1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Well. Last week, the Northern Territory government announced that it's 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: going to begin placing Aboriginal Liaison Officers or alos in 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: selected Northern Territory schools, starting with Catherine High School and 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: McFarlane Primary. Over the next four years, forty alos are 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: going to be deployed to government schools across the Northern 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: Territory and the officers are well, they are respective members 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: of local Aboriginal communities. They're going to be working alongside students, families, 8 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: teachers and police to address school and community issues in 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: a culturally informed way. Now joining us on the line 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 1: to talk more about the move and the feedback from families. 11 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: It is nt cogso's Ruth Myram's good morning to your Ruth. 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, Greg to be with you and your 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 2: listeners again. 14 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. Now, Ruth, what's 15 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: your reaction to the introduction of the Aboriginal Liaison Officers. 16 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 2: We're really pleased with this announcement and really welcomers. The 17 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 2: Minister was really clear both before and asked the election 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,279 Speaker 2: that this is in addition to the current program and 19 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 2: this is really about offering that wraparound support and those 20 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 2: different options for our schools and our students. So it's 21 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 2: something we're really welcoming as parents. 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: What's been the reaction from you know, like from some 23 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: of the families around the Northern territory. I wonder and 24 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: correct me if I'm wrong, but I wonder if it's so, 25 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: you know, great that they're in Catherine, but we're keen 26 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: to get them in our school. 27 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, I think people are always keen for more support, 28 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 2: particularly in those remotes, and this is where that program 29 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: will be great. It extends the current options available, particularly 30 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,680 Speaker 2: in remotes and in primary schools where the current school 31 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 2: based police program isn't available. So in general, people are 32 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 2: welcoming it, and I think it'll be I mean, you 33 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 2: know this, Katie, It'll be up to schools and parents 34 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: in the community to work out who's best for their 35 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 2: community and how it best works for them. 36 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's such a good point and I know that, 37 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: Like you guys have spoken to me on numerous occasions 38 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: in Tea Cooso about the school based constables. I mean, 39 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: is your understanding that these are sort of a replacement 40 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: of a you know, to work alongside with what's your understanding. 41 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: Our understanding this is in addition to So in some 42 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: schools this will work alongside, but it also might be 43 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 2: available in those schools where the school based Comfortable program 44 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: is not available, so in more remote places, also in 45 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: primary schools. So yeah, we where we've clarified with the 46 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 2: Minister that that's the case and our understanding is this 47 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: is an extra And is there. 48 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: Any kind of you know, support or training that nt 49 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: CONXO is hoping to see provided to the alos and 50 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: also to school stuff, you know, to make sure or 51 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: to ensure that the partnerships effective. 52 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, I think we'd always welcome that and the 53 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 2: fact they come from the community means that they're set 54 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: up for success from the beginning, you know. And well, 55 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: we'll wait to see what exactly it looks like in 56 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 2: each location. I think the scope of exactly what the 57 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: ALOS will do is not clear, but we're always available 58 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 2: to our members, the school councils and governing bodies if 59 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: they do need that support, and we'd love to see 60 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: these people there. They were a role model, the alos. 61 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,679 Speaker 2: They understand the context, they often understand the families and 62 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 2: they can provide support you know that educators who are 63 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 2: focusing on teaching our kids sometimes can't. So we think 64 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 2: it's a great move, Ruth. 65 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 1: I mean, we know that it's rolling out first off 66 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: in Catherine High and McFarland Primary, where or what you know, 67 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: do you know what areas it's going to potentially they're 68 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: going to be rolled out next. 69 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,239 Speaker 2: We haven't yet heard where it's going to be rolled out, 70 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: and I think where schools are interested, they could express interest. 71 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,239 Speaker 2: We had earlier this year Katie here in TenneT Creek 72 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: at the primary school, we had a temporary teach shortage 73 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 2: and we actually had some alos. We just put out 74 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: the call for help to all different organs said can 75 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: you get some adults in We need that help, and 76 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: we had alos in our school and it was absolutely fantastic. 77 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 2: The kids really respected them. We saw behaviors go down, 78 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 2: kids were in the classroom and they really understood the 79 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: context for those kids that maybe were having a rough 80 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: time and we're able to help them play into support. 81 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: So sort of from a personal point of view, I've 82 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: seen it work really well. 83 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: That's really good and good on you know the community 84 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: of Tenant Creek in doing that and you know, getting 85 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: some of those great leaders into the school to be 86 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: able to help out. 87 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, we were desperate, you know, and we put out 88 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 2: the call and lots of all said, yeah, we will 89 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: help out. I think down here people really wrap around 90 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: the school and they use that real center of the community. 91 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 2: So yeah, really good for us, and I think that 92 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: model would work in other places, recognizing it is different 93 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: in different locations, but yeah, I think led by the 94 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 2: school councils and the alos themselves, it could be a 95 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: really successful model. 96 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, and presumably as well. I'm guessing I could be wrong, 97 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: but you know, as the new school year starts next year, 98 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: hopefully we'll see more of them in various schools around 99 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: the place. 100 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, that would be our hope too. I think 101 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 2: they've got a bit of time now between the end 102 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 2: of term four maybe to test it out and then 103 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 2: really get the skates on for next year. 104 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 1: Yeah. Oh right, lovely to speak to you as always, 105 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time. 106 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: No, Katie, And a bit of a shout out to 107 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 2: all the educators nominated for awards which are handed down 108 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: by the Chief Minister and Government tomorrow, so very congratulations. 109 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:10,040 Speaker 2: Oh how good. 110 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: So that's happening tomorrow. 111 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's my understanding. So we've got a few nominators 112 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 2: from Tennant Creek and they're just great, So yeah, celebrated tomorrow. 113 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: We've got so many wonderful teachers, wonderful educators, support staff 114 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: right across the Northern Territory, don't we. 115 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 2: Oh, we do. And as parents, you know that's what 116 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: we want for our kids, right, We send them and 117 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 2: we want them in their hands. So yeah, big shout 118 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 2: out to everyone nominated, and I hope they have a 119 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 2: great day. 120 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 1: All good stuff. I'll be waiting to see who wins 121 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: some of those awards for tomorrow. Oh good stuff and 122 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,119 Speaker 1: always good to catch up with you from Tenant Craig Growth. 123 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time. 124 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: Say so much, Katie, thank you. Wanting to your listeners 125 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 2: to you to thank you.