Professional Standards
On this page:
- The Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers
- Development of the Standards
- Implementation of the Standards
View and download the Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers
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The Professional Standards for Teachers
The Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers have been developed by the QCT for registration purposes. They describe the abilities, knowledge, understandings and professional values that teachers in Queensland schools demonstrate. The Standards celebrate, articulate and support the varied nature of a teacher's work.
The Standards lie at the heart of the QCT ’s registration and approval functions. The Standards provide benchmarks for the full registration of teachers for Queensland schools and inform a range of QCT policies and practices including:
- approval of preservice teacher education programs, to manage the provisional registration of graduates from Queensland universities (see Program Approval Guidelines)
- the policy and process for progression from provisional to full registration
- consideration of registration for applicants who have not attained the prescribed qualifications for registration
- renewal of teacher registration
- the Continuing Professional Development Framework for teachers
- promotion of the teaching profession through raising awareness of the complex nature of teachers' work and strengthening public confidence in the profession.
Development of the Standards
The QCT's Professional Standards Committee was responsible for setting strategic direction and overseeing the development of the Standards. A writing group was appointed by the Committee to produce the draft version of the Standards.
The QCT then conducted a state-wide consultation process in 2006. The consultation included both face-to-face and written response modes and involved registered teachers and a range of key stakeholders.
All data collected in the consultation process were used to inform the final version of the Standards, which was endorsed by the Board of the QCT in December 2006.
The Queensland College of Teachers commissioned Dr Katie Makar of the University of Queensland to develop a technical paper: Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers – Processes and Debates. This technical paper documents the development of the Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers. It gives the context for change and research undertaken; outlines the issues, discussion and debate; presents the initial thinking and conceptual model; and provides information about the consultation phase of the development.
Implementation of the Standards
The Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers are being implemented from January 2007.
The application of the Standards is underpinned by a number of policies developed by the QCT and by the following general principles:
- registration decisions are based on the Standards
- the Standards will be applied differently at different registration junctures
- attainment of the Standards will be supported by evidence appropriate to the registration juncture
- the Standards, their application to the various registration junctures and evidentiary requirements will be subject to ongoing monitoring and review.
Employers are indicating a commitment that the QCT's Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers will be used to underpin the development of all teachers up to the point where they gain full registration.
It is important to note that whilst teachers may already be using a range of professional standards developed by different bodies for a range of professional purposes, these standards developed by the QCT are for teacher registration purposes.