Notifications

Employers are legally obliged to notify the Board when a registered teacher or the holder of a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) engages in unacceptable behaviour, or retires or resigns in certain circumstances.

Registered teachers or LAT holders engaging in unacceptable behaviour
Employers must notify the Board within 28 days if they consider any behaviour of a registered teacher or LAT holder to be unacceptable behaviour and dismiss the person because of that behaviour, or take any other disciplinary action against the person.

Registered teachers or LAT holders retiring or resigning in certain circumstances
Employers must notify the Board within 28 days if a registered teacher or LAT holder resigns or retires in circumstances that may have allowed the employer to consider any of the person’s behaviour to be unacceptable behaviour.

What is “unacceptable behaviour”?
The Teachers Registration Act 2000 defines unacceptable behaviour as:

• any behaviour that does not satisfy a standard of behaviour generally expected of a teacher
• any behaviour that is otherwise disgraceful or improper
• any behaviour that shows that the person is unfit to be a teacher.

Registered teachers and LAT holders must notify the Board in writing within 28 days of being charged with a prescribed offence. A prescribed offence is any offence committed in Tasmania or elsewhere where a sentence of imprisonment may apply – whether or not it is imposed. For example, driving under the influence, common assault, stealing, and drug offences.

Registered teachers and LAT holders must also notify the Board in writing within 28 days if:

• a court makes a finding of guilty or not guilty, or another finding in relation to the charge
• a court adjourns proceedings on the charge Sine Die
• the charge is dismissed or withdrawn.

The Board must notify an employer(s) (if the employer is known to the Board) in writing as soon as is reasonably practical after becoming aware that a registered teacher or LAT holder has been found guilty of a prescribed offence.

A prescribed offence is any offence committed in Tasmania or elsewhere where a sentence of imprisonment may apply – whether or not it is imposed. For example, driving under the influence, common assault, stealing, and drug offences.

If any of the circumstances that require a notification have occurred, please contact our Professional Conduct Team: conduct@trb.tas.gov.au.

If you are concerned about the conduct of someone who is (or was) a registered teacher or LAT holder, please see our page on conduct concerns.