Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Regulation 2005

1Short title

This regulation may be cited as the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Regulation 2005 .

2Commencement

This regulation commences on 1 January 2006.

3Dictionary

The dictionary in schedule 2 defines particular words used in this regulation.

4References to period of academic study or education

A reference in this regulation to a number of years of academic study or education—

(a)is a reference to the stated number of years of full-time academic study or education; and

(b)includes a reference to an amount of academic study or education that the college is satisfied is the equivalent of the stated number of years of full-time academic study or education.

5Qualifications

For section 8 (1) (a) (i) of the Act, the qualifications are successful completion of—

(a)a course of preservice teacher education consisting of at least 4 years academic study, including professional studies that are at least 1 year of academic study; or

(b)a graduate course of preservice teacher education consisting of professional studies that are at least 1 year of academic study; or

(c)another course of teacher education, provided by a higher education institution, that the college is satisfied is the equivalent of a course mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

6Experience

(1)For section 8 (1) (a) (i) of the Act, the experience is—

(a)successful completion of 1 year of duties as a teacher; or

(b)other experience the college is satisfied is the equivalent of successful completion of 1 year of duties as a teacher at a school.

(2)For subsection (1), the college may be satisfied a person has the experience if the college receives notice about the experience from—

(a)the principal of the school at which the teaching was carried out; or

(b)another person the college considers can adequately inform the college about the teaching or other experience.

s 6 amd 2010 SL No. 244 s 3

7Requirement for professional practice

For section 8 (1) (d) of the Act, the ability to communicate in spoken and written English at a professional level with students, parents, teachers and other persons is a requirement for professional practice.

s 7 amd 2010 SL No. 244 s 4

8Qualifications

For section 9 (1) (a) (i) of the Act, the qualifications are successful completion of—

(a)a course of preservice teacher education consisting of at least 4 years academic study, including professional studies that are at least 1 year of academic study; or

(b)a graduate course of preservice teacher education consisting of professional studies that are at least 1 year of academic study; or

(c)another course of teacher education, provided by a higher education institution, that the college is satisfied is the equivalent of a course mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

9Requirement for professional practice

For section 9 (1) (d) of the Act, the ability to communicate in spoken and written English at a professional level with students, parents, teachers and other persons is a requirement for professional practice.

s 9 amd 2010 SL No. 244 s 5

10Requirement for professional practice

For section 10 (1) (d) of the Act, the ability to communicate in spoken and written English at a professional level with students, parents, teachers and other persons is a requirement for professional practice.

11Full registration—requirement for renewal

For section 29 (2) (c) (i) and (ii) of the Act—

(a)the prescribed duration is 6 months; and

(b)the prescribed period is 5 years immediately before the day a teacher’s full registration ends.

Note—

See also section 40 (Renewal of full registration ending on or before 31 December 2012).

s 11 amd 2010 SL No. 244 s 6; 2012 SL No. 199 s 3

12Cancellation of returning to teaching condition

For section 43 (2) of the Act, the prescribed type of evidence is a notice from—

(a)the provider of a relevant program; or

(b)the principal of the school at which the relevant registered teacher teaches.

13Returning to teaching condition—prescribed time

For schedule 3 of the Act, definition returning to teaching condition, the prescribed time is from 1 year immediately before, to 1 year immediately after—

(a)for a teacher who is not teaching at a school when the condition is imposed—the day the teacher returns to teaching at a school; or

(b)for a teacher who is teaching at a school when the condition is imposed—the day the condition is imposed.

14Returning to teaching condition—professional development program

(1)For schedule 3 of the Act, definition returning to teaching condition, a professional development program for returning to teaching meets the prescribed requirements for the program if it—

(a)includes elements that focus on the following—

(i)effective teaching practice;

(ii)contemporary issues about education;

(iii)legislation applying in the State, and relevant to teachers, about the care or protection of children; and

(b)has regard to the professional standards.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1) (a) (ii), a program must include elements that focus on the following contemporary issues—

(a)curriculum and assessment initiatives for Queensland schools;

(b)syllabus implementation for Queensland schools;

(c)policies about education for Queensland schools.

s 14 amd 2008 SL No. 93 s 21

div hdg ins 2010 SL No. 244 s 7

14APrescribed educational programs

(1)For the Act, schedule 3, definition teacher, paragraph (a)(ii), the following educational programs are prescribed—

(a)an educational program based on a kindergarten guideline accredited under the Education (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Act 2014 ;

(b)an educational program based on the Australian curriculum;

(c)an educational program based on a syllabus developed, purchased or revised by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority under the Education (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Act 2014 .

(2)In this section—

Australian curriculum see the Education (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Act 2014 , schedule 2.

kindergarten guideline see the Education (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Act 2014 , schedule 2.

s 14A ins 2010 SL No. 244 s 7

amd 2014 SL No. 126 s 187

15Purpose of pt 3

This part states, for section 240 (2) of the Act, the requirements for an election (a board member election) of practising teachers for appointment as members of the board under section 239 (1) (j) of the Act.

16Election day to be fixed

(1)The board must fix, as the election day, a day at least 45 days before the end of the term of appointment of the elected members of the board.

(2)In this section—

elected members of the board means the board members elected for section 239 (1) (j) of the Act.

17Notice of election

(1)The director must publish a gazette notice stating—

(a)the election day; and

(b)the final day (the final nomination day) for the receipt of nominations of candidates.

(2)The final nomination day must be at least 10 days after the day of the gazette notice and at least 28 days before the election day.

18Roll of electors

The director must prepare a roll (the roll of electors) of persons (each an elector) who are registered teachers on the day the gazette notice is published under section 17 (1).

19Nomination of candidates—nominators and nominees

(1)A practising teacher may be nominated as a candidate for the election only if—

(a)the teacher’s name is on the roll of electors for the election; and

(b)the teacher is nominated as a candidate by 6 other registered teachers whose names are on the roll of electors for the election.

(2)However, a practising teacher must not be nominated as both a State schools candidate and a non-State schools candidate.

20Form of nominations

(1)A nomination of a candidate must—

(a)be in writing; and

(b)be signed by—

(i)the candidate as accepting the nomination; and

(ii)the 6 registered teachers making the nomination.

(2)The nomination must be given to the director before 4.00p.m. on the final nomination day for the election.

(3)A candidate may withdraw his or her consent to a nomination before 4.00p.m. on the final nomination day by giving the director a notice of withdrawal.

(4)If, before sending the voting papers to the electors for the election, the director receives notice of the death of a candidate, the director may cancel the nomination of the candidate.

21If no more candidates than number to be elected—State schools members

(1)This section applies if the number of State schools candidates for the election is not more than the number of State schools members to be elected.

(2)The director need not conduct a ballot for the election of the State schools members.

(3)The candidates are taken to have been elected unopposed.

(4)The director must—

(a)declare the candidates to be elected; and

(b)give the Minister a notice, signed by the director, stating—

(i)the name of each candidate; and

(ii)the candidate is elected as a State schools member; and

(iii)the day the result of the election is declared.

22If no more candidates than number to be elected—non-State schools member

(1)This section applies if there is only 1 non-State schools candidate for the election.

(2)The director need not conduct a ballot for the election of the non-State schools member.

(3)The candidate is taken to have been elected unopposed.

(4)The director must—

(a)declare the candidate to be elected; and

(b)give the Minister a notice, signed by the director, stating—

(i)the name of the candidate; and

(ii)the candidate is elected as a non-State schools member; and

(iii)the day the result of the election is declared.

23Application of div 4

This division applies if a ballot is needed for the election.

24Ballot papers—order of candidates

(1)As soon as practicable after the final nomination day, the director must decide, by lot, the order of the candidates on the ballot paper for the election.

(2) Subsections (3) and (4) apply if a ballot is needed for both State schools candidates and non-State schools candidates (each a ballot group).

(3)The names of candidates for each ballot group must be stated separately from the names of candidates for the other ballot group.

(4)The names of candidates for a ballot group must be stated in the order decided by the director by lot for the group.

25Ballot papers—content

The ballot paper for the election must state the following—

(a)the election day and election time;

(b)the name of each candidate, listed in the order decided under section 24;

(c)whether each candidate is a State schools candidate or a non-State schools candidate;

(d)instructions about how a person may cast a vote.

26Voting papers

(1)The director must, at least 21 days before the election day, send the following (the voting papers) to each elector—

(a)a ballot paper;

(b)an unsealed envelope for the ballot paper (the ballot envelope);

(c)an unsealed stamped or postage paid envelope addressed to the director (the return envelope).

(2)The ballot envelope must show the following—

(a)the name of the elector to whom it is sent;

(b)the identification number of the elector;

(c)a place for the elector to sign the envelope.

(3)However, if the voting papers are posted to an address outside Australia, the return envelope need not be stamped or postage paid.

27Statement by candidate

(1)A candidate for the election may prepare a statement consisting of not more than the following—

(a)the candidate’s home address, age, academic qualifications, current professional position and professional address;

(b)not more than 100 words about any other matter.

(2)If a candidate prepares a statement under subsection (1) and gives it to the director on or before the final nomination day, the director must include the statement with the voting papers sent to electors for the election, unless the director has a reasonable excuse.

Examples of a reasonable excuse—

1The statement includes material the director believes may be unlawful or defamatory.

2The director is not able to include the statement due to a circumstance beyond the director’s control.

28Voting

(1)An elector may vote for—

(a)if the elector is a registered teacher who identifies himself or herself as affiliated with State schooling—a State schools candidate; or

(b)if the elector is a registered teacher who identifies himself or herself as affiliated with non-State schooling—a non-State schools candidate.

(2)An elector may vote for a candidate only by—

(a)marking a ballot paper with a cross opposite the candidate’s name; and

(b)signing the ballot envelope in the place provided for the elector’s signature; and

(c)putting the ballot paper in the ballot envelope and sealing the ballot envelope; and

(d)putting the ballot envelope in the return envelope and sealing the return envelope; and

(e)returning the return envelope to the director by the election time.

(3)However, an elector’s vote is not invalid merely because—

(a)the elector has not signed the ballot envelope; or

(b)the ballot envelope is not sealed; or

(c)the return envelope is not sealed.

29Director to keep ballot box

(1)The director must keep a ballot box for the election.

(2)The director must place in the ballot box each sealed return envelope received by the director before the election time.

(3)The ballot box must be sealed in a way that prevents return envelopes being taken from it until the election time.

30Scrutineers

(1)The chairperson of the board must appoint 2 persons to be scrutineers for—

(a)the opening of the return envelopes and the ballot envelopes; and

(b)the examination of the voting papers; and

(c)the counting of the votes.

(2)Each candidate for the election may appoint 1 person to be a scrutineer for—

(a)the opening of the return envelopes and the ballot envelopes; and

(b)the examination of the voting papers; and

(c)the counting of the votes.

(3)An appointment under subsection (2) must be by a notice given to the director at least 5 days before the election day.

(4)The election is not invalid because—

(a)a candidate does not appoint a scrutineer; or

(b)a person appointed as a scrutineer by a candidate does not carry out the duties of a scrutineer.

31Director to count votes

(1)At, or as soon as practicable after, the election time, the director must—

(a)open each return envelope in the ballot box; and

(b)check whether the person from whom the return envelope was received is an elector; and

(c)open each ballot envelope received from an elector; and

(d)accept each formal ballot paper and reject each informal ballot paper; and

(e)count and record the number of votes for each candidate on the formal ballot papers.

(2)Despite subsection (1) (d), the director may accept an informal ballot paper if, in the opinion of the director, the intention of the voter is clear.

(3)Also, if the director is not satisfied a voter is an elector for the election, the vote must not be counted.

(4)The director may appoint persons as assistants to help the director in opening the envelopes, examining the voting papers and counting the votes.

(5)However, the director must not, under subsection (4), appoint a person who is—

(a)a candidate; or

(b)a scrutineer appointed by a candidate or by the chairperson.

(6)Opening of the envelopes, examining of the voting papers and counting of the votes must take place in the presence of—

(a)the 2 scrutineers appointed under section 30 (1); and

(b)any scrutineer who is appointed by a candidate under section 30 (2) and who carries out the duties of a scrutineer.

(7)A candidate must not be present when—

(a)the envelopes are opened; or

(b)the voting papers are examined; or

(c)the votes are counted.

(8)In this section—

formal ballot paper means a ballot paper marked as required under section 28 (2) (a).

informal ballot paper means a ballot paper not marked as required under section 28 (2) (a).

32Declaration of result of election

(1)When all the voting papers have been examined and the votes counted, the director must prepare and sign a notice that states—

(a)each candidate’s name; and

(b)the number, in words and figures, of the votes for each candidate; and

(c)subject to section 33, that the following are declared elected—

(i)if a ballot is needed for State schools candidates—the State schools candidates who receive the greatest number, and the next highest number, of votes;

(ii)if a ballot is needed for non-State schools candidates—the non-State schools candidate who receives the greatest number of votes; and

(d)for each candidate declared elected, whether the candidate is elected as a State schools member or a non-State schools member; and

(e)the day the result of the election is declared.

(2)However, for subsection (1) (c) (i), if 2 candidates both receive the greatest number of votes, those 2 candidates are to be declared elected.

(3)The statement may be countersigned by scrutineers who are present and consent to sign it.

(4)The director must give the notice to the Minister as soon as practicable after the notice is prepared and signed.

33Tied candidates

(1)This section applies if—

(a)2 or more candidates (the tied candidates) receive an equal number of votes; and

(b)because of the number of board members to be elected, not all the tied candidates can be declared elected.

(2)The director must decide by lot which of the tied candidates is to be declared elected.

(3)The director must declare to be elected under section 32 each tied candidate decided by lot to be declared elected.

34Keeping ballot papers and roll of electors after election

The director must keep the following for at least 1 year after the result of the election is declared—

(a)the ballot papers;

(b)a copy of the roll of electors, signed by the director.

s 34 amd 2006 SL No. 245 s 8

35Election not to be invalid

The election is not invalid because of—

(a)a formal error or defect in a declaration or other instrument or in a publication made, or intended to be made, under this regulation; or

(b)a publication being out of time; or

(c)a delay in holding the election at the time appointed or in taking an action in relation the election; or

(d)an inadvertent failure to give an elector a notice or ballot paper; or

(e)a defect of a merely formal nature.

36Notice of change in circumstances

(1)For section 71 (2) of the Act, a change in any of the following for an approved teacher is a prescribed change in circumstances—

(a)the teacher’s name;

(b)the teacher’s address;

(c)if the teacher is employed at a school on a permanent full-time or permanent part-time basis, the school at which the teacher is employed.

(2)Also, removal or variation of a qualification, possession of which was relied upon by an approved teacher to obtain registration or permission to teach, is a prescribed change in circumstances for the teacher.

(3) Subsection (4) applies to an approved teacher—

(a)whose registration is subject to a returning to teaching condition; and

(b)who is not, when the condition is imposed, teaching at a school on a permanent full-time or permanent part-time basis.

(4)Starting teaching at a school on a permanent full-time or permanent part-time basis is a prescribed change in circumstances for a teacher, the details of which include the following—

(a)the day the teacher starts teaching at the school;

(b)the school at which the teacher starts teaching.

36ANational professional standards

(1)For section 235 (8) of the Act, definition national professional standards, the national professional standards prescribed are the professional standards for teachers approved by the Standing Council of Education Ministers.

(2)In this section—

Standing Council of Education Ministers means—

(a)the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs; or

(b)the Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood; or

(c)a successor of the Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood.

s 36A ins 2012 SL No. 230 s 8

amd 2013 SL No. 17 s 3

37Fees

The fees payable under the Act are stated in schedule 1.

38Waiver of fee—financial hardship

The board may waive, wholly or partly, payment of a fee by a person if the board is satisfied payment of the fee would cause the person financial hardship.

pt hdg ins 2012 SL No. 199 s 4

div hdg ins 2012 SL No. 199 s 4

39Repeal

The Education (Teacher Registration) By-law 1999 SL No. 247 is repealed.

div 2 (s 40) ins 2012 SL No. 199 s 5

40Renewal of full registration ending on or before 31 December 2012

(1)This section applies if a teacher’s full registration ends on or before 31 December 2012.

(2) Section 11 as in force immediately before the commencement of this section continues to apply in relation to the teacher.

div 2 (s 40) ins 2012 SL No. 199 s 5

section 37

sch 1 sub 2006 SL No. 245 s 9; 2007 SL No. 247 s 11; 2008 SL No. 323 s 12; 2009 SL No. 188 s 12; 2010 SL No. 245 s 11

amd 2011 SL No. 169 s 12

sub 2011 SL No. 169 s 13

amd 2012 SL No. 144 s 11

sub 2013 SL No. 180 ss 10, 11

amd 2014 SL No. 103 s 9

sub 2014 SL No. 228 s 15; 2015 SL No. 132 s 12; 2016 SL No. 180 s 13

section 3

ballot envelope see section 26 (1) (b).

board member election see section 15.

course of preservice teacher education means a course of preservice teacher education provided by a registered higher education provider.

def course of preservice teacher education amd 2014 SL No. 103 s 9

election day means the day fixed under section 16 for a board member election.

election time, for a board member election, means the time on the election day by which votes must be returned to the director, as decided by the board.

elector see section 18.

final nomination day see section 17 (1) (b).

graduate course of preservice teacher education means a graduate course of preservice teacher education provided by a registered higher education provider.

def graduate course of preservice teacher education amd 2014 SL No. 103 s 9

non-State schools candidate means a candidate for a board member election who is a practising teacher employed by the employing authority for a non-State school.

non-State schools member means a person elected for appointment as a member of the board under section 239 (1) (j) (ii) of the Act.

professional studies means studies in teacher education that include—

(a)theoretical and practical aspects of education including, for example, psychology, philosophy, the social context of schooling, curriculum studies and studies in teaching and learning; and

(b)supervised teaching experience.

return envelope see section 26 (1) (c).

roll of electors see section 18.

State schools candidate means a candidate for a board member election who is a practising teacher employed by the State.

State schools member means a person elected for appointment as a member of the board under section 239 (1) (j) (i) of the Act.

voting papers see section 26 (1).