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Charles Darwin University supports the NT Government’s efforts to review and implement opportunities for improvement in secondary education. This submission focuses on CDU’s expertise in the NT’s unique learning environment; CDU’s involvement in the secondary years through Vocational Education and Training (VET) in schools; and as a critical enabler of school workforces, especially teachers. This submission responds to the NT Government’s Review of Secondary Education in the Northern Territory Discussion Paper (May 2023).

CDU’s Northern Institute and Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods have unparalleled experience and deep engagement across the NT. In line with the invitation to provide feedback on the Mineral Development Taskforce Final Report, this submission focuses on key recommendations where CDU looks forward to continuing to work with the NT Government and industry to deliver the training, education and research needed to underpin the NT’s future economy.

This submission proposes a new approach to funding for CDU through the Universities Accord so that future generations of Territorians continue to have access to world-class training and higher education. CDU is positioned to make a significant contribution to some of the nation’s biggest challenges: shoring-up energy and water security in the face of climate change; acknowledging our geopolitical environment to protect our national interests; and developing sustainable economic growth in Northern Australia, particularly for First Nations peoples. Case studies throughout this submission demonstrate that innovative research for Northern Australia is much more impactful when underpinned by First Nations knowledges appropriately interweaved ‘with’ Western knowledges.

This submission is provided in the context of the Commonwealth House Standing Committee on Agriculture’s Inquiry into food security. It leverages CDU’s expertise of Northern’s Australia’s social, economic, environmental and climatic contexts which is essential to realising the sustainable development of agricultural industries across Northern Australia. The submission urges the Committee to give urgent attention to improving local capacity in Northern Australia to help prepare for future shocks to food production systems and improve access to food in remote Australia, especially for First Nations people. The Northern Australia Food Technology Innovation Project is a key example drawn on in the Submission.

Developing quantitative PCR assays to target microbial nitrogen cycle genes: A new tool to monitor ecosystem function in sediment

The activity described in this report was developed from initial research co-funded by Power and Water Corporation (PWC), Northern Territory Government (NTG) and INPEX. The initial study showed that some bacterial nitrogen cycling genes (functional markers) detected in sediment and water of Darwin Harbour were different between human impacted and reference sites. These included nosZ genes associated with denitrification (the removal of nitrogen or nitrogen compounds that results in the escape of gaseous nitrogen), archaeal amoA genes associated with ammonia oxidation (the biological oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrite), and nitrite oxidation genes.

The Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (JSCATSIA) is conducting an inquiry into improving economic self-determination and opportunities for First Nations Australians.
The inquiry examines opportunities and barriers to training, employment, and business development for First Nations Australians, along with the challenges in building the economic and social infrastructure needed to support long-term prosperity. It will explore ways to unlock capital, leverage intellectual property, and utilise the Indigenous Estate and First Nations skills to position First Nations people as key economic partners. Additionally, the inquiry will consider international and intergenerational experiences in fostering economic independence for First Nations communities, as well as other related matters.

The draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework (the Framework) has been released, positioning Australia to ensure the sustainability, quality, and integrity of its world-class international education sector. The Framework aims to establish a collaborative path for the government and the education sector to work together, enabling international education to continue delivering significant benefits to the economy, communities, and international students.
Through this Framework, the government is committed to actively supporting a sector grounded in quality and integrity, fostering a managed system that promotes sustainable growth over time, and empowering Australian providers to extend their high-quality education and training globally.

The Australian Government’s Migration Strategy introduced a new vision for the nation’s migration system, featuring a policy roadmap with eight key actions and over 25 new policy commitments and areas for future reform. A key aspect of this strategy includes a commitment to evaluate regional migration settings and the Working Holiday Maker program to ensure that migration supports regional development objectives and does not contribute to the exploitation of migrant workers.
The discussion paper sought input from stakeholders—including communities, businesses, unions, local governments, state and territory governments, education providers, and others—on how to enhance regional migration settings to foster strong and sustainable regions. It proposed objectives for regional migration, opportunities for improvement, and outlined specific questions on which the Government sought feedback to ensure regional migration complements existing government initiatives.