2019 teacher transfer appeal process
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 124 No 6, 16 August 2019, page no. 25
Although in recent years the department has tried to reduce the number of involuntary required transfers, every year QTU members either receive a required transfer that they do not want or receive a transfer to somewhere other than they requested.
In both cases, there are appeal processes. But to be successful in appealing a required transfer you must provide evidence that it is unreasonable.
In 2019, transfers will be released in two stages.
Guaranteed Teacher Transfer Pilot appeal process
The QTU does not anticipate appeals arising from this process, as these teachers have been case managed and have been involved in the process, however the Department of Education (DoE) has confirmed the following review timelines.
DATES | EVENT |
Wednesday, 31 July 2019 |
Teacher transfers notifications released. |
Wednesday, 21 August 2019 | Local level review process finalised. |
Tuesday, 3 September 2019 |
Deadline for lodging an appeal for internal review with regional office. |
Tuesday, 10 September 2019 |
Notification of the regional office internal review outcomes. |
On or before Tuesday, 1 October 2019 |
Deadline for external appeal lodgement – Please note this date assumes teachers receive the outcome of the regional appeal on 10 September. The external appeal deadline is 21 days from the date the internal review outcome is received. |
Non-pilot appeal process
Discuss your concerns with your principal in the first instance. If the matter cannot be resolved, submit a written request for review to your principal. This must include enough information to enable your concerns to be resolved, including any action that you would like taken.
Local action – The principal will attempt to resolve the matter in consultation with their regional HR consultant. A meeting/teleconference between you, a member of the school’s administration and the regional HR consultant will be held to discuss your concerns. You can invite a representative of the Union or other support person to attend. You will receive an email confirming the outcome, the reasons for the decision, any action, and the next steps.
Internal review (regional review panel) – You can lodge an appeal with regional office if unsuccessful at the local level. You will receive written notification of the review decision, including the reasons, the information considered, and the next steps.
External review – This stage is available where others do not resolve the matter.
The timelines are the same for appeals against transfer and non-transfer.
DATES | EVENT |
Thursday, 19 September |
Teacher transfer notifications released. |
Wednesday, 16 October | Local level review process finalised |
Tuesday, 22 October |
Deadline for lodging appeal with regional office (internal review) Tuesday, |
Tuesday, 5 November |
Notification of regional office appeal (internal review) outcomes. |
On or before Tuesday, 26 November |
Deadline for external appeal lodgement – Please note this date assumes teachers receive the outcome of the regional appeal on 5 November. The external appeal deadline is 21 days from the date the internal review outcome is received. |
Intra-regional transfer appeals
For an intra-regional transfer, i.e. a transfer to within 50 minutes of a teacher’s current residence, the unreasonableness threshold is relatively difficult to attain, as these will normally be considered reasonable. If you have compassionate circumstances in relation to the health and wellbeing of immediate family members or have a medical condition that may limit travel time, specialist medical and other evidence needs to be provided.
Inter-regional transfer appeals
Teachers are generally informed in term two of the department’s intention to transfer them to another region. This gives you an opportunity to provide relevant evidence why the transfer is unreasonable. While more grounds may be relevant to whether a transfer is reasonable than for an intra-regional transfer, significant evidence is required and should be in the form of documentary evidence wherever possible. If you are considering appealing an inter-regional transfer, you should read the information on the QTU website before contacting the Union.
Further information and support
Even if you do not receive a transfer on 19 September, the department will continue to consider your application until the end of the school year and during the summer vacation. You should contact both the department and the QTU to seek further information and advice about the prospects of a transfer before the start of the 2020 school year. In 2017 and 2018, a significant number of transfers were released after the end of term three.
Relevant teacher transfer appeal information is provided at www.qtu.asn.au/transfer-appeals and on the DET intranet site https://tinyurl.com/y3pf7xsb
For further information, contact the Queensland Teachers Assist Desk on 1300 11 7823 or visit www.qtu.asn.au