As parents prepare to send their kids back to the classroom next week, the latest teacher recruits are set for a new school year in the Territory. But with more than 130 positions still unfilled, there's pressure to recruit more - and it's not the only public sector feeling the pinch.
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00:00 As the new year rolls around, a fresh cohort of teachers and principals are about to step
00:07 into Territory classrooms.
00:09 I think just seeing the impact that you can make in leading change amongst the community
00:13 with students, teachers and families really encouraged me to just want to step up.
00:19 Over 180 teachers and principals will begin work in the NT, but a large hole remains with
00:25 over 130 classroom vacancies in public schools.
00:30 Really is not the time for small measures and steps with vacancies like these, the crisis
00:34 that we're seeing as it continues to build, now is the time for sweeping change.
00:40 We're confident we'll have a teacher in front of every class and we'll continue to recruit.
00:44 It's not just the classrooms that are looking bare, with the Territory's Nurses Union claiming
00:49 a shortfall of up to 250 nurses.
00:53 Recent efforts have seen 82 nurses and midwives added to this year's roster, but the Health
00:58 Minister acknowledges it's not enough.
01:01 We know that they're already under a lot of pressure because they do a job that is very
01:04 tough and we acknowledge that.
01:06 So we want to make sure that everything we do as government or anything we support as
01:09 government does lead to supporting our professionals.
01:13 Workforce shortages in the public sectors are being felt across the nation and in the
01:17 face of a cost of living crisis, states and territories are competing against one another
01:23 to lure new recruits with better salaries and other incentives.
01:27 Crime and safety concerns are routinely cited among the reason workers are choosing to leave
01:32 the Territory and continue to be a factor that is detracting prospective employees.
01:38 With much work put into this year's recruitment drive, the challenge now will be retaining
01:43 these new public sector workers.
01:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]