Queensland College of Teachers

Teaching in Queensland

“Teaching is the world’s most important job.” (UNESCO)

Teachers play a vital role in society. In today’s increasingly complex, multicultural and technological world, teachers make significant differences to the lives of those they teach - through the program or curriculum they teach, through their personal attributes and through their relationships with their students.

A wide variety of employment opportunities are available to teachers, including:

• Classroom teaching in schools – in Queensland, interstate or overseas
• Other positions in schools, eg Head of Department, Principal, Guidance Officer, Learning Support Teacher or Student Advisor
• Other positions with education authorities, eg in curriculum development
• Training positions in business and industry
• Education positions in cultural institutions such as theatres, orchestras, museums

Most teachers in Queensland work in schools. Schools in Queensland run from the preparatory year through years 1 to 7 of primary schooling, to years 8 to 12 of secondary schooling. As well as primary and secondary schools, there are schools for special education and schools for distance education.

Both State schools (also known as government or public schools) and non-State schools (also known as non-government or private, and including both independent and Catholic schools) are available. Schools vary widely in size, from those with only one teacher to those with dozens of teachers on staff. Teachers in schools can be employed on a number of different bases, including full-time, part-time, temporary and casual.

The Queensland College of Teachers works with teacher employers, teacher unions, universities and teachers themselves to ensure that only qualified and suitable people are employed to teach in our schools. All school teachers in Queensland must be registered with the QCT.