QTAD Q&A

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 6, 5 September 2025, page no 32.

The certified agreement specifies:

4.13.3 Supply teachers – Meal break 

4.13.3.1 A supply teacher will be entitled to an uninterrupted 45 minute meal break each day between 1100 and 1400 which will not be considered rostered duty time. The total period for uninterrupted meal breaks is no less than 225 minutes per teacher per week. These hours cannot be averaged due to the nature and circumstances of the employment. A supply teacher is also entitled to a paid 10-minute rest pause period in addition to the 45-minute uninterrupted meal break. A total rest pause and meal break period may be provided at an alternative time determined by agreement between the principal and individual teacher. 

4.13.3.2 Where schools have opted, via the LCC, to reduce their uninterrupted meal break to 30 minutes per day, supply teachers will receive an uninterrupted 30-minute meal break at one break time and their rest pause and outstanding 15 minutes in an alternate break time.

If you are engaged for a full day, you are entitled to both an uninterrupted meal break and a paid 10-minute rest pause.  Whether you receive a 30-minute or 45-minute uninterrupted meal break will depend on whether the school has, via the local consultative committee, reduced the uninterrupted meal break from 45 minutes to 30.  

Regardless, in one break you must receive an uninterrupted break of 30 or 45 minutes, and at a different break you must receive a 10-minute break, plus the extra 15 minutes if your meal break was only 30 minutes. As long as you receive these entitlements, the school can request that you undertake playground duty during the remaining break times.  

In short, a supply teacher should receive a total of 55 minutes of meal breaks during a full day engagement.