Frequently Asked Questions – For Prospective Employees

Where is MacKillop Catholic College?

The College is located at 285 Farrar Boulevard, Johnston, right beside the 16 Mile Camp WWII site.

How big is MacKillop Catholic College?

We have about 750 students and about 110 staff.

What assistance can I receive with relocation?

Financial assistance is available for staff relocating from interstate. Please get in touch with us for further details. Many transportation options are available, including regular road freight services from all capital cities and major regional centres, and ocean freight which arrives at a port just to our North. All major vehicle rental services have depots in the Darwin region.

Where should I consider renting or buying a home?

We are located in the Palmerston suburb of Johnston, which is in the South-East of the city. Other surrounding suburbs include Zuccoli, Bakewell, Gunn, Bellamack and Rosebery. This is a vibrant, new and fast growing region for those who wish to live close to their workplace. Palmerston is located about 25 minutes from Darwin city, and with traffic being much less chaotic here than in other capitals, the commute from the city or its surrounding suburbs is a perfectly reasonable option. Whether you wish to live close to the beach, among verdant rainforest, in the inner city or on a rural property, all these options are within an easily commutable distance from our campus. The rural areas of Howard Springs, Virginia, and Humpty Doo are all within a 15 minutes drive for those who wish to live on acreage or enjoy a rural lifestyle.

What do families do for fun in your community?

The MacKillop community consists of families from our surrounding suburbs and from the nearby rural areas. In their time outside of school, our students are involved in a high rate of team sports participation, with Rugby codes, Netball, AFL, Basketball and Hockey all being popular. Rural students often enjoy activities such as horse riding, motocross, fishing and camping. The top end region is famous for its markets, some of which only run during the dry season, and others year round. Some to check out include the Mindil Markets, Rapid Creek Markets, Parap Markets, Palmerston Markets and Bees Creek Markets. Our region is host a wide range of unique annual events including Territory Day cracker night, the Viking Boat Funeral, Sandbar Cricket, the Beer Can Regatta and the International Laksa Festival. Tourism activities you can do to get acquainted with the region include jumping croc tours, various wildlife parks, plenty of museums and sites of historical significance, and a relatively short drive to well known national parks including Litchfield and Kakadu. In addition to these uniquely Territorian activities, our city offers all the regular conveniences and entertainment options of any other established urban centre, including great restaurants, shopping centres, movie theatres, indoor ice skating and water parks.

What sort of induction or mentorship will be provided to me at MacKillop?

You will undergo a structured induction programme when you start work at MacKillop, and will have the ongoing assistance of your up-line manager and assigned mentor. Staff social activities are regularly organised by the MacKillop Staff Social Club.

What sort of extracurricular activities can I get involved in?

We have a strong reputation for our wide range of extracurricular activities, and currently have many different options running across varied disciplines. On the sporting front, we are affiliated with MacKillop Saints Rugby Union, Rugby League, Hockey and Basketball. Any staff who wish to get involved in these sports, or start regular training in another sport, are encouraged to do so. In the Arts, we have a range of orchestras and ensembles, a choir, outside school hours instrumental music lessons, the MacKillop Dance Company and an Art Club. We also have a biennial musical production which involves staff volunteering from across several subject areas. Extracurricular activities are also currently available in Languages, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and community volunteering fields.

Do I need to be an Australian citizen to work at MacKillop?

To work at MacKillop you need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

What qualifications will I require?

Teaching and specialist positions will require appropriate university qualifications. All staff working at schools in the Northern Territory are required to have an NT Working With Children Ochre Card. Teachers will need to have current TRB registration.

Do I need to be Catholic to work at MacKillop?

Whilst some leadership positions have a requirement that they are to be held be actively Catholic staff, this is not a requirement for the vast majority of positions. Staff are, however, made aware of the expectation that they will support and work within the framework of the Catholic values of the College, which is founded on the charism of Saint Mary MacKillop. Active participation in a Catholic or other Christian community will be looked upon favourably in the hiring process.

Please direct all further enquiries to the Principal’s PA, Olivia Lynch: olivia.lynch@nt.catholic.edu.au or (08) 8930 5713.