Professional conduct
The Professional Conduct Unit (PCU) manages the disciplinary and enforcement functions of the QCT and assists the QCT in deciding an applicant’s eligibility for registration in respect to their suitability to teach.
The primary roles of the PCU are to:
- assess declarations and reports about criminal history and professional conduct for determinations about an applicant’s suitability to teach
- manage the receipt of disciplinary information received by the QCT about a relevant teacher
- consider whether disciplinary proceedings should be initiated on receipt of teachers' notifications about a change in criminal history or changes to teaching status in another State
- consider whether disciplinary proceedings are required on receipt of notifications from employing authorities, the Commissioner of Police and prosecuting authorities about the professional conduct and criminal history of relevant teachers
- receive and assess complaints against teachers alleging a ground for disciplinary action exists
- conduct investigations in relation to disciplinary information, or on the QCT’s own initiative about the professional conduct or competence of an approved teacher or former approved teacher or a contravention of the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005
- manage disciplinary proceedings and implement disciplinary action against teachers or a person who was a registered teacher at the time of an alleged incident including cases put to the Professional Practice and Conduct Committee and the Teachers Disciplinary Committee
- ensure that all persons affected by disciplinary action are aware of their review and appeal rights
- develop and apply codes of practice about the professional conduct or practice of approved teachers