1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: Joining us live in the studio is Susan Bowden, the 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: Chief Executive of Education and Training. Susan didn't think i'd 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: be seeing you so soon after the kinetic sand last week. 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: Good to see you, Thank. 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 2: You, Thank you, Katie. I didn't think i'd be sitting 6 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 2: here either. 7 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,959 Speaker 1: No, exactly busy, busy weekend for everybody, I think, for 8 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: all Territorians, but for our schools. How are things tracking 9 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: this morning in terms of those that are open and 10 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: those that may not quite be? 11 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 2: Yesh, thanks Katie. Our department staff have been working tirelessly 12 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 2: over the weekend to make sure that we've got our 13 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: schools ready to go. So as at ten thirty this morning, 14 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: we've only got ten schools closed out of the sixty 15 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 2: six schools that were impacted, which is absolutely incredible and 16 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: I do want to thank most sincerely Principles leadership teams, 17 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 2: our corporate staff who had to pivot very quickly from 18 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 2: responding to recovery on some days we could open the schools, 19 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: and their efforts have really ensured that our schools are 20 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 2: safe and prepared. Obviously, in schools, children families are going 21 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 2: to see debris, they might see some trees down, so 22 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 2: We've ensured that those areas are cordoned off because we 23 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: want to make sure that children are safe. That's the 24 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 2: absolute first priority. But also we want to make sure 25 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 2: that there were some programs operating where schools had power 26 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 2: and where it was safe to do so to them open. 27 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: In terms of damage, you know, trees down, infrastructure, any 28 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: of that kind of thing. Was there much significant damage 29 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 1: from your perspective. 30 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 2: So the most damage was obviously from trees being down. 31 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: So we'll be working with the Department of Logistics and 32 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: Infrastructure and Arborous quite significantly over the coming days and 33 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: weeks to get those rectified, particularly focusing on any trees 34 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 2: that may not have fallen yet that are looking a 35 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 2: bit precarious in the school ground. We want to make 36 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: sure that they are safe. But the other sort of 37 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: damage was mainly water damage, so water coming through the roofs, 38 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: impacting the electrics. So a number of our schools are 39 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: closed while we get electricians in and also making sure 40 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: that roofs are fixed and all of that sort of thing. 41 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: Some schools still might have a little bit of water damage, 42 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: which means are a little bit smelly, so we'll make 43 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 2: sure that they get that cleaning as well. 44 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, Now, in terms of the schools that aren't open yet, 45 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: how quickly do you anticipate they will be. 46 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: We're working very very quickly to get those schools opened. 47 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: Power and Water have been working really hard to get 48 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: power to our schools, so we now only have three 49 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 2: schools that don't have power, so that's bell Ewan, Berry 50 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 2: Springs and Dundee Beach, so they're closed due to power 51 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 2: this morning. As at ten thirty power was connected this morning, 52 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: so we were able to open Beest Creek Primary School, 53 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 2: Howard Springs Primary School, Humptydoo Primary School and ti MINMN. 54 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 2: So if there are families in those areas, particularly of 55 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 2: our essential service workers who need to drop the kids 56 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: off so they can help support the community or businesses, 57 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: we'll have classes operating and the schools are open so 58 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 2: they can drop those children off. The other schools on 59 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 2: the list. I was talking to the principal of Alowa 60 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: Primary School this morning. She's had lots of traders in there. 61 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: There's been a lot of activity, so they're in there 62 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: cleaning up the school, making sure the power supply is 63 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 2: okay and safe. So we're working hard to have all 64 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 2: of our schools open tomorrow. If they're not fully open, 65 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 2: then a partial opening so that we can support those 66 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 2: families that need to go to work and have cares 67 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: for our children. So we're working very very hard to do. 68 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, really good stuff. Now, Susan, I also know and 69 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: some people might not realize this, but obviously the Department 70 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: of Education also has to manage those cyclone shelters. Don't 71 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: do so busy busy weekend for the department standing up 72 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: all of those shelters. Talk us through how many territori 73 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: Inanes were in the shelters over the weekend. 74 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, so the department does have responsibility for shelter management. 75 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: So there were thirty sorry not thirty three. Twenty three 76 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 2: shelters open, and twelve of those are in our schools 77 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: and we're required to deploy staff there. We had two 78 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: hundred and twenty one people, the majority of those we're 79 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: Department of Education and Training staff in those shelters making 80 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: sure that Territorians were safe. We had over nine hundred 81 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 2: and twenty Territorians seeking refuge in those shelters. Six hundred 82 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: and sixty of those were in the Darwin Palmerston rural 83 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 2: area and then two hundred and sixty in our remote shelters, 84 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: So it was an extraordinary effort from our schools and 85 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 2: corporate staff who all leaned in. I had one hundred 86 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 2: and ninety six odd staff deployed over the weekend from 87 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 2: corporate area from schools, either supporting with shelters, supporting with 88 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: the emergency management response, or supporting schools to get open yesterday. 89 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 2: So it's been a huge, huge team effort and I 90 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: couldn't be proud. 91 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: Ocadia. Yeah, that's really nice to hear, you know, working 92 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: incredibly hard, and then're no doubt back at work today 93 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: as well. 94 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: See, yeah, they are, they are, And I did a 95 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 2: four walk this morning, and there are some very tired 96 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 2: looking people. And we even gave the option for some 97 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 2: of our staff did all nighter, so they were on 98 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: shifts in those shelters for over twenty two hours. And 99 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 2: there they are at work today and I'm looking at 100 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 2: it and I'm going, I think you need to go 101 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: home and have a sleep, And then they're saying, well, 102 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 2: actually I don't have power, it's too hot, I can't sleep, 103 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 2: so I'd rather. 104 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: Be with Yeah, that's exactly right. Well, Kathleen and I 105 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: were having a laugh this morning, saying it's the happiest 106 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: anyone's ever been to go back to work on a 107 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: Monday morning because we've all got air con. 108 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 109 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 1: Well, Susan, I really appreciate you joining us in the 110 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: studio this morning. I know it's been a really busy 111 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: time for a lot of our you know, a lot 112 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: of our frontline workers and for a lot of stuff 113 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: there by the sounds of it at education, at the 114 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 1: Department of Education and Training. So really appreciate you joining 115 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: us this morning. 116 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 2: Thank you. And I do want to call out to 117 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 2: the emergency services cruise. I know they're hopping a little 118 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 2: bit of flak, but they have been working around the clock. 119 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 2: Power and Water have been incredible and have been incredible 120 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,600 Speaker 2: in supporting our schools to open. So really appreciate that. 121 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: That is good to hear, really good to hear. Susan, 122 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: Thank you, thanks so much for joining us today.