Queensland Teachers' Journal
November 2025
Incorrect closing date in QTU notices mailed with November Journal
Please note that the QTU notices insert sent with the November Journal to those members who receive a hard copy contains an incorrect closing date.
To be clear, nominations must be lodged with the Returning Officer, Queensland Teachers’ Union on or before noon on Friday 28 November 2025.
An additional closing date for Union Representatives in schools and TAFE branches only will be at noon on Friday 13 February 2026.
At this time of the year, we tend to take time to reflect on the year that was and start to planning for the year ahead.
Are you a graduate teacher who began your career in a Queensland state school located in Central Queensland, Darling Downs and South West, Far North Queensland, or North Queensland between 2023 and the end of 2025?
Are you a Queensland teacher working in a very remote area? If so, you may be eligible for significant financial relief through the Australian Government’s HELP Debt Reduction Initiative, a program designed to support teachers who commit to teaching in some of the country’s most geographically isolated communities.
Following a recent visit to my most remote members with QTU General Secretary Kate Ruttiman, I thought it appropriate to provide an update to members regarding our easternmost membership.
We have been fighting for a fair deal, a fair go. After all, teachers and school leaders are held to a standard of fairness few in our community are held to. So, a fair deal really is the only fair solution.
30 September marked the one-year anniversary of the day Queensland public sector workers became the first in Australia to secure 10 days of paid reproductive health leave.
Dogged raising of housing issues by QTU members and the Union’s State Accommodation Committee has resulted in the Department of Education committing to the delivery of improved resourcing.
At the time of priniting this Journal, the following offer had just been tabled by the state government. Members were asked to consider whether the offer met the five interest areas and to vote accordingly in an online ballot closing on Friday 31 October.
For the results of the ballot and the latest developments, please visit the QTU website or check our socials.
It is not uncommon for QTU members to plan their parental leave to align with the start and end of a calendar year. Your return to work is determined by the leave dates you submitted in your application and any subsequent amendments, but there is more to consider.
QTU members across the state continue to raise concerns about safety and security in their workplaces.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) Federal Women’s Conference — themed “Safe. Equal. Respected.” — took place at the AEU office in Melbourne during the September vacation.
Union culture is something we build together, through shared values, everyday actions, and standing up for each other. It’s what makes members in our workplaces feel connected, supported, and united. One of the best ways to keep that culture strong is by making sure new teachers and school leaders receive a proper induction into what the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) is all about.
Over the past year, the Queensland Teachers’ Union has made significant strides in strengthening how we connect, communicate, and stand united online.
Preliminary findings from the Queensland Teachers’ Union’s NCCD Needs Red Tape Reduction survey confirm that the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) continues to be one of the most significant sources of administrative workload in Queensland schools.
The QTU actively participated in and publicised National Safe Work Month during October, not only to make our members aware but also to encourage our workplaces to prioritise WHS and take action to reduce the number of work-related injuries and illnesses.
Each year, students across Queensland miss out on learning because of their periods.
Click here to view poster.
During the June-July holidays, I was incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to attend the National Leadership Camp held annually in Sydney. I was even more lucky because my trip, along with all other expenses, had been covered by the Queensland Teachers’ Union, along with the camp’s major program provider Burn Bright.
The Anna Stewart Memorial Project (ASMP) aims to empower women in the union movement, fostering leadership and advocacy skills. By participating in this program, women can enhance their understanding of union dynamics and contribute to the growth and development of their unions.
The annual Queensland Council of Unions Union Pride Awards took place during the Spring vacation.
School leader update
With the rebranding of the TAFE Queensland and Central Queensland University (CQU) Enterprise Bargaining (EB) campaigns finalised in mid–Term 3, members have been actively engaging in shaping the next round of negotiations.
Central Queensland University VET teacher and QTU TAFE Executive member Andy Abbas has been named Queensland VET Teacher and Trainer of the Year at the 2025 Queensland Training Awards. Here Andy (pictured) discusses his passion for vocational education and training, his beginnings in industry and training, and his vision for the future of the sector.
Summer vacation pay
A tribunal has handed down a scathing decision against South Australia’s Department of Education, finding that a serious playground injury wasn’t the fault of a local school but the result of systemic safety failures at the top.
Welcome to those reading this last article for the year from the Retired Teachers’ Association.
Incorrect closing date in QTU notices mailed with November Journal. Please note that the QTU notices insert sent with the November Journal to those members who receive a hard copy contains an incorrect closing date.
To be clear, nominations must be lodged with the Returning Officer, Queensland Teachers’ Union on or before noon on Friday 28 November 2025.
An additional closing date for Union Representatives in schools and TAFE branches only will be at noon on Friday 13 February 2026.