Take back your inbox: communication norms reset
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 4, 20 June 2025, page no 14.
Over the past year, the Queensland Teachers’ Union has worked to ensure that the department’s red tape reduction agenda delivers more than operational tweaks — it needs to deliver meaningful improvements to the working lives of our members.
An example is parent-school communication. Through our consistent advocacy, the QTU has helped drive the inclusion of clarified expectations around communication between schools and parents as a formal action under the department’s Draft Red Tape Reduction Action Plan 2025–2028. This reform, combined with the industrial protections under the Right to Disconnect clause of the State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022, creates a powerful authorising environment for schools to set clear communication boundaries and reclaim professional time.
Communication pressures are not “just part of the job”
For too long, teachers and school leaders have been subject to unrealistic and unregulated expectations for digital communication — particularly from parents. The department’s own guidance now acknowledges the need to refine communication channels, improve consistency in communication with school-based staff, and dispel misconceptions through effective messaging. These commitments reflect what QTU members have long been saying: that the cumulative impact of unchecked parent contact is a major workload issue, especially after hours.
Right to disconnect: Industrial protection for professional boundaries
Under the certified agreement, the principles of the right to disconnect (clause 9.5 digital technologies) make clear that:
- employees are not expected to read or respond to digital communication outside reasonable working hours
- urgent matters should follow pre-established emergency protocols
- schools should develop clear internal and external communication guidelines to reflect these expectations.
- This clause is not just symbolic — it’s enforceable. It gives members the industrial backing to say “no” to 10pm emails, social media messages from parents, and ad-hoc drop-ins to classrooms during lessons.
Tools to support culture change
To support implementation, the QTU has launched a practical suite of tools — all available at www.qtu.asn.au/right-to-disconnect. These include:
- Right to Disconnect – A Guide for Queensland State Schools: A user-friendly resource that explains the agreement provisions, gives example school practices, and outlines emergency vs. non-urgent communications.
- School communication plan template: Aligns with both departmental expectations and the industrial agreement. Ideal for schoolwide implementation through the LCC.
- Strategies and ideas toolkit: Includes email node systems, out-of-office templates, emergency escalation guides, and resources to set clear boundaries with parents.
These tools, which are now publicly available to all QTU members, align with the department’s own direction on reducing administrative burden and improving policy clarity.
Reset the narrative, realign the culture
By combining strong industrial clauses and system-level red tape reforms, we are entering a new phase, where schools can:
- reset unrealistic communication norms
- protect staff wellbeing and focus
- promote a culture of respect for professional time.
This isn’t about avoiding parent engagement — it’s about creating clarity and consistency in that engagement.
Next steps for members
- Initiate a local consultative committee (LCC) review of your school’s communication processes.
- Consider the QTU’s Right to Disconnect guide and the department's communication expectations
- Ensure all staff are aware of their right to disconnect — and feel supported to uphold it.
With stronger departmental expectations and clear industrial rights, members now have the mandate and means to take back their inbox.