News edition for 29 September 2026. Added to Nungya on 22 October 2026 as part of our retrospective news archive. Reporting reflects information available by the edition date.

Six experienced Aboriginal educators have reached a new academic milestone while continuing to work in their communities. Charles Darwin University’s First Nations Training and Teacher Education Hub has conferred its first six graduates through its On Country Program.

The university’s 29 September report identifies the graduates as educators already working at Garrthalala, Dhalinybuy and Wandawuy schools. Their existing language expertise, cultural knowledge and classroom experience form an important part of the program’s starting point.

The approach was co-designed with schools and communities across the Northern Territory. CDU lecturers travel to remote schools and workplaces, supporting flexible, community-based learning that helps educators build professional skills, gain academic credit and progress towards teaching qualifications.

Remaining on Country changes the shape of a university pathway. Students can continue contributing to local children’s learning while studying, and their professional development stays close to the setting where their knowledge is used every day. The first six graduates are a concrete milestone for the hub as it approaches the end of its first year. Their achievement also invites a broader view of expertise: formal qualifications can recognise and build upon substantial knowledge that educators already bring to their work.