at school, I think is
is so incredibly important. You want children to you know,
I know that school's not always some kids love it,
some don't so much. They're just trying to get through.
But you want them to be able to learn and
(10:40):
and be their best selves and not have to worry
about about some of the issues that we've got. But
if they are having issues, that they're able to see
a counselor if possible, and the police presence at the
school is something that's a you know, that's a really
largely beneficial thing. But then even issues like vaping. You know,
there are things that that you and I know about, Michelle,
and I'm sure a lot of parents listening this morning
(11:03):
will also, So we've got to get it right when
it comes to education with our children.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Oh, it's critical. There are our future leaders, there are
our future doctors, nurses, tradees, which are so important. We
want their well being protected and supported. We want them
to have a quality education no matter where they live.
We want it to be equitable across the board and families.
For families, education is key. It's their children. So we
(11:31):
ask that parties and independence focus on the ass and
what's needed in education. And when you're casting your votes,
think about education and think about our kids and think
about the future of the territory.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Well, Michelle, lovely to speak to you this morning. We
always appreciate your time and we'll waiting here if you
get any answers back do let us know certainly will
Thanks Katie, thank you, thanks so much,
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