2021 teacher transfer process
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 126 No 2, 12 March 2021, page no. 15
Communication with regard to the transfer process begins this term, with an email distributed to teachers in transfer rating 1 and 2 schools encouraging rural and remote service. Meanwhile, those who have completed their rural/remote service and are eligible for a guaranteed transfer will be notified.
Departmental rural and remote email
The departmental email, which some of you may have already received, is an attempt to communicate with teachers who have not undertaken rural and/or remote service as part of a strategy to ensure the department can staff schools across the state. It will be sent to all teachers in transfer rating 1 and 2 schools. Although the email will also be received by teachers who have undertaken rural and/or remote service, they can ignore it unless they are interested in undertaking another rural and/or remote posting.
The primary aim of the communication is to invite teachers who have not done so to consider rural and/or remote service, and to discuss a possible transfer and a guaranteed right of return to one of two or three geographic areas of preference with case managers and regional staffing officers.
Guaranteed transfer pilot
In 2019 and 2020, a guaranteed transfer process was successfully piloted for teachers who met certain service and transfer points criteria, and this process will continue in 2021.
Teachers who have undertaken the minimum service in 6 or 7-point schools and teachers in 4 or 5-point schools who have 20 or more transfer points will be guaranteed a transfer to either one of two geographic areas (teachers in AMP centres) or one of three geographic areas (other teachers). The QTU is currently negotiating with the department to reduce the number of geographic areas teachers must identify for a guaranteed transfer. The department has acknowledged that in 2019 and 2020, about 90-95 per cent of applicants received their first preference, and this outcome validates the QTU’s request that not all teachers should have to submit three geographic preferences.
2021 transfer application process – proposed key dates (subject to change)
- 19 March: Email sent to teachers inviting expressions of interest in rural/remote service.
- 19 March: Eligible guaranteed transfer applicants notified.
- 27 April: Applications open for all teacher transfers.
- 28 May: Closing date for guaranteed transfer applications.
- 11 June: Closing date for all other transfer applications.
- 30 July: Guaranteed transfers finalised.
- 16 September: Release of all other transfers.
The process is now a little more complex than it was a few years ago, but the department is now bringing forward the release of the guaranteed transfers and the release of the transfers to rural/remote centres where possible.
QTU advice
The QTU recommends that members interested in rural and/or remote service engage with the department and respond to the email referred to earlier. Members interested in the guaranteed transfer process and wishing to return to a specific region or geographic area, e.g. the Sunshine Coast, should obtain clear advice from departmental officers on what service will deliver a transfer to their preferred area or areas. For example, three years in a 4-point school will not usually guarantee a transfer to the Sunshine Coast.
Members currently in rural/remote areas who are applying for transfer should note that, as in 2020, they can only apply for geographic areas. Teachers who have a preference for specific schools in a geographic area are advised to list them in their application and to perhaps contact these schools.
In 2021, a teacher’s application for transfer will be considered by regional officers and all the principals in the nominated preferred geographic areas. There will be no preference in school selection based on IPS or any other status.
Members applying for transfer in 2021 who have questions about the process can contact the Queensland Teacher Assist Desk (QTAD) on 1300 11 7823 in the first instance.