Special education
Within the Union, QTU Officers and the Special Education Committee oversee and monitor a range of special education issues including but not limited to:
- Inclusive Education policy and its implementation
- SWD staffing (RAR)
- NCCD
- NDIS
- HOSES workload
- Special schools and student transport
- TRS days allocation for special schools
- Relevant QTU policy and position statements.
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The QTU Special Education Committee is a Standing Committee of the QTU which:
A broad overview of the work of the Committee is provided in its annual report to the QTU State Council. – 2022 SEC report |
The QTU Special Education Committee consists of 15 members elected by QTU State Council plus a chair who is a member of the QTU Executive.
The Committee meets quarterly and if you have an issue or concern you wish the committee to consider, please provide the relevant information to services@qtu.asn.au.
Terms of office are for three-year periods (current term expires May 2023). Vacancies on the Committee are advertised in the Teachers’ Journal and on the QTU website and any financial member of the Union can nominate.
The Committee and the QTU take a broad view of what constitutes “special education” and the QTU defines students with special educational needs (the target population for the delivery of special education services) to be those students who are identified in the NCCD.
Current members of the QTU Special Education Committee:
Andrew Thompson (Chair) | Sheldon Boland | Lisa Hurrell | Sarah Lockwood | Steve Leese | Jenny McLeod | Tracey Banks | Kellie Ryan | Lauren Quinn | Janet Firmstone | Karen Messit | Dan Simmonds | Brent Woollett
Supported by Anthony Luck, QTU Assistant Secretary (services@qtu.asn.au)
Andrew Thompson
Principal of Redland District Special School Chair : Special Education Committee & member of the Education Leaders Committee Elected to QTU Executive in 2012.
Andrew Thompson
Principal of Redland District Special School Chair : Special Education Committee & member of the Education Leaders Committee Elected to QTU Executive in 2012.
Jenny McLeod
HOSES Biloela SS- SEP
Jenny McLeod
HOSES Biloela SS- SEP
Kellie Ryan
Support Teacher Allora P-10 State School
Kellie Ryan
Support Teacher Allora P-10 State School
Jeff Backen
Committee Secretary QTU Assistant Secretary
Jeff Backen
Committee Secretary QTU Assistant Secretary
Kate Kermode
Senior School Classroom Teacher Lee Street State Special School
Kate Kermode
Senior School Classroom Teacher Lee Street State Special School
Roselynne Anderson QTU Scholarship
In August 2021, QTU Life Member, Roselynne Anderson passed away suddenly following an unexpected illness.
The QTU has introduced the Roselynne Anderson QTU Scholarship in 2022 and up to three members will be awarded up to $1500 to pursue further professional development, training or further tertiary education relevant to special education, school leadership or women in education.
Further information about the scholarship and the application form will be available soon.
Special Education Network News
The Committee also maintains a “Special Education Network” members of which will receive a summary of issues considered by the Committee through the Special Education Network newsletter. Special Education Network Newsletters.

Links
- Queensland Association of Special Education Leaders [QASEL]
- Australian Association of Special Education
- Queensland.Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
- Disability Standards for Education
- Queensland. Department of Education and Training. Learning and Disability Support
- Mind Matters
- Queensland Guidance and Counselling Association
- Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority [QCAA] Equity in education
- Suicide Prevention (Everymind)
- Legislation