World Teachers's Day (Australia)

In Australia, celebrations for World Teachers’ Day will be on Friday, October 30, 2026.

In Australia, the focus for World Teachers’ Day is Shining a Light on Teachers. 

NTEM shines a light on a long-serving Yolngu teacher from Gapuwiyak Community in Northeast Arnhem Land. 

Shining a Light on Christine Birrkinbirrkin 

We celebrate the work of Christine Birrkinbirrkin who recently retired at Gapuwiyak community after 35 years working for the Northern Territory Education Department. 

[Photo: Birrkiṉbirrkiṉ, at her graduation from Batchelor College - far right. NE1-0019087}

Birrkiṉbirrkiṉ graduated from Batchelor College in 1992 with a Diploma of Teaching, a qualification she obtained as a student in the Batchelor College Remote Area Teacher Education (RATE) program. In those days it was possible to study in a community-based mixed-mode program to complete education qualifications. This meant students did not have to leave their communities for four years to graduate. And most importantly it meant they had access to community elders for study and research for their own languages and cultural learning. 

Birrkiṉbirrkiṉ worked first at Numbulwar School and then transferred to Gapuwiyak School where she worked as classroom teacher, senior teacher, and acting principal on several occasions. For a time, she transferred to the Families as First Teachers (FAFT) program and led the team in Gapuwiyak and Minyerri in Children and Family Services with great skill. In her final teaching years, she worked as Gapuwiyak School’s Language and Cultural advisor until her retirement. 

Birrkiṉbirrkiṉ was a strong advocate for Aboriginal Languages in schools and was a leading light in the Aboriginal Languages in East Arnhem (ALEAS) Reference Group from 1993 until 2002. She was also a strong voice on the Miwatj (East Arnhem) Language Management Committee from 1993 until 2001. 

At her retirement party there were many speeches attesting to Birrkiṉbirrkiṉ's wonderful teaching style, her brilliant mind and wicked sense of humour. Many former teachers zoomed in to say thank you to her for being such a strong mentor in their time at Gapuwiyak. Many former students attested to the difference she made in their lives as their teacher. The bittersweet part was teachers and former students saying goodbye to such a positive experienced voice in the school. It was noted with sadness and frustration that there are now no qualified Yolngu staff at Gapuwiyak School, despite many attempts by the school and community to access community-based teacher education through BIITE and this year through Charles Darwin University. 

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[Photo:  Birrkiṉbirrkiṉ surrounded by staff, students and family at her retirement party NE1-0223300]