Professional conduct for renewal
What is suitability to teach?
The QCT must be satisfied that a teacher is suitable to teach.
Assessing suitability to teach includes considering a number of factors, including:
- criminal history and expanded criminal history (spent charges and convictions) in Australia and overseas
- the reason for any refusal of registration*
- cessation of employment* - whether employment was ended for reasons relating to competency, suitability to teach or professional conduct issues
- if registration has been affected (for example, by the imposition of a condition, suspension or cancellation), the reason for this*
- any investigation and/or disciplinary proceedings into any matter including misconduct, competency, or fitness to be a teacher*
- suitability to work in a child-related field
- any other matter the QCT considers relevant.
*in Queensland, interstate or overseas
A person is not suitable to teach if the person behaves in a way that:
- does not satisfy a standard of behaviour generally expected of a teacher; and
- shows the person is unfit to be granted registration.
What is its purpose?
Assessing a teacher’s suitability to teach helps ensure the conduct and behaviour of registered teachers are of a standard acceptable for the teaching profession.
This contributes towards the protection of children in Queensland schools.
What to expect
The renewal application asks teachers for details of:
- any criminal history charges or offences anywhere in the preceding five years
- any employment as a teacher that was ended by an employer for issues of competency or professional conduct in the preceding five years
- any registration as a teacher outside of Queensland that has been refused or affected in the preceding five years.
A new screening will also be conducted with the Queensland Police Service, or Queensland Blue Card Services if the teacher holds a current blue card.