HAT and LT remuneration: agreement reached
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 123 No 6, 31 August 2018, page no.11 (Updated after publication)
The government and the QTU have announced the remuneration for the highly accomplished and lead teacher classifications.
From 1 July 2018, a highly accomplished teacher (HAT) will receive an annual salary of $111,725.
A lead teacher (LT) will receive an annual salary of $121,975 from the same date.
The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission's decision in August makes remuneration for HAT and LT among the highest in the country.
The establishment of the classifications achieves a long-standing QTU claim for professional pay, where teachers are certified against the professional standards in which they are operating. It also provides a genuine choice for classroom teachers who wish to achieve a higher salary, either staying in the classroom or applying for promotion.
The new classifications will form part of the classroom teacher classification scale and will be subject to annual increases as part of the new certified agreement from 2020.
Teachers certified in the first two tranches of the pilot will be paid the new salaries from 1 July 2018, and those certified following the third tranche will be paid the salaries from 24 January 2019.Teachers who were previously certified as either a HAT or LT in another jurisdiction or sector and who are listed on the National HAT and LT register will also be eligible to receive the relevant salary from 24 January 2019.
The new classifications will be rolled out statewide in 2019.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, you must:
- hold full registration (i.e. recognition as proficient under the standards)
- be an Australian citizen or have a permanent residency visa
- have a minimum of five years of registered recognised teaching experience as at the next date designated for portfolio submission
- meet mandatory teaching requirements of an “authentic teaching role” (i.e. an ongoing teaching role with students that requires the applicant to plan, prepare, teach, differentiate, assess and report (to students and parents) on student outcomes of a prescribed educational program).
In addition, an applicant needs to have:
- completed at least two annual performance reviews (or approved equivalent) in the two years preceding application (for HAT certification), or at least three annual performance reviews (or approved equivalent) in the three years preceding application (for LT certification)
- completed the AITSL self-assessment tool
- engaged in a professional discussion with their principal or their delegate and obtained their assessment of their readiness to apply.
Cost of certification
The cost of certification as agreed between the QTU and the department will be:
Stage one: portfolio assessment (portfolio submission and its assessment by two qualified assessors) - $850
Stage two: Assessment (supporting evidence and its review) - $650
Recertification: occurs after five years of certification - $100.
In addition, a teacher will have access to one TRS day during stage one to develop their portfolio.
Teachers in promotional positions
The remuneration levels for HAT and LT do exceed some of the salary levels for heads of program and teaching principals.
Members in these positions who meet the eligibility criteria may apply. However, if successful, they will need to determine which classification they wish to hold –classroom teacher or head of program/teaching principal. You cannot hold both classifications and be remunerated at the higher salary.
Additionally, the current Promotional Position Classification Review (PPCR) has not been finalised. The review will determine the relevant classification level (value of role) of various positions, it will not determine the salaries. Any salary increases that flow from the PPCR will be determined through the enterprise bargaining process.
The current certified agreement states:
5.4.2 Amongst other factors, the review will take account of the impact of the establishment of highly accomplished and lead teacher classifications and their work value assessment.
There is no guarantee that promotional position salaries will be higher than HAT and LT. This aligns to the intent of the government’s policy and the QTU’s claim for professional pay: providing a genuine salary classification that gives teachers a choice to either remain in the classroom or to become educational leaders.
The QTU continues to work with the Department toward the finalisation of the PPCR by December 2018 so that it can inform EB negotiations, as a priority element of the QTU claim.
Next steps
The QTU is providing information sessions across the state for anyone interested in applying for certification as either a HAT or LT. For more information, visit www.qtu.asn.au