2023 teacher transfers
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128 No 2, 31 March 2023, page no. 19
The 2023 teacher transfer process is now underway.
Guaranteed transfers
The Department of Education continues to identify priority locations, along with rural and remote locations (4 -7), as locations that can be difficult to staff. The department provides allowances to incentivise employee transfer and support transferring to and from these locations.
Teachers who have undertaken minimum service in rating 4 to 7 locations will be eligible for guaranteed transfer to either two or three geographic areas they identify. Teachers in Alcohol Management Plan (AMP) locations or who have more than 20 transfer points may nominate at least two geographic areas. Teachers with less than 20 points can nominate three preferred geographic areas.
The department has sent notification to employees who have completed minimum service in a rural and remote location (TR4-7). Members who wished to apply for a guaranteed return at the end of 2023 should have submitted their application by 2 April.
Teachers in these locations can apply for transfer beyond this date, however the application will be considered a requested transfer and considered as a guaranteed transfer application for 2025.
2023 transfer application process key dates
- 2 April: Guaranteed return transfer applications for Term 1, 2024 commencement close. Applicants can continue to apply for a guaranteed transfer after this date and be considered as a requested transfer. Applicants who apply after this date will be considered as a guaranteed applicant for Term 1, 2025.
- 14 September: All guaranteed return transfer applicants will be notified of their transfer placement on or before this date.
Continuous transfer
The department is maintaining the continuous transfer process in 2023, under which employees can submit requested transfers throughout the year. Applications will be included in the teacher transfer pool to be considered when vacancies arise. Applications under this process will remain active until a placement is made, with the department notifying applicants of the active status of their application in the later part of the year if no transfer is finalised. Employees can withdraw their application to this process if circumstances change.
Members should be aware that while the transfer process is continuous, a school may be unable to release them if it is unable to replace them.
Transfer commencement dates are typically the start of the school year unless there is agreement between principals for an operationally convenient date for both parties. While this process is continuous, members wishing to transfer for the following year should submit their application prior to the end of Term 2, as applications received later in the year will be managed on a case-by-case basis.
QTU advice
As in previous years, the QTU recommends that members who are interested in undertaking rural and/or remote service engage with the department for opportunities. 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 regarding the service they will need to be considered for 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 geographic area.
Members who are currently in rural/remote areas and are applying for transfer should note that, if they have preference for specific schools in a geographic area, they are advised to list these schools in their application and to contact these schools.
Members applying for transfer in 2023 who have questions about the process can contact the Queensland Teacher Assist Desk (QTAD) on 1300 11 7823.