Remote schools programs

The NT Electoral Commission (NTEC) has an education program specifically for Aboriginal students in remote schools. This program uses English as a second language (ESL) teaching techniques including simple and relevant visuals, known identities and hands-on learning activities to develop an understanding of the following key areas of the upper primary and middle years curriculum for Civics and Citizenship:

  • The key values that underpin Australia's democracy - meaning of democracy.
  • The key features of the electoral process in Australia – secret ballot, compulsory voting, elections that are open, free and fair, who has right to vote and stand for election.
  • The roles and responsibilities of Australia’s three levels of government.
  • Responsibilities of electors and representatives in Australia’s democracy.
  • How citizens can participate in Australia’s democracy – use of electoral system, contact with elected representatives.

The program includes a mock election and vote counting exercise. The program is suitable for upper primary, middle and senior students and delivery is tailored accordingly for the year levels in the class.

Program delivery options

The remote schools program is flexible and can be delivered in a number of ways:

  • An educator from the NTEC may be able to visit your school to deliver the program in person.
  • If your class or school is planning a visit to Darwin or Alice Springs, one of our educators can deliver the program in person as part of this visit.
  • An educator from NTEC can deliver the mock election and vote counting exercise via Skype (using Department of Education Skype facilities).
  • Teachers can deliver the program directly using a kit of resources we can post to you.
  • Teachers can deliver the program directly using the resources provided below.

Joint program with Parliamentary Education Services

The NTEC also works closely with Parliamentary Education Services (PES) and we can conduct joint outreach visits to remote schools to deliver our programs in person.

If you are planning a class or school visit to Darwin, you may like to include a visit to Parliament House and we can arrange to include our remote schools voting program in your visit

Resources

Activities
 
List for small groups - three levels of government List for whole class - three levels of government
Poster - three levels of government
Poster labels - three levels of government
List - Who can vote
 
Ballot papers
  
Ballot paper - primary/middle years Ballot paper - middle/senior years
  
Instructions (Teacher)
 
Voting and counting
Facilitator notes - primary/middle years
Facilitator notes - middle/senior years
 
Maps
  
Legislative Assembly boundariesLocal Government (Council) areas
  
PowerPoint presentations
  
Primary/middle yearsMiddle/senior years
  

More information: Please contact our Education and Engagement Officer, Karen Parker, on 8999 7634 or email ntec@nt.gov.au.

Education