• Salary Classification: Principal
• 2021 Salary: PL1 – $131,754 and negotiable upwards depending on qualifications and experience. Generous employment and remote incentive conditions are included, details available on request
• School: Mäpuru Yirralka College
• Responsible to: Yirralka Education Board
• Accommodation Provided: 2 bedroom house with requirement to share from time to time
• Start Date: January 2021

About Yirralka Education 

Yirralka is the sacred land that the Creator, your ancestors have given you; your home-land; your sanctuary; the place where you feel immersed in your ancestors’ presence, knowledge and love; a place where you feel ‘in place’, secure, whole. 

Yirralka Education is the governing body for Mäpuru Yirralka College. It is a company formed to enable Mäpuru families, elders and custodians to govern their own educational facilities, programs and their own independent school.

Background to the Position 

Yirralka Education at Mäpuru is seeking a Principal who can develop longstanding relationships with the people of Mäpuru in east Arnhem Land to become the Principal. A primary role of the Principal is to lead by enabling and supporting the teaching teams in the delivery of rigorous, quality literacy and numeracy programs through bilingual approaches in Djambarrpuyŋu and EAL/D.

The college is led by Mäpuru’s elders and operates a bi-literacy and bi-cultural program in two multi-year level classrooms, the Primary and Secondary. Each class consists of a teaching team, a qualified teacher and 2 local Yolngu co-teachers (Assistant Teachers). 

Description

The Principal of Mäpuru Yirralka College leads the implementation of Yirralka Education’s vision for the learners in its College, with a focus on a shared respectful culture of co-leadership between the Principal and Yolŋu Principal in a manner which allows Yolŋu team members to work from their cultural authority.

This includes leading and resourcing the implementation of a rigorous, broad bi-literacy and bi-cultural education program that cognitively challenges and sets high expectations for both students and teachers. The Principal is required to be a strong, flexible teacher and be able to teach all year levels if required.

The Principal leads and guides the strategic direction of the college through the development, implementation and evaluation of the Mäpuru Yirralka College Strategic Plan in collaboration with the Board.

The Principal is responsible for all aspects of school governance, management and operations, including recruitment, induction and professional development of College staff. Establishing expectations for all staff to achieve high standards and building their capacity through performance management and professional development is a key position responsibility.

The Principal manages the financial operations and resources of the College, reporting on these to the College Board, NT and Australian governments.

A crucial role of this position involves developing relationships with elders, families and community to ensure the College continues to thrive as a vibrant rich school, maintaining its value to the wider community. 

A Rewarding Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to work and live in a healthy and productive remote Indigenous community. Whilst this experience is not for everyone, those who are committed and open to the opportunity will be offered a life-changing journey in which you will see the direct, positive impact you can make as the Principal working in collaboration with Yolŋu community and school leaders. You will be privileged to experience and help facilitate the empowering opportunity this will enable in other people’s lives and the futures of learners, their families and even the future of the entire town of Mäpuru. 

We are excited to be able to offer this unique and privileged opportunity to provide collaborative leadership to our passionate and dedicated team. Out of respect to the community of Mäpuru it is anticipated that the successful applicant will offer a long term commitment to this leadership position.

An essential component of the interview process for this position will include a visit to Mäpuru to observe how the school operates, experience life within the community and establish relationships with community members in order to discern the suitability of the personal qualities you may offer to this pivotal leadership position. 

Essential Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated experience and leadership in the development of teaching and learning in bicultural, bilingual, bi-literacy and EAL and numeracy programs to Aboriginal or newly arrived Australian learners in a school environment, and integrating teaching with practical learning experiences.
• Qualifications related to the broad role of Principal at Mäpuru Yirralka College such as in EAL/D, Bilingual Education or Educational Administration/Leadership.

• Proven ability to actively listen, build the capacity of self, others and high performing teams.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership in partnership with a Governing Board and/or School Council to achieve school operation and improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to administer and manage the reporting and compliance requirements required by the College.
• Demonstrated ability to administer and manage physical, financial and human resources (staff and contractors).
• Demonstrated ability to build a shared culture of high expectations, while developing and maintaining effective interpersonal and intercultural relationships within and beyond the school community.
• Demonstrated deep respect for Aboriginal cultures and the ability to work alongside and take direction from Aboriginal teachers and elders.
• Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory.
• Current Working with Children (Ochre) Card and recent criminal history check.
• Current manual Drivers Licence.
• Current First Aid Certificate.
• 4WD experience and/or training (or willingness to obtain training).

Desirable Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated capacity for resourcefulness, creativity, sustainability and wisdom in relation to living in a regional and/or remote context.
• Demonstrated strong communication, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills in an intercultural context.
• Sound ICT competence in MS Office and student management systems.
• Experience of Learning On Country or similar programs.
• A good understanding of a Yolŋu language and/or completion or willingness to complete the CDU ‘Introduction to Yolŋu Language and Culture’ (or equivalent) course.
• The ability to listen, respect and work alongside Yolŋu.
• Understanding of bicultural, bilingual and bi-literacy learning theories.