Queensland Teachers' Journal
September 2025
As this Journal goes to print, the QTU has held its first strike in 16 years, and QTU State Council is about to consider the progress in conciliation and whether future industrial action is warranted.
Some QTU members have run into difficulty securing the reduction of their Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debts.
Given that reduction means to diminish or lessen, “red tape reduction” would obviously require education systems to stop doing things.
On Wednesday 6 August, more than 50,000 members of the Queensland Teachers' Union across the state took protected industrial action, united in their calls for the state government to reach agreement with the QTU on a replacement collective agreement.
For more than a decade, QTU branches and area councils have reported frustrations with the usability of OneSchool, as well as its contribution to workload and red tape.
It’s clear we are in the fight we predicted for improved conditions and salaries in EB11. As I expected, we as the QTU are more than up for it.
On what was a historic day, Queensland Teachers’ Union members participated in a 24-hour protected industrial action stoppage on Wednesday 6 August, as part of their campaign for better wages and working conditions in EB11.
During the strike meeting in Brisbane, Deputy General Secretary Brendan Crotty’s speech on fair and safe workplaces drew a passionate response from the thousands of members assembled at the Brisbane meeting. Here is a taste.
There is a fundamental difference between a real union that builds collective power and those other businesses that treat industrial unrest as an opportunity to sell memberships like a commodity. That difference matters — especially during industrial action.
We frequently hear the phrase “we have a zero-tolerance for occupational violence and aggression,” yet that isn’t the reality for teachers, school leaders, or students.
A flawed draft restrictive practices policy has been withdrawn after QTU action. The challenge now is to ensure the next version is safe, workable, and respects the expertise of teachers and school leaders.
More than 35 leaders from Queensland’s 46 state special schools have gathered at the QTU’s Milton office for a Special School Principals Strategy and Planning Day.
Click here to view the A3 strike poster.
National Safe Work Month, held annually in October, encourages workplaces around Australia to prioritise WHS and take action to reduce the number of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
Like all teachers, instrumental music (IM) educators are required to manage risks in their teaching environment. However, this article aims to spotlight the unique WHS factors the QTU’s IM members face.
The QTU has commissioned research into gendered violence in schools.
In the ever-evolving education landscape, change is a constant companion. For many teachers across Queensland, the annual transfer process is one such change — sometimes welcome, sometimes unexpected, and occasionally, deeply challenging.
In the wake of the Crisafulli government’s announcement that it intended to reduce the administrative burden on teachers and school leaders by 25 per cent between 2025 and 2028, the Red Tape Reduction Working Group (RTRWG) has met six times to consider the Department of Education’s (DoE) actions in developing and implementing an action plan.
TAFE Update.
Australia’s VET system plays a pivotal role in preparing the nation’s workforce for emerging challenges and opportunities. Recognising the critical state of the system, the Albanese federal government has introduced a series of reforms targeting systemic renewal and structural strengthening.
Every year on 4 August, communities across the country pause to celebrate our jarjum (children) — the heart and spirit of our future. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and beauty that lives within our young ones, and the sacred responsibility we all share in nurturing their journey.
29 August was Wear It Purple Day, an annual celebration of LGBTQIA+ youth that promotes inclusivity, acceptance and visibility. This year the theme was Bold Voices, Bright Futures.
Am I required to undertake playground duty as a supply teacher?
Queensland Retired Teachers' Association.
