Palmerston Secondary Special Education School one step closer with release of design and construction tender

12 June 2026

• The design and construction tender of the Palmerston Secondary Special Education School is now live.
• The Finocchiaro CLP Government committed $110 million in the 2026/27 budget funding for the construction of the school, which is proposed to feature 25 classrooms, VET buildings and a pool.
• The School will open on day one, of the first term in 2029.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government’s Palmerston Secondary Special Education School is one step closer, with the design and construction tender now live.

The construction of the $110 million new purpose-built Special Education School delivers on the CLP Government’s election commitment to build a purpose-built Secondary Special Education School in Palmerston.

The preliminary design of the new school has been informed by an Expert Design Advisory Group, consisting of parent representatives, disability advocates and current and former Special Education School Principals.

Proposed features of the School include:

• Two VET buildings with a mini-Woolworths, Kitchen and café, Arts/Design studios and music rooms to give students job ready skills.
• A Pool.
• Horticulture building with a farm learning area, horticulture studio, recycling room and gardening store.
• 25 classrooms across four teaching blocks.
• New Administration building
• High support learning areas.
• Shade structures, bike path and play areas.
• Therapy and Calm sensory rooms, and.
• Accessibility upgrades to the Rosebery Secondary School’s gym and performing arts rooms.

Minister for Education and Training, Jo Hersey, said the new Palmerston Secondary Special Education School will reduce enrolment pressures on other Special Education Schools and Special Education Centres in Darwin and Palmerston.

“Once opened in term one, 2029, the Palmerston Secondary Special Education School will support 200 students and their families in the Palmerston and Rural areas.

“I’d like to thank the Expert Design Advisory Group for their advocacy, and the many parents who have been advocating for this project since 2024.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with you from the early days when I was in Opposition and I delivered a petition in Parliament to important milestones like today.”

Minister for Logistics and infrastructure, Bill Yan, said now is a great time to be in construction in the Northern Territory.

“We are delivering a pipeline of works that will support Territory construction businesses to rebuild our economy.

“Most importantly, through our disciplined and responsible budget, projects are now properly funded and not announced and left stagnant for years like under the former Labor Government.”

Media contact – Zac Webster – 0418 670 192