QTAD Q&A

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 3, 22 May 2026, page no.27

I am a temporary teacher. How do I convert to permanency?
There are two pathways:

• Employee-initiated request 
• Department-initiated review.
   

Permanency may also occur through normal recruitment processes, without a formal conversion review.

Pathway 1: employee-initiated review (after 12 months)
Temporary teachers who have completed more than 12 months of continuous service can request a review. Firstly, check your eligibility by requesting a statement of service from your school business manager or payroll. If you meet the requirements, you can request a review by emailing EmploymentReview@qed.qld.gov.au, including:

• your full name
• your employee number
• any compassionate circumstances or human rights considerations.
   

Make sure that you CC the QTU at services@qtu.asn.au 

Pathway 2: department-initiated review (after two years)
The department is required to review your employment status after two years of continuous service. 

• Breaks in service of up to 12 weeks over 24 months are allowed.
• The department is required to automatically conduct a review. 
• You will be notified by email when the review begins.
• A decision must be made within 28 days.
   

If no decision is made, your current employment continues unchanged (“deemed decision”). You may have appeal rights or be eligible for another review. Teachers can proactively request this review if it has not started.

Things to note:

• Permanency is not guaranteed at your current school.
• Accepting permanency means agreeing to work in a statewide system.
• Compassionate circumstances and human rights circumstances must be considered, where applicable.
• If you decline an offer of permanency: 
• the department is no longer required to offer ongoing employment
• if you continue working, another review will occur after 12 months
• a focus on permanency may reduce the availability of contract work.
   

For further information, read the Temp to Perm Conversion Process brochure here.

2027 student free days
We have received a number of enquiries from members regarding student free days (SFDs) for 2027, with most relating to the third SFD in January.

Future school dates, including professional development and student free days, are published on the Department of Education website here.

The PD days scheduled for 2027 are:

• Term 1: Thursday 21 January, Friday 22 January and Monday 25 January (3 days)
• Term 2: Thursday 8 April to Friday 9 April (2 days)
• Term 3: Friday 3 September (1 day).
   

The additional SFD in January 2027 aligns with the provisions of the 2022 Certified Agreement, which states: “4.9.6  Where the Australia Day public holiday falls on the first Tuesday of a school year, the Monday of that week may be designated as an additional staff professional development day and used for other purposes determined at the local level. The hours may be converted to flexible time through local consultation.”