QTAD Q&A

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 125 No 8, 6 November 2020, page no. 25

I plan to retire at the end of this year. Am I entitled to receive summer vacation pay and do I need to attend the student free days? 

If you are completing the teaching year, you should resign as of the last day of the summer vacation, i.e. 20 January 2021, to ensure payment for the entire summer vacation. Whether you attend the student free days in January or not will have no impact on your entitlement. 

I am a permanent teacher currently on unpaid leave from my base school, but have been employed on a contract for Semester 2. Am I entitled to any payment during the Christmas break?

For permanent teachers, entitlement for the summer vacation period is based on the number of school days worked during the school year. Remote schools attract an entitlement of 33 days’ vacation. All other schools attract 28 days’ vacation. Leave loading entitlement will be paid in December. Permanent teachers who undertake periods of contract work during unpaid leave will receive a pro-rata entitlement to Christmas holiday pay in accordance with the portion of the year worked, i.e. one semester contract = 50 per cent of Christmas holiday pay. The formula = number of days teaching service multiplied by 28 (or 33 days) vacation divided by the number of days in the school year. Teachers on pay-suspend over the summer vacation (with a leave end dateof the last day of the holidays) will be paid their entitlement as a lump sum in late December.

I worked full-time in Semester 1 and have since been on paid maternity leave at half pay, which will carry into 2021. What happens over the summer vacation period?

As above, when on paid parental leave permanent teachers are entitled to a pro-rata payment for the summer vacation reflecting the proportion of paid leave during the preceding year. Even if the paid leave was taken at the half-pay rate, they are entitled to the equivalent full-time pro-rata Christmas pay. You should expect to receive the full payment of the summer vacation period. 

I have been on special quarantine leave for most of the year. Will I still receive summer vacation pay? 

Paid leave counts as service, and therefore if you have been working and on paid leave for the entire year, you would expect to receive your normal fortnightly salary during the summer vacation period. 

I worked in Term 1, but since Term 2, I have been on a combination of sick leave from DoE and income protection with QSuper. My medical certificate covers me until the end of the summer vacation. Do I still receive payment for the summer vacation?

Yes, the department pays for school vacations that fall in the first 12 months of sick leave (paid or unpaid).

I am a mid-year graduate and have been on a contract for all of Semester 2. How much summer vacation pay am I entitled to? 

Temporary teachers engaged for a minimum 100 days in the school year, including at least 10 days in Term 4, or engaged for all of Semester 2 will qualify for a lump sum summer payment (LSSP). The formula =

Number of school days paid x 20 days
Actual number of days in school year.