Head of Primary

Head of Primary

The Head of Primary School reports directly to the Principal of Yipirinya School and is a member of the Yipirinya School Leadership Team (SLT) with specific responsibility to ensure the efficient daily operation of the Primary School (Years 7-10) and to deputise for the Principal as necessary on whole School matters during the Principal’s absence.

Head of Primary

Commencement: Immediate start or January 2026.

Salary: Attractive Salary Package plus benefits.

Context statement

Yipirinya School is an independent, Indigenous community school in Alice Springs controlled by an Indigenous School Council and catering for Indigenous students from the nearby community and outstations. The school has excellent, purpose-built classrooms, and support facilities for all teachers. All classroom teachers currently have the support of Indigenous assistant teachers. The school offers a two-way learning approach (bi-lingual & bi-cultural) to education and language/culture teachers provide additional specialist support when children engage with language classes each day. Relationships-based learning, and school wide positive behaviour support are significant improvement priorities at the school.

As the Head of Primary School, you will:

• Assist the Principal in developing a culture of high expectations and standards around teaching and learning in the primary classes.
• Evaluate and improve curriculum resources (including schemes of work), particularly around literacy and numeracy, to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
• Develop primary classroom teachers' (Years 7-10) pedagogical practices to maximise engagement and student learning outcomes.
• Monitor primary class teachers' curriculum planning to ensure that sufficient detail is included around learning intentions, activities, differentiation and assessment work.
• Provide Instructional Leadership in Yipirinya School, that being with a focus on leading the improvement of learning outcomes for students and professional capacity for teachers.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor degree in a relevant allied health or teaching profession
• Current working with children check and police clearance or ability to obtain
• Current TRB - hold full Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory (TRB).
• Well-developed management and leadership skills, with high-level professionalism.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to get the best out of others by being positive, encouraging, compassionate, firm and fair.
• High level inter-cultural understanding and sensitivity, with a demonstrated capacity to work effectively in a two-ways, bilingual and bicultural work and education environment.
• Very good organisational, with an ability to prioritise tasks, meet prescribed deadlines, and concurrently manage a number of competing tasks.
• A strong understanding of contemporary education research and trends as they relate to student learning and pastoral care.
• A good understanding in theory and practice of effective change management. Also, capacity to be flexible and adapt to change as necessary.
• A demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and build a cohesive, effective team.
• A demonstrated capacity to support, guide, mentor, coach, motivate and develop people – including providing appropriate in-house professional learning opportunities for staff.
• A demonstrated ability to think strategically, creatively, analytically, and problem-solve.
• Demonstrated excellent practice in primary classroom teaching.

Further information

AN APPLICATION AND CURRICULUM VITAE IS NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF 5 PAGES AND SHOULD ADDRESS THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND THE SCHOOL CONTEXT STATEMENT.

Contact Gary Seaton Human Resources Manager, Yipirinya School phone 08 8952 5633.

Email application to gary.seaton@yipirinya.nt.edu.au by COB on 31 January 2026.

The School has a purpose built Preschool catering for 4 year olds and a full Primary School from Transition to Year 6. There is also a Secondary class, catering for the middle school years, 7-10. In addition the school has 4 purpose built language classrooms and a Language and Culture Centre for the production of language materials.