More than 45,000 students will return to school in the Northern Territory this week.
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Government schools in urban and remote NT areas begin classes on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, including a the new Zuccoli Primary School in Palmerston.
There are more than 330 new members of the 4000-plus army of teachers at government schools in the Territory.
Many of those teachers went to a two-day orientation in Darwin last week to prepare for the distinct culture and environment of the Territory, before some head to remote Aboriginal communities where less than half of the children might turn up on some days.
"Teacher orientation is extremely important, not just for new teachers to the Territory but new teachers to the profession," Education Minister Selena Uibo told reporters.
There is a mix of new teachers from the Territory, interstate with Victoria the biggest contingent, overseas and from other professions.
Attendance in indigenous communities was a priority and the Education Department had "attendance strategy teams" working on improving that and tracked school numbers, Ms Uibo said.
NT families can also access $150 back to school vouchers per student to to pay for uniforms, stationery and textbooks, or as credit towards school excursions, camps and tuition fees.
Nearly 100 per cent of more than 45,000 vouchers were redeemed by eligible families last year, Ms Uibo said.
The hugely popular initiative had an almost 100 per cent redemption rate last year, with 45,092 of the 45,136 eligible vouchers claimed.
Families are also eligible for a $100 sports voucher per child, that can be used for sports and drama and dance.
The vouchers were a great financial help for families wanting their children wearing fresh clothes at the start of the school year or to go on excursions, some of whom might miss out, said mother Emma Connellan whose daughter Grace, 7, and son Stephen, 9, go to Darwin's Jingili Primary School.
Australian Associated Press