Professional Learning
"To Recognise Teacher Excellence is to Recognise the Future"
Independent Schools of the Northern Territory (ISNT) is committed to providing robust professional learning opportunities for Member Schools. Offering pathways that strengthen teaching practice and improves student outcomes.
We support schools to:
- Build succession pathways that enables staff to grow in their roles and strengthen leadership teams.
- Embed place-based learning that reflects the NT context and ensures professional learning is culturally and locally relevant.
- Lead with innovation by delivering professional learning recognised nationally for its relevance and impact.
2026 Member Schools Information Booklet
Member Schools' Guide to professional learning and sector events across 2026.
Professional Learning 2026
Leadership Collective
(Darwin)
Dates: 17-18 February | 21-22 April | 11-12 August | 27 October
Designed For: Aspiring Leaders and Middle Leaders
Location: Darwin
More Information
Overview: This program supports participants to make meaningful change within a collaborative, collective learning environment.
Participants will lead an improvement initiative within their school and build leadership capacity and develop skills and confidence as leaders.
An optional component for participants
is the opportunity to complete 4 units of competency of the Diploma of Leadership and Management.
AITSL Standards: 1,5,6
Registration Closes 29 January 2026
Leadership Collective
(Alice Springs)
Dates: 4-5 March | 6-7 May | 5-6 August | 20 October
Designed For: Aspiring Leaders and Middle Leaders
Location: Alice Springs
More Information
Overview: This program supports participants to make meaningful change within a collaborative, collective learning environment.
Participants will lead an improvement initiative within their school and build leadership capacity and develop skills and confidence as leaders.
An optional component for participants
is the opportunity to complete 4 units of competency of the Diploma of Leadership and Management.
AITSL Standards: 1,5,6
Registration Closes 29 January 2026
AITSL Middle Leaders Pilot
Dates: 12 February 2026
Designed For: Middle Leaders
Location: Darwin
More Information
Overview: By joining this pilot program your school will receive support to develop the capabilities of middle leaders and implement the Standards.
Middle Leaders nominated from your school will be invited to attend a one-day face-to-face workshop at the start of the pilot and will gain access to an online self-reflection tool and up to five optional one-hour online workshops across the 12-month pilot to explore key, high-impact concepts which underpin the Standards.
AITSL Standards: AITLS Middle Leader Standards 1,5,6
Registration Closes 29 January 2026
Early Career Teacher Workshop
Dates: 24 February 2026
Designed For: Graduate teachers working towards Proficient Accreditation
Location: Darwin
More Information
Overview: Half day workshop outlining the NT TRB accreditation requirements with ongoing support offered throughout the year in creating the Proficient Teacher Portfolio.
AITSL Standards: 6.1; 6.2; 6.3
Registration Closes 5 February 2026
Positive Partnerships
(Autism PD)
Dates: 25-26 February 2026
Designed For: Teachers working with students with Autism
Location: Darwin
More Information
Dates: 25-26 February 2026
Overview: This program aims to strengthen knowledge, skills and understanding of participants that work with autistic students.
It consists of pre-workshop andpost-workshop online learning activities and two in-person workshop days.
AITSL Standards: 1.3; 1.5; 1.6; 3.1; 3.5; 4.1; 4.4
Early Career Teacher Workshop
Dates: 3 March 2026
Designed For: Graduate teachers working towards Proficient Accreditation
Location: Alice Springs
More Information
Overview: Half day workshop outlining the NT TRB accreditation requirements with ongoing support offered throughout the year in creating the Proficient Teacher Portfolio.
AITSL Standards: 6.1; 6.2; 6.3
Registration Closes 5 February 2026
Walking in Two Worlds
Dates: 30-31 March 2026
Designed For: First Nation Employees
Location: Darwin
More Information
Overview: Walking in Two Worlds has been designed to support long-term employment retention for First Nations people. The training helps First Nations employees to learn to ‘walk in two worlds’ by examining cultural difference, learning why cultures organise the world the way that they do, and how difference cultural approaches can be managed, using practical examples and instructive role-playing.
Participants learn how to apply self-reflection tools to better understand an individual cultural perspective, and develop skills and strategies to work more effectively in cross-cultural contexts.
Registration Closes 27 February 2026
Superhero Student Leadership Burn Bright
Dates: 29 April 2026
Designed For: Students in Years 5/6
Location: Darwin
More Information
Overview: This program seeks to integrate a range of key leadership messages through an interactive approach, which allows ideas to be put into action and encourage young people to become impactful leaders.
Registration Closes 19 March 2026
Adaptive Leadership in a Crazy World Masterclass with Dr Dean Williams
Dates: 20 May 2026
Designed For: School Leaders
Location: Darwin
More Information
Overview: The one day workshop will be a deep dive into the popular adaptive leadership framework as taught by Dean Williams and Ron Heifetz at Harvard Kennedy School. Dean Williams will present the master class, and a comprehensive competency model for the exercise of adaptive leadership.
Cost: $850
Blue Knot Trauma Responsive Training for Leaders
Dates: 22-23 May 2026
Designed For: School Leaders, Heads of Boarding, Heads of Well-Being
Location: Darwin
More Information
Overview: The Youth Mental Health First Aid course teaches participants how to provide initial support to a young person (aged 12–18) who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis, until professional help is recieved, or the crisis resolves.
Cost: $50
AITSL Standards: 4.4; 6.2; 7.4
Registration Closes 23 April 2026
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Dates: 26-27 May 2026
Designed For: Teachers in Upper Primary/Secondary
Location: Darwin
More Information
Overview: The Youth Mental Health First Aid course teaches participants how to
provide initial support to a young person (aged 12–18) who may be experiencing a
mental health problem or mental health crisis, until professional help is received,
or the crisis resolves.
Cost: $50
AITSL Standards: 4.4; 6.2; 7.4
Registration Closes 23 April 2026
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Mental Health First Aid
Dates: 10-11 September 2026
Designed For: Teachers in Upper Primary/Secondary
Location: Alice Springs
More Information
Overview: Equips adults who teach, care for or support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a young person who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.
Cost: $50
AITSL Standards: 1.4, 4.4; 6.2; 7.4
Registration Closes 30 July 2026
Walking in Two Worlds
Dates: 19-20 October 2026
Designed For: First Nation Employees
Location: Alice Springs
More Information
Overview: Walking in Two Worlds has been designed to support long-term employment retention for First Nations people. The training helps First Nations employees to learn to ‘walk in two worlds’ by examining cultural difference, learning why cultures organise the world the way that they do, and how difference cultural approaches can be managed, using practical examples and instructive role-playing.
Participants learn how to apply self-reflection tools to better understand an individual cultural perspective, and develop skills and strategies to work more effectively in cross-cultural contexts.
Registration Closes 14 September 2026
Get in Contact!
Have questions or want to learn more about our professional learning opportunities? Submit a form and our team will be in touch promptly.
