Guidance Matters No.8 - 22 June 2023  | Open PDF

Guidance Matters No.8 - 22 June 2023

Comprehensive review of school resourcing (CRoSR)

As has previously been communicated to all members, the QTU won a comprehensive review of school resourcing (CRoSR) during the last enterprise bargaining negotiations.  The review is a significant element of the 2022 agreement. Information has and will continue to be provided directly to members through the QTU’s Working for members updates. The May 26 Working for members update provides an excellent summary of CRoSR. The review will look at the delegated and administrative tasks of heads of program, including guidance officers (GOs) and senior guidance officers (SGOs).

The certified agreement clause states:

1.8  Commitments of this Agreement

1.8.1      Review of state school resourcing arrangements

1.8.1.1   The Department commits to undertake a comprehensive review of school resourcing arrangements, including methodologies, procedures and systems.

1.8.1.2   The review is to be completed and presented to the Minister for Education by no later than 31 December 2024. It is anticipated that, subject to appropriate approvals by Government, outcomes of the review will inform negotiations for a future certified agreement.

1.8.1.3   The review will consider contemporary approaches to needs based resourcing across diverse systems, with an aim to ensure that arrangements into the future are simple, fair, transparent and predictable.

1.8.1.4   Amongst the factors, the review will take into account the components of teachers, heads of program and school leaders’ duties (including playground duty, delegations and administrative tasks; specialist teachers (music); instrumental music instructors/teachers; and numbers of beginning and early career teachers). The review will also consider effects of changes to resourcing arrangements on associated processes, including the Principal Classification: Total Government Resource Thresholds.

1.8.1.5   The parties acknowledge that school resourcing involves all areas/services of the Department and the review will therefore involve a number of stakeholders and unions.

1.8.1.6   A governance and consultative committee structure will be developed for the review. The unions party to this agreement will have representation within this structure.

1.8.1.7   Any proposals or recommendations arising from the review that have cost or operational implications will be subject to the normal Department and/or Executive Government approvals.

As a key stakeholder in the review process, the QTU will be conducting comprehensive state-wide consultation and will seek feedback through established processes, including QTU school leader forums and area council meetings.  In addition, planned focus group engagement will occur with a broad range of members representing a diversity of employee roles, tailored network groups sectors, school size, contexts and locations. 

QTU members can also provide feedback directly to the QTU CRoSR team at any time on schoolresourcingreview@qtu.asn.au

Engage and participate

More than ever, this is a time for guidance members to attend branch meetings, which are open to all members, not just school union representatives.  There may also be representative vacancies or opportunities to proxy to regional QTU area councils or to State Council.  Participation in branch meetings would allow you to identify such opportunities. 

Members of the QTU’s state-wide SGO Specific Interest Group Sub-Committee will be keeping informed and will endeavour to flag opportunities for engagement.  This is work that every member should engage in.

Review of the transfer rating system

The 2022 certified agreement also includes a review of the transfer rating system (1.82).  This is important for guidance officer members working in rural and remote areas and members who may wish to transfer within or between regions in the southeast corner.

The department has committed to undertaking a comprehensive review of the transfer rating system, to be completed and presented to the Minister for Education no later than 31 December 2024.  As with the resourcing review, the outcomes will inform negotiations for a future certified agreement, subject to the appropriate approvals from government.

The review will focus on the development of a modern teacher mobility policy that enhances current arrangements for teachers who provide extended services in rural and remote Queensland.  The policy will consider both classroom and promotional teacher appointments. A consultative committee will be developed for the review, with the QTU having representation on this committee. 

The QTU will report to members through bulletins and through reports to State Council, State Conference and at branch meetings and area council meetings. This provides another opportunity for guidance members to engage and participate in shaping the outcomes of the review. 

Memorandum of Agreement Senior Guidance Officers and Regional School Sports Officer (June 2022)

While SGOs are now fully covered under the Teaching in State Education Award – State 2016 and the related memorandum of agreement (MoA), which articulates working conditions for SGOs, these benefits should not be taken for granted.  The QTU’s State-wide SGO Specific Interest Group Sub-Committee is keeping a watching brief on the delivery of the working conditions captured in the MoA.

The 2022 MoA sets out very limited and specific role requirements for accrual of time off in lieu (TOIL) by SGOs – namely working during school holidays (specifically to attend SCAN meetings and to provide supervision and support in youth detention centres) and addressing significant travel requirements occurring outside of rostered duty time.

It is important that SGOs note carefully the deliberate and specific limitations of TOIL arrangements under 17.3 Time off in Lieu for SGOs, specifically clause 17.3.7.

17.3.7    Where SGOs are directed to work in accordance with clauses 17.3.1 – 17.3.5, SGOs will be entitled to time off in lieu at an agreed time for the days or hours directed to work during the school holidays, or to address significant travel requirements. Such time is to be approved prior to being accrued and prior to the time off in lieu being taken.  Any time in lieu not taken by the end of the school year in which the time was accrued will be forfeited and will not be paid out.

 Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064