Welcome to the October issue of QCT eNews, the electronic newsletter for Queensland registered teachers. In this edition you'll find information about:

• WORLD TEACHERS' DAY - Friday 28 October 2011
• AWARDS FOR QUEENSLAND TEACHERS - 2011 QCT Excellence in Teaching Awards
• CHANGES TO 'RECENCY OF PRACTICE' for renewal of full registration

World Teachers' Day – Friday 28 October 2011

World Teachers’ Day recognises the important role teachers play in today’s world. This year our theme is 'Teachers Inspire'.

Our communities don’t need to look far to find inspiration during what has so far been a particularly challenging 2011. In classrooms all over Queensland, teachers kept teaching when facilities, resources and years of precious work had been destroyed through natural disasters – some carrying on even when their own homes were destroyed, while others encouraged their school communities to help those in need.

Others invested a great deal of their own time to stay at the forefront of their practices through professional development, training and fulfilling all that is required to make our educators among the world’s best.

Celebrated in over 100 countries, World Teachers’ Day is symbolic of the hard work done in classrooms and of hopes for our next generation. Introduced in 1994 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), it is a day on which students, parents and community members are encouraged to show their appreciation for the contributions that teachers have made to their community.

World Teachers’ Day posters for display in the classroom will be delivered to schools soon.

See our colourful webpage for more information.

Awards For Queensland Teachers

Seventeen teachers from across the state have been named as finalists in this year’s Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Excellence in Teaching Awards.

The 2011 QCT Excellence in Teaching Awards have three categories, with the introduction this year of The Courier-Mail Professor Betty Watts OBE Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching. The two categories from previous years will continue: the Dr Alan Druery OAM Excellence in Teaching Award and the Dr Roger Hunter Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award for teachers with up to four years’ service.

Three category winners will receive $5000 each for professional development and finalists from across the state, Catholic and independent school sectors will each receive $500 towards professional development when they are named at a finalists’ presentation at Parliament House on World Teachers’ Day, 28 October 2011.  The nominations received covered a range of year levels and subjects, and the QCT is pleased to acknowledge their hard work and efforts.

Nominees were judged on teaching achievements, innovation, creativity and professional relationships within the school community.  The awards are supported by Queensland Teachers’ Mutual Bank, TUH (Teachers’ Union Health) and The Courier-Mail.

Read more about the finalists.

Changes To 'Recency Of Practice' for
Renewal of Full Registration

The QCT has adopted changes to policy on recency of practice for renewal of registration. These changes will affect some registered teachers who have renewed their full registration or who intend to apply for renewal of their full registration in future.

Under policy applying until the end of 2011, only teaching in Queensland schools (and other settings where the educational program is based on a syllabus or kindergarten guideline approved by the QSA) may be considered for recency of practice purposes when teachers apply for five-yearly renewal of their full registration.

Legislative change has enabled the QCT to establish policy about other teaching experience that is recognised as the equivalent of teaching in a Queensland school. For teachers who apply for renewal or restoration of full registration on or after 1 January 2012, teaching in recognised schools in other Australian states and territories will be recognised as the equivalent of teaching in a Queensland school for the purposes of recency.

Teachers with interstate teaching experience during their five-year registration period should include this experience when calculating whether they meet recency of practice and, consequently, their CPD requirements.

Teachers who already have a Returning to Teaching condition on their renewed full registration, who had interstate teaching experience or other teaching experience that they can demonstrate meets specific criteria, can apply for a review of the condition if the total amount of teaching experience is 200 days or more for the previous registration period.

The intent of the RTT condition is to enhance the profession of teaching by ensuring that teachers who have not taught for at least 200 days in their five-year registration period possess current knowledge and skills needed for teaching in Queensland. This more inclusive approach by the QCT acknowledges that teaching in a recognised school in Australia, and certain other experiences that meet specific criteria, may sufficiently address the issues of currency.

Please see the 'Renewal of Registration' pages on the QCT website for more information.

Inside Teaching

We regret to advise that due to financial constraints, Inside Teaching, the national journal of the Australasian Teacher Regulatory Authorities, has ceased publication. The June 2011 issue was the last. All issues of the magazine that were produced during its short lifetime (2010- 2011) are still accessible via the periodical publications page of the QCT website: www.qct.edu.au/Publications/PeriodicalPub.html.

QCT now on YouTube and Twitter

The QCT has launched its own dedicated YouTube channel and Twitter page as contemporary means of communicating with the teaching profession.

YouTube users will be able to view video content provided by the QCT such as tips and hints for beginning teachers and professional development resources. QCT's YouTube channel link is www.youtube.com/qldcollegeofteachers.

Twitter is a microblogging service which the QCT will utilise to post on-the-spot communication. A 'tweet' of information is limited to 140 characters in length and messages convey the QCT's latest news. Tweets are displayed on the QCT's profile page and on the home page of each of the followers. You can sign up and follow the QCT on Twitter for free by creating your account. Learn more about Twitter here. QCT's Twitter page link is http://twitter.com/TheQCT.

Sponsorship from TUH, QTMB and The Courier-Mail assists the QCT to promote the teaching profession.

Disclaimer: The QCT does not endorse any product or service advertised in QCT eNews. The QCT takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements or the quality and reliability of products or services offered in the advertisements.

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