QTAD Q&A

My deputy has said that to be eligible for permanency I must have transitioned from provisional registration to full registration. Is this correct?

No. To be eligible to be employed as a (casual, temporary or permanent) teacher in any Queensland school, you need to obtain teacher registration from the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Most teachers are initially awarded provisional teacher registration. The period of provisional registration represents a supported induction into the teaching profession in Queensland. To be eligible for full registration, teachers must complete the QCT’s provisional to full registration process (in summary: completed 200 days of teaching experience and meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the proficient stage - www.qct.edu.au/registration/transition-to-full-registration). The registration process is quite separate from employment considerations. There is no requirement for teachers to be on full registration before being offered a permanent position by the Department of Education and Training.

Further resources: QTU advice brochure – “Provisional to full registration”: https://stacks.qtu.asn.au/braptfr

A contract teacher at my school has been placed on MUP (managing unsatisfactory performance). I thought this was for permanent teachers only?

If a temporary teacher has performance issues, these should be identified and addressed through a performance review process. The process does not always have to be consistent with the MUP process for permanent teachers, but the issues should be identified and the teacher provided with some support, an improvement plan and the opportunity to improve.

The engagement may be terminated if their performance continues to be unsatisfactory after they have had an opportunity to improve. Some regions will advise principals that they should let the contract run its course. This advice may be appropriate if there is only a couple of weeks until the end of the contract, but in other circumstances such advice may not be appropriate, as even temporary teachers should have the opportunity to know what their performance issues are and be given a chance to improve. Members are encouraged to contact the QTU for advice if their contract is being terminated early.

I am a permanent teacher and I’m taking marriage leave before the September holidays. Will I receive payment for the vacation? 

People getting married may be granted up to five working days' special leave without pay, provided that the maximum period of absence from duty including any mid-year vacation period does not exceed 15 working days. For permanent teachers, where the unpaid marriage leave is granted on only one side of a vacation, the vacation will be with pay. Where unpaid leave is granted on both sides of a vacation, no payment will be made for the vacation. Marriage leave will not be granted to extend the summer vacation. Up to one day’s leave without pay may be granted for a teacher to attend a wedding in an official capacity or as a guest in accordance with discretionary leave provisions.

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 122 No 6, 25 August 2017, p25