Welcome to teaching! Here's what you need to know...
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 126 No 1, 12 February 2021, page no.25
To our new members who are just beginning their teaching journey – welcome to the profession!
We value you and are pleased to welcome you into the QTU community. Being part of the QTU means you are part of the collective voice of teachers and school leaders in Queensland’s state schools and TAFEs. You join with more than 48,000 of your colleagues who unite to maximise your working conditions, which are also your students’ learning conditions. Here is a breakdown of some of the formal requirements you must fulfil during your first year of employment with the Department of Education (DoE).
Provisional registration
It is a legislative requirement for a teacher to have obtained teacher registration from the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). This is initially granted as provisional registration, which allows you to teach for up to two years until full registration is granted by the QCT. Full registration as a teacher may be granted after a year of successful full-time teaching or the equivalent (200 days). Both temporary and permanent employees can apply to transition from provisional to full registration, provided that the 200 day requirement has been met, although it may take longer to accrue 200 days if working supply and contract combined. To obtain full registration, you must demonstrate that you meet the graduate level Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) during provisional registration (go to www.qct.edu.au to learn more). This process is quite separate to the DoE probationary process. More information is available on the QCT website at www.qct.edu.au
Probation
All newly appointed permanent employees of DoE, including graduates and teachers who have been converted to permanency after being a contract/temporary teacher, are required to undergo a period of probation. The standard probation period is eight months. The process will vary according to the workplace and the needs of individual employees. The program may involve classroom observations, monitoring of planning and assessment and professional support. At the end of your first three months, you will be reviewed by your principal, which must be recorded on the required form. Any areas of concern must be identified, and an agreed action plan developed. A formal appraisal will be conducted by the end of six months of service, resulting in a recommendation of either confirmation or termination of appointment. Employees on a temporary contract are not required to undergo a probation period, however the DoE does require temporary teachers who are on a contract of a term or longer to complete a lesson observation and an exit summary observation report (ESOR).
Induction programs
These are mandatory for all new casual, temporary, and permanent employees. The training is designed to raise awareness around your obligation to work within an ethical and legal framework. It highlights the importance of the code of conduct, DoE’s standard of practice and internal control strategies. The program covers topics such as working ethically, protecting information, working safely and protecting students.
QTU membership
If you were an associate member while at university and are now in paid employment with the DoE, you need to upgrade your membership to continue to enjoy the full advantages of belonging to the QTU, including access to our legal services. You can upgrade your membership online at www.qtu.asn.au/myQTU. Please contact our membership team on membership@qtu.asn.au or (07) 3512 9000 if you need help. Wherever you are teaching in Queensland, the QTU is here to support you. Our helpline, the Queensland Teachers’ Assist Desk (QTAD), is a good first point of contact. It can be reached on 1300 11 7823 or qtad@qtu.asn.au
There are many resources available on the QTU website; some are password protected, as we are a member-only service. You can also stay updated with QTU news via Instagram (www.twitter.com@theqtu) and our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/queenslandteachersunion).