1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: The school based constables and people wondering exactly when those 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: school based constables are going to be back into our schools. 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 1: There's one here that I read for the Police Minister 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: a bit earlier this morning. It said, Hi, Katie, please 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: ask are the police constables back in schools as per. 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 2: Pre COVID levels? 7 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: And well the minister said that, yes, there are some 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: of those constables back in the schools, but by the sounds. 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 2: Of a not to the degree that we would hope. 10 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: Now joining us on the line to talk a little 11 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: further about this, from the Northern Territory Council of Government 12 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: Schools Association President Tabby Fudge. 13 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, Tabby. 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie, and good moning here now. 15 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 2: Tabby. 16 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: I know that this is something you and I have 17 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: certainly spoken about on numerous occasions, and the well the 18 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: need for these school based constables. We also caught up 19 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: with Jarvis Shrian from the Education Union a little while 20 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: ago and he had said that at some of the 21 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: schools to mid min and even in Catherine, there had 22 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: been a real push to get those school based constables 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: back into the schools. 24 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 2: Tabby, where are things at from your perspective? Well, where've. 25 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 3: Been waiting on some return correspondence from Minutes. For Police 26 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 3: Nicole Manison, we sent her a letter back in March 27 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 3: just asking where the program is at, because there was 28 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 3: a commitment to have the program back to school's week 29 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 3: one term two and that hasn't happened. We have across 30 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: the top end we have around three offices being shared 31 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 3: on a part time basis through several schools, like we 32 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 3: know that at to mid min for instance, they've got 33 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 3: one constable for half days, four days a week and 34 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 3: she's being shared over with the Palmerston campuses as well, 35 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 3: right and I think there's one or two others perhaps 36 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 3: around the Darwin area, but once again I don't think 37 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 3: it's on a full time basis and it's nowhere near 38 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 3: what we had in twenty nineteen. We are hearing that 39 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:18,679 Speaker 3: hopefully by term three there will be officers back into schools. 40 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,239 Speaker 3: We do understand that the Department of Ed have been 41 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 3: working with MT Police around training and the recommendations that 42 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 3: indeed Conso put forward in twenty nineteen around the program. 43 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 3: And you know specifically that there be a memorandum of 44 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 3: understanding between the Department of Ed and NT Police. We 45 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 3: understand that there has been a memorandum signed. We haven't 46 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 3: sighted that, so we don't know what's. 47 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: In that, and it just sounds us. 48 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: So it's something that so many people in the community 49 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: are quite passionate about, passionate about tabby. I did ask 50 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 1: the Police Minister or air about this a little bit 51 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: earlier this morning. She said she couldn't tell me exactly 52 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: how many of the school based constables were back in 53 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: those schools. She said that she knew three had recently 54 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: headed back into those schools. 55 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: I asked, is it more. 56 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: Than three, and she said yes, but she would come 57 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: back to us or hopefully they'd be able to get 58 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: back to us with that number. I mean, when you 59 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: think about there being a school based constable sharing those 60 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: different roles within the schools, I guess that's fair enough 61 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: to some degree, But how many would you like to 62 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: actually see in the schools. 63 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 3: Well, you know, we had a commitment from government that 64 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 3: we would see the program, you know, brought back into 65 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 3: schools and we would see it expanded and back in 66 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 3: twenty nineteen across the top end, we had ten offices 67 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 3: in schools across the top end of the Northern Territory, 68 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 3: and you know, as a minimum, we would like to 69 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 3: see that back in but you know, we have had 70 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 3: that commitment that the program would be expanded, and to 71 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 3: date we have not seen that at all. And while 72 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 3: we appreciate that, you know, twenty twenty was a difficult 73 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 3: year and you know things changed, but you know, we're 74 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 3: we've got that behind now. We need to move forward. 75 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 3: We need to program re implemented, and we do need 76 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 3: that expansion of the program because every school that had 77 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 3: school based police officers in their schools all talk about 78 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 3: the incredible positive benefits of having those constables in their school, 79 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 3: you know, and the sad thing about it is too 80 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 3: we had really amazing constables in our schools and they've 81 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 3: done quite a lot of training. You know, the Department 82 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 3: at of It had put them through the Berry Street model, 83 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 3: which was around trauma informed practice, and then there was 84 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 3: also a week of professional development done at the Peter 85 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 3: and the College Center with a Department of Expert consultant. So, 86 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 3: you know, to not have those particular police officers back 87 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 3: in school, we're losing that, you know. For one of 88 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 3: a better term that Corporate and Legion to have to 89 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 3: start again, would put the program I think, you know, 90 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 3: not quite what we were at you back in nineteen which. 91 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: We're just having a bit of an issue with your 92 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: phone line there Tabby. Hopefully we're able to sort it out. 93 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: But have you had specific schools I mean, as I 94 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: mentioned Jarvis Ryan had said that that the likes of 95 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 1: Catherine and also to mid Min had raised concerns about 96 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: not having those school based constables out there. Have you 97 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: had a similar situation where some of those schools have 98 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: specifically raised this with you and their concerns. 99 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 3: Absolutely across the board. With the AGM, the Cogito AGM 100 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 3: in November, it was you know, it came up in 101 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 3: several motions from every region across the Northern territory. You know, 102 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 3: schools want their school based police back, you know with 103 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 3: Ti Minmin, I sit on the board of comin Min, Timinmin. 104 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 3: You know, we had amazing Ben and Chris there with 105 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 3: us in twenty nineteen and timin Min went from calling 106 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 3: you know, general duties you know, from a couple of 107 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 3: times a week down to a couple of times a 108 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 3: year for twenty nineteen. And that was you know, because 109 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 3: Ben and Chris weren't there. They were amazing at what 110 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 3: they were doing with you know, creating those really positive 111 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 3: relationships between children and themselves and you know being that 112 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 3: guiding boys and example when you know both kids needed 113 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 3: it and the children really really missed their school based 114 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 3: police officers. They really do. 115 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 2: Yep. 116 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: Tabby, Just on another topic, we know that naplan gets 117 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: underway in our territory schools today. How how are you 118 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: guys feeling about this and how does nt cogso feel 119 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: that that NAP plan testing really is going now that 120 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: it's back all for this year. 121 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 3: Net Plan. I don't think that plan actually came up 122 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 3: in any of the AGM conversation last November, but I 123 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 3: think you know, as a generalization, net plan has sort 124 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 3: of seen as a bit of a blunt instrument. You know, 125 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 3: like in a lot of ways the net plan has 126 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 3: aren't you know, geared towards a lot of our students. 127 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 3: You know, when we're talking about bus time tables and 128 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 3: training time tables and things like that. You know how 129 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 3: much relevance does that have for a lot of our 130 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 3: students alone, our students that in the remote community. You know, 131 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 3: it's fair enough, Yeah, I think it's I mean, you've 132 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 3: got to have some kind of a yard stick, But 133 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 3: I think it's a really you know, it's pretty blunt 134 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 3: and I don't think you know, as you know, an 135 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 3: hour or two snapshot in a child's two year education really, 136 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 3: you know, pick that up like you know, a report 137 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 3: at the end of the semester does with the you know, 138 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 3: with you know, with the child's teach you know, I really, 139 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 3: you know, it just it just doesn't do that. You know, 140 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 3: what do we know what happened in that child's life 141 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 3: in the last twenty four hours. Have they got a cold, 142 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 3: did their dog die? Did? You know? It's just not 143 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 3: an accurate reflection in a lot of time about what 144 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 3: that child's learning has been over a two year period. 145 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, Tabby, it's always good to catch up with you. 146 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: I'll tell you what. 147 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: This situation though, with the school based constables, it's one 148 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: that you know that needs to get sorted, particularly given 149 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: the fact that the territory government made that commitment to 150 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: expand the program and you know now that seems to 151 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: be taking a lot longer than what had been initially flagged. 152 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: It's something we've we've all been keeping a bit of 153 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: an eye on. But please let us know if there 154 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: is any movement in this space and we'll keep onto 155 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:46,839 Speaker 1: it as well. 156 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 3: Oh, I hope you'll be able to bring you up 157 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 3: on you know something really that's what we all want. 158 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Tabby, always good to catch up with you. 159 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 2: I really appreciate your time today. 160 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,559 Speaker 3: Thank you, Thank you. 161 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: That is the nt COGSO president there, Tabby Fudge and 162 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: COGSO are of course the Council of Government Schools Organization 163 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 1: and Tabby is the president. So always good to catch 164 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: up and find out where things are at. And that, 165 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: like I said, that issue of school based constables, it's 166 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: something that has been discussed at length.