About Independent Schools Northern Territory
About Us
AISNT is a Company Limited by Guarantee (Independent Schools of the Northern Territory Limited) and is registered with Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC).
The AISNT was formed in 1989, as a not-for-profit umbrella organization, to represent, promote and advocate the diverse interests of Independent Schools throughout the Northern Territory. There are 26 Independent Schools located across the NT with 36 campuses, offering choice and diversity to the communities they serve. Independent Schooling also contributes positively to the social and economic growth within the NT.
AISNT is a member of Independent Schools of Australia (ISA), which is representative of all State and Territory Independent School Associations.
Our Purpose
Provide expert leadership as the recognized and trusted voice for Independent Schools in the Northern Territory.
Through high-quality support and strategic advocacy, strengthen their capacity, amplify their impact, and champion their role in shaping educational excellence.
Lead
Provide vision, direction and capacity to strengthen Independent Schools across the Northern Territory.
Advocate
Champion the interests of Independent Schools in the Northern Territory through strong, evidence-based advocacy and representation.
Promote
Enhance capacity, partnerships, and collective identity to ensure strong, sustainable schools and sector growth.
Our Direction
Support Independent schools in their provision of educational excellence through developing quality leadership and governance.
Promote Independent schooling including its quality, diversity, social and economic contribution to the Northern Territory.
Represent and advocate for Independent schools in the Northern Territory to ensure diversity in educational opportunities for students.
Our Values
EQUITY
Uphold every child’s right to quality education, regardless of location, culture or circumstance.
INTEGRITY
Lead with honesty, courage, and accountability earning trust as both partner and advocate.
COLLABORATION
Foster collective strength though, shared voice, united action, and ensuring partnerships across schools, governments and communities.
RESPECT
Honor culture, community and Country, embedding Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
INNOVATION
Embrace change, spark creativity, and equip schools to thrive in a future shaped by technology, climate and evolving needs.
Annual Reports
ISNT Strategic Plan 2026-2029
Membership
Our Member Schools are Independent Schools located across the Northern Territory, that vary in size, religious affiliation and educational philosophy. While diverse, what unifies our Member Schools is their commitment to provide excellence in educational opportunities, catering for the diversity of the student population in the Northern Territory, offering choice to families.
Board of Directors
AISNT is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is elected at our Annual General Meeting.
Click here to view the ISNT Constitution.
The current Board of Directors:
Michael Tooler
Chair
Principal Sattler Christian College
About
Michael Tooler is the current Chair of AISNT. The Council at Sattler ticked all the boxes in appointing Michael as the Principal of Sattler Christian College since 2019, dedicating himself to the school for the past 6 years.
Coming from NSW, Michael relocated with his family of 5 children to take on this role. He is a highly capable and dedicated Christian educator, with diverse experience beneficial to his role as Principal. He studied at the University of New England, gaining a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Affairs and Asian Societies. He also gained a Bachelor of laws majoring in Advanced Contract law and Human Rights.
Michael also holds a Graduate Diploma in Education, Legal Studies and History. Later he gained a Graduate Certificate in Management (Education), Management and Educational Leadership. Michael is a Justice of the Peace and a formal Mentor of the Australian Christian Mentoring Network.
He has fitted into Darwin and the Sattler community really well and has moved the school forward with gusto and continues to do so. As Chair of AISNT and an active member of his church, his pleasant nature and good sense of humour compliments his dynamic role as a Principal.
Cheryl Salter
Director
Executive Director AISNT
About
Executive Director Cheryl Salter has a very strong Education background. Cheryl grew up in Adelaide where she trained in Primary and Secondary education and completed a major in Special Ed with her final year being at OLSH in Adelaide.
One of the Nuns suggested that there were teaching opportunities in the NT at their school on Tiwi. Equipped with her Special Ed she set out to teach at the remote Catholic School with the intention of staying for a year. Cheryl had the valuable experience of working with the legendary Sister Anne Gardiner. Cheryl found the experience exciting and enriching and she gained much from the school, it being the first bilingual school in the NT. Her time at Tiwi was very instructive resulting in knowledge and understanding of that particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait community and of the effective delivery of education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait people.
After four years she headed to Darwin where she taught at St Paul’s Nightcliff providing her with an understanding of Primary School Education in the NT Catholic system. As ED of AISNT there is an imperative to work with and understand the Catholic system.
Her next chapter was at Essington. In spite of the rumours that “they did weird things there” she decided to accept a position on the pioneering staff. Cheryl spent 16 years all up at Essington. It was an exciting innovative time in the development of the school and eventually she held the position of deputy .This time at Essington gave her a good understanding of Montessori Education. It also gave her experience of an innovative, developing school like many of our member schools of AISNT.
When Gail Barker became Executive Director of AISNT she recruited Cheryl to be her 2IC, a position she held until Gail retired and Cheryl became Executive Director. Cheryl’s vast experience in the NT has produced a significant understanding of NT schools and the challenges they face. She understands how they operate and can also inject expert knowledge of Special Ed and Industrial Relations into the mix. The role of an AISNT leader is far from being remote and relies heavily on developing positive relations with all schools, with the other State Organisations, the National Body in Canberra, the relevant people in the NT Education Department, the Minister and other relevant politicians. As leader she has an excellent understanding of government regulation, both NT and Federal. Key in this is her clear understanding of funding for Independent Schools. This is a real challenge because it changes often. Many schools struggle with this and rely on AISNT to provide an understanding and to enter into whatever debate is necessary with the government. In addition the relationship that exists between the schools and the Governments requires a helpful and tolerant approach , which is promoted by AISNT.
Cheryl is a friendly, good humoured, astute natural team builder and sets out to create a happy and productive organisation. Hers is indeed a busy, vital and high-pressured job!
David Arthur
Director
Business Manager Tiwi College
About
David heralds from Kadina in South Australia a country town of 5000. Having completed Year 12 successfully, he gained a place at Melbourne University. David knew the fundamentals of Accountancy well but in addition he had a fine “Business Brain” and an Entrepreneur’s creative capacity. After leaving school he established a small trucking outfit. Over time he built this into a substantial business, the experience of which was good experience for his later successful work as a Business Manager in schools.
Desiring adventure he and his family set off for a year long journey around Australia. On reaching Darwin he applied for a Business Manager’s position at Marrara Christian School, where he stayed for 7 years, 2000 - 2007. The school benefited not only from his accounting capacity, but also his gift as a Creative Entrepreneur.
After leaving Marrara, David had 6 weeks leave which he spent guiding a Film Crew from San Francisco into Arnhem Land to make a documentary. There he met Professor Bardyl Lofty Nadjamerrek.
In 2007 he moved to Nightcliff Middle School as Business Manager where he remained until 2013. By this time, he had six children. It was time to travel again, and the destination was France where the family stayed for 2 years. On returning to Australia, he took up the position as Business Manager at Milkwood Steiner School which he assisted significantly.
10 years after leaving Marrara David met Olga Scholes at an AISNT conference. It was of interest that they both knew Lofty. Olga explained how she was working with him to establish a school which would become known as Nawarddeken Academy. Olga needed help with the Board and with the application for School Registration. David took up this challenge and made a success of it. David also became a Director of AISNT in 2016.
David’s next challenge was to take up the reins of Business Manager at Tiwi College and has made a wonderful contribution there.
David has indeed made great contributions to Education in the Territory, his success has been driven by his Dedication, Experience, People Skills, Financial and Entrepreneurial ability.
Matthew Qualischefski
Director
Principal Good Shepherd Lutheran College
About
Matthew Qualischefski is the Principal of Good Shepherd Lutheran College. Matthew has an extensive education and wide experience suiting him well for his role at Good Shepherd.
He originally received Bachelor’s in Arts (Music) and Education from the University of Queensland, he obtained a Masters of Education from the Australian Lutheran College and he gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration.
At Faith Lutheran College in Queensland, he was the P-12 Music Coordinator, advancing to Curriculum Team Coordinator: Christian Studies (years 7 -12). At Redeemer Lutheran College he was Middle School Curriculum Leader of English and SOSE.
Matthew then moved to Geelong Lutheran College where he was the Middle School Coordinator.
Then it was back to Queensland to Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Noosaville Queensland, where he was Assistant to the Principal, Strategic Projects and prior to that Middle Years Student Coordinator.
From there he was seconded for nine months to Redeemer Lutheran College Biloela before becoming Head of Campus, Middle and Senior Years at Trinity Lutheran College, Ashmore, for almost three years. In October 2022 he became Principal of Good Shepherd Lutheran College Darwin. Matthew has continued to take the College forward and positively engaging the College in the community. He is a valued Board Member of AISNT. He is also a member of AHISA.
Paul Nyhuis
Director
Principal The Essington School
About
Paul Nyhuis commenced as Principal/CEO of The Essington School in January 2024. He has more than 25 years of experience in education and leadership across the Northern Territory and the United States.
Paul holds a Master of Educational Leadership and has served in a range of leadership positions, including Principal and Associate Principal. Throughout his career, he has worked across primary and secondary education, leading strategic initiatives, staff development, student wellbeing programs and school improvement projects.
A long-term Territorian, Paul has developed extensive knowledge of the Northern Territory education sector and has built strong professional relationships across government, independent and community organisations.
Paul joined the AISNT Board as a Director in 2026 and brings broad educational leadership experience and a strong commitment to supporting quality independent education in the Northern Territory.
Francis Gill
Director
Principal SEDA College NT
About
Francis Gill is one of our talented Principals who has been appointed to the Board of AISNT. He is the Principal of the innovative and very successful SEDA College NT. SEDA College NT offers hands-on, industry aligned learning through sport, community partnerships and real-world vocational pathways.
Francis has had a leading part at SEDA NT since 2014. After, he had a short stint at SEDA in Geelong where he taught the Construction and Trade program in 2017. He returned to a leadership position in Darwin in 2018, becoming State Manager in 2019. During the next two years he took the school through the demanding task of Independent School Registration, and it opened as SEDA College NT in 2022 with him as the new School Principal.
Francis is well suited to the position. Living in a remote area was no problem as he was born in Mildura and grew up on family farming properties in Robinvale. Sport was his first love, with cricket being Number 1. As a fast bowler and upper order batsman he developed many of the abilities important for a Principal: determination, strategic awareness, imagination, patience, confidence, resilience, teamwork, understanding, ability to re-group after disappointment, achievement, courage - it’s all there in cricket!
After leaving school Francis had a position with Cricket Victoria as the Regional Cricket Development Officer of the Mallee, Murray Region. Aged 18 and 19 he spent 2002/3 playing in England with the in-between seasons back in Australia - five seasons of cricket “on the trot”.
After a year in Canberra with ACT cricket, he realised how much he enjoyed teaching. So off to Melbourne to study at Victoria University, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement and a Diploma of Secondary Education. He also played District Cricket for Northcote for 3 years, Bill Lawry’s old team. District Cricket is at the highest level and is the league before State Cricket. After Northcote he played for Kew in the Sub-District league.
Francis spent a year in 2010 teaching at Fitzroy High school, known for its progressive learning culture and flexible campus. It is not surprising that Francis went to work at the specialist sports school SEDA. Between 2011 and 2013 he taught the High-Performance class in Carlton.
Francis is good with people, empathetic, good in discussions, creative in thinking and has welded a very effective team together. He is a natural leader and born teacher. He has no trouble recruiting staff who, more often than not, find themselves at his door. He is also a family man with three children aged 10, 8 and 6 - boy, boy, girl. His wife works in marketing at CDU. Francis and his family love travel and took time off last year marketing around Australia with their caravan. Such experience is very valuable for a school Principal.
Francis is a huge supporter of the work of AISNT and its amazing staff and highly values all the support they give to member schools. Important amongst this is the highly valued networking, camaraderie, shared knowledge and experience available especially found in the Annual Darwin and Alice Springs conferences.
Francis notes that he is looking forward to supporting the organisation in a more formal position and certainly hopes that his experience of registering a school from scratch may help provide context and knowledge to those who may be or are in a similar position.
It is wonderful that Francis has decided to serve on the Board.
Greg Hollis
Director
Principal Yipirinya School
About
Greg is presently Principal of Yipirinya school in Alice Springs.To Greg the role of Principal is foremost about ensuring that the school is fully engaged in teaching and learning. There are few Principals that I know who have had the diverse Global experience that Greg has had, and it is wonderful that he is part of our AISNT band of Principals. Furthermore Greg is prepared to really tackle major challenges and has the experience and personality to do this successfully.
Greg comes from Sydney from a family of three brothers and two sisters, with his eldest brother also being a school teacher. Greg attended Newcastle University and gained a science degree. He had a teaching scholarship and trained as a teacher, but gave up the scholarship to enable him to have career choice when he left University. He was highly interested in science and won a research job as an Industrial Chemist in the steel industry at Botany. Complimenting his love of science was a natural ability to write effectively. Obviously data is an important part of scientific research but to Greg the true value was to be data informed not data driven.
However teaching continued to have an appeal and in 1982 he became a science teacher with the NSW Department of Education where he remained for 9 years perfecting his teaching skills. During this time he further trained as an industrial arts teacher seeing the value in taking the theoretical and imbedding it into the practical. He then moved to Queensland taking up the Science and Technology Head of Department position at St Mary’s Catholic College, an all Girl’s school in Ipswich. Greg taught for 9 years in Queensland and was instrumental in encouraging girls to embark on careers in the predominantly male dominated fields of Science and Engineering.
After 17 years teaching Greg wanted to experience teaching elsewhere in the World. So in 1999 he joined an overseas aid program, training teachers in teaching practice in Vanuatu. Greg fully believes that in a true teaching relationship teachers learn as much from students as they do from you. After a fascinating experience in Vanuatu Greg and his family moved to Darwin, to St John’s, where he spent two years as Head of Science and IT.
From there further promotion beckoned and the family moved to Papua New Guinea, to take up the Principal position at Kimbe International School in West New Britain. The school invested a great deal of energy into teacher training and equipping staff with technology in the classroom. Greg spent 3 years at this school, helping grow and expand it from Early Childhood through Junior Secondary and onto Matriculation.
The desire to move to different places in the World came from the desire Greg and his family had to understand world culture first hand.The Middle East was frequently in the news, often with negative reports. So Greg took a position in Dubai to see for himself and his family. By this stage he had a full appreciation of how much education is valued by children and families overseas and its role in underpinning an authentic learning culture in an organisation. He was keen to lead schools in promoting sustainable learning cultures so successfully studied for a Masters in Educational Administration and in the process was admitted to the Golden Key Honour Society.
His next stop was at a well resourced IB school in Bangkok, Thailand, where he spent three years. After that he moved to St Joseph’s Institute International School in Singapore. Following this he won a coveted position as Principal of Woodford International School in Honiara in the Solomon Islands. He was Principal there for 5 years and took the school from Year 9 to year 12. He relished working with the Board who shared an exciting vision of growing the school .
Greg’s next stop was as Head of a School outside Zurich in Pfäffikon. The school was privately owned, a situation which is not readily found in Australia. The school was truly bilingual extending from Foundation through Primary and Secondary and onto matriculation. By this stage Greg had strongly formed the opinion that while Principals are influential in leading and shaping the development of schools they remain as transient custodians because schools should always be first and foremost about the students.
From Switzerland Greg served as the Secondary Principal in a start-up school in Vietnam owned by a local female entrepreneur who recognised that providing an international quality of education to the next generation was the best way to serve her country and protect its future. After three years COVID struck so it was prudent to return to Australia, where he worked for NTSDE as a Physics teacher before taking on the role of Principal of Tiwi College for 2 years. Before taking up his present position at Yipirinya in Alice Springs Greg spent six months working at SEDA College in Darwin, learning an alternate way to meet students’ educational needs.
What a career so far and what experiences to underpin his present ideas about education. Schools are for teaching and learning; teachers must believe in Education; it is important to enjoy teaching; the role of Middle Management and a team ethos is fundamental to the success of a school; in general, students in the countries overseas in which Greg worked, really valued education; there is not just one way of presenting education; schools are simply not just there for teachers’ convenience - they are there to serve and meet the learning needs of students and in so doing provide them with a firm foundation for a successful future in whatever direction they choose.
So Greg’s career has brought with it a deep understanding of education in the wider World as well as a refined understanding about the basis of good teaching and learning and how a good school should function. He has certainly explored the world of education with real courage.
Lisa Goldsworthy
Director
Principal Living Waters Lutheran School
About
TBA
Our People
At AISNT, we have a small but dynamic team that is happy to reach out and provide support in a range of diverse areas.
