Reducing red tape
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 2, 11 April 2025, page no 12.
Under its First 100 Days plan, the new Queensland Government committed to establishing a dedicated working group to remove red tape and reduce administrative burden on teachers and school leaders.
The Red Tape Reduction Working Group (RTRWG) comprises of key stakeholders who can provide expert advice to government on implementing its commitment to freeing teachers and school leaders to spend more time in the classroom by reducing the impact of red tape and administration.
At the inaugural RTRWG meeting in December 2024, Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek MP affirmed the government’s commitment to delivering a 25 per cent reduction in the administrative and red tape burden for teachers and school leaders over the next four years.
This will target workload that arises from administrative, procedural, reporting or compliance obligations rather than from delivering effective teaching and learning to students.
The focus will be on reducing red tape at all levels of the system.
Central: Clarifying what is required of teachers and schools, reducing the reporting and compliance burden, and streamlining and modernising systems to reduce duplication and any low-value tasks performed by teachers.
Regions: Improving service, advice and support provisions for schools, and refining communication and regional requirements.
Schools: Assessing the workload impacts of school-determined programs and requirements and optimising use of staff time.
Teachers: Using available tools and resources to reduce administrative tasks, understanding role requirements and conditions, and building capability to prioritise and rationalise workload to focus on teaching and learning.
The findings from the Department of Education’s 2024 workload survey were summarised and organised into nine different red tape reduction streams:
- legislation, policy, and procedures
- curriculum, teaching, and learning
- systems and data
- workforce
- operations
- Behaviour
- communications
- wellbeing and inclusive education
- reviews.
Statewide consultation facilitated by Mark Campling (former state school teacher, principal and system leader) has begun, through face-to-face small group and virtual workshops, the department survey, and in writing via redtapereduction@qed.qld.gov.au.
The department has been briefed by Dr Greg Thompson (Queensland University of Technology) with findings from the ARC linkage project of the Time-Use App, which many of our members participated in.
By mid-2025 a comprehensive red tape reduction action plan reflecting our members’ views and committing to specific timelines with short, medium, and long-term actions will be developed and co-designed by RTRWG.
On 28 January, the Minister announced early red tape reduction actions, including:
- the “one-plan-per-student” approach to student needs management assessments
- reducing the number of quotes required for low value routine purchases
- a single point of contact for teacher recruitment.
The plan is that implementation will be underway at the end of 2025, with regular reporting and feedback mechanisms so that teachers and school leaders can remain engaged, informed, and empowered to effect change at a local level.
By the end of 2028, teachers and school leaders should see a 25 per cent reduction in the amount of time they devote to administration and red tape.
QTU member voices will be paramount in ensuring the design and actions of the red tape reduction action plan are successful. Your insights will be invaluable in building an understanding of red tape and the administrative burden.
Provide your feedback directly to the QTU by going here (https://www.qtu.asn.au/workload-reduction).