The Northern Territory covers approximately one sixth of the Australian continent, with an area of 1.35 million square kilometres. Approximately four-fifths of the Northern Territory (1.09 million square kilometres) lies within the Tropics and the 6200 kilometre coastline is generally flat, backed by swamps, mangroves and mudflats.
The Northern Territory covers approximately one sixth of the Australian continent, with an area of 1.35 million square kilometres. Approximately four-fifths of the Northern Territory (1.09 million square kilometres) lies within the Tropics and the 6200 kilometre coastline is generally flat, backed by swamps, mangroves and mudflats. In the north (Top End), there are two seasons (wet and dry), with Central Australia experiencing more arid conditions, lower rainfall and the four traditional seasons.
There are five municipalities (Darwin, Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine and Litchfield) and 11 shire councils (Central Desert, Barkly, McDonnell, Roper Gulf, Victoria Daly, Belyuen, Coomalie, East Arnhem, Tiwi Islands, West Arnhem and Wagait).
Darwin is the capital city, with the City of Palmerston being the second largest city and Alice Springs, the third largest city in the Territory. The economy of the Northern Territory is very diverse. The Northern Territory has an abundance of natural resources, a large public sector and a significant defence presence. The importance of mining and mining-related production will increase as production reaches full capacity once the major infrastructure projects are completed.
A comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation have been carried out to identify the key education, skills and jobs challenges for the region. These challenges include:
This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental scan and local consultations. The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the characteristics of the region, but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the region.
This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental scan and local consultations. The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the characteristics of the region, but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the region.
The Northern Territory in general has a young population with 22.7 per cent aged between 0 to 14 years, 71.8 per cent aged 15 to 64 years and 5.5 per cent of people aged 65 years and over.
The ABS estimated the residential population of the Northern Territory at 30 June 2011 was 231,331— approximately 0.4 per cent more than the estimated population in 2010. The majority of the population resides in the Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield Region (approx. 55.5%), with 12.3 per cent in Alice Springs and the rest dispersed across the Northern Territory.
This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation. It also details the specific strategies that will help achieve the community’s objectives. The issues and strategies will be reviewed and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Northern Territory.
ISSUES,Goals and strategies
This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation. It also details the specific strategies that will help achieve the community’s objectives. The issues and strategies will be reviewed and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Northern Territory.
Issue 1 : A high percentage of children are assessed as developmentally vulnerable under the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI).
Goals :
Issue 2 : Shortage of qualified early childhood educators in the Northern Territory to meet the requirements under the new National Quality Framework.
Goals :
Issue 3 : Low school attendance rates and low completion rates leading to varying educational outcomes, in particular with Indigenous students in remote regions.
Goals :
Issue 4 : Youth disengaged from school, training or work.
Goals :
Issue 5 : Meeting current skill shortages for emerging and growth industries.
Goals :
Issue 6 : Indigenous job seekers in the Northern Territory have
significantly high levels of disadvantage and barriers to work.
Goals :
Issue 7 : Limited employment opportunities for the working age population in remote communities.
Goals :
Issue 8 : Meeting the significant and rapidly growing workforce demands of the resources sector.
Goals :
Issue 9 : Maintaining community and corporate confidence in business areas outside major development areas (such as Darwin) to support more evenly spread economic growth and community stability across the Northern Territory.
Goals :