AISNT would like to welcome Ian Smith to the team as the Director of Independent Indigenous Schools, bringing a range of experience and skills. His teaching stretches across from South Australia, Mildura and the Surfcoast of Victoria, before heading to Bathurst Island, part of the Tiwi Islands, NT. Ian and his family returned to Mildura, before heading north once more, this time to Tiwi College on Melville Island, and finally to Haileybury Rendall School in Darwin. This broad experience underpins a fine understanding of the complexities of education in Australia covering a variety of schools: encompassing small and large, from Government, Independent and Catholic, to Aboriginal and boarding schools.

Ian was educated at Findon High School in Adelaide, before going onto Flinders University where he completed a Bachelor of Education majoring in PE and Science. Later he undertook the noted Bushwalking and Mountain Craft Leadership Certificate, adding Outdoor Education to his battery of teaching skills.

Ian’s first school was Mildura High School where he taught PE, Health, Science and Outdoor Education. From the river he moved to the sea -Anglesea, Victoria and worked part time at Lorne P-12 School. The Reconciliation March in 2000 reignited the passion of a desire to work with Aboriginal People. Ian and his wife Anne, and their two young sons packed up and headed up to the Tiwi Islands. For two years, Ian worked at Xavier Catholic College, Wurrumiyanga, whilst Anne home-schooled their sons, Ashby and Rehn. In 2003, he returned to St Joseph’s College, Mildura until he received a call from a friend in 2010, asking him to return to the Tiwi’s, this time to Pickertaramoor, Melville Island.

This pivotal phone call invited him to take up the position of Principal of Tiwi College, a P -12 boarding school, located in a very remote location of Melville Island. It was a major challenge but Ian was successful in his leadership and lead the school from 2011 – 2017, before working for the Tiwi Education Board in 2018.

It was then time to return to the mainland where he took up a position at the new Haileybury Rendall School. Ian took the role of Director of Community Relations in 2019. Throughout his tenure he was called upon to lead the school’s boarding house on occasions and assist in helping the school become more culturally responsive. His position required him to build positive relations with families and leaders in remote Aboriginal Communities, which he did with success.

Whilst Ian’s family are spread throughout the country, they remain deeply connected to one another; a lasting legacy of their time on the Tiwi islands. They all feel privileged to have been embedded in the lives and cultures of such wonderful people. In 2025 Ian moved from Haileybury to take up the position at AISNT as Director of Independent Indigenous Schools where his skills and experience are much appreciated.