QTAD Q&A

Am I eligible to become an experienced senior teacher (EST) this year?

This year’s process will take in those senior teachers who become eligible from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. Four-year trained teachers become eligible after four years’ full time equivalent service as a senior teacher and three-year trained teachers become eligible after seven years’ full time equivalent service as a senior teacher.

• Applications advertised: 23 February
• Applications close: 29 March
• Notification of outcome via email: 23 June
• Payments to successful applicants: term three.

The EST classification remains accessible through a merit selection process and when open, applications are accessible via the Smart Jobs website – www.smartjobs.qld.gov.au

Can our school make us wear closed-in shoes?

The issue of personal appearance is included in the department’s standard of practice, which supports the code of conduct.

“Personal appearance
Each of us has a responsibility to conduct and present ourselves in a professional manner and treat co-workers, clients and members of the public with courtesy and respect. In addition, we have an obligation to ensure our own safety, health and welfare in the workplace. All officers are required to ensure their private conduct maintains the integrity of the public service.

Accordingly, as representatives of the department, it is essential we ensure that our personal appearance and presentation is professional.

As a general guide, the appearance and dress of departmental employees should be clean, tidy and appropriate to their duties and the people with whom they are dealing. Examples of inappropriate dress for DET’s work environment include thongs, singlets, revealing clothing or clothing with offensive slogans.

Employees who wear a uniform or other apparel identifying them as an employee of the department must ensure that their uniform or apparel is clean, complete and in good order.
In addition, if an employee is wearing a departmental uniform, or is otherwise identifiable as a departmental employee while off duty, they are expected to avoid conduct which may adversely affect the image of the department.

Each of us also needs to ensure that in compliance with our duty of care under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, and the requirements of the code, we do not wear clothing or footwear that could put our own workplace health and safety at risk.”

Wearing closed-in shoes would only relate to situations where safety might be an issue.  Where the teacher might be working in a science lab with a danger of spillage of solvents or acid on the foot or in a manual arts workshop where the danger might be in injury from an electric tool dropped on an exposed foot the request might be that the teacher wear “closed-in” shoes.

In general classroom situations though there is generally an acceptance of open-toed sandals or a dressier version of scuffs, especially in hot weather.

If schools encounter problems with this issue, contact the QTU for advice and assistance.

More information

Department of Education and Training Standard of Practice

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 122 No 2, 10 March 2017, p29