Employing Teachers in Tasmania

To be eligible for teacher registration, a person must meet these requirements:

• appropriate teaching qualifications
• ability to communicate in the English language at a professional level
• good character and fit to teach
• current Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (working with children registration).

Note:

• If a person is eligible for teacher registration they cannot be employed under a LAT or PTT.
• Employers should always check the online Tasmanian Register of Teachers at the start of the year and before a teacher commences employment, to ensure that each teacher is registered.
• Making a payment does not mean that a teacher is registered. There are many components to an application for registration, and making a payment is just one of those.
• When an application for registration is approved, the teacher will receive an email confirmation from the Board and their name will appear on the online Tasmanian Register of Teachers.
• Teachers coming from interstate must hold current registration in Tasmania before commencing employment.
• If a LAT holder becomes eligible for registration they must apply for registration immediately and their LAT must be expired by the Board when registration is granted.
• Employers can use the ‘Watched Registration List’ function on TRB Online to monitor the status of registered teachers in their school.
• If an employer becomes aware that a teacher is not registered, the teacher must be immediately removed from the school until their application for registration is approved.

A LAT is a legal mechanism that allows someone who is not a qualified and registered teacher to be employed to teach. In most circumstances, a LAT is a temporary measure required when an employer has not found a suitably skilled and qualified registered teacher for a specific teaching placement. For this reason, a LAT is granted for a maximum of one calendar year.

A LAT is only granted if the Board is satisfied that the nominated person meets all requirements:

• Appropriate skills/experience
• Ineligible for teacher registration
• Good character and fit to teach
• Current Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (working with children registration)

Please note

• LAT holders can only be employed at the school specified on their LAT and for the specific provisions of their LAT
• If a person is eligible for teacher registration they cannot be employed under a LAT or PTT
• Only schools/employers can apply for a LAT
• While the LAT is applied for by the school/employer, it is assigned to the LAT holder
• Approval of LAT applications is not automatic. Employers must provide documentary evidence to support their request
• All documentary evidence to support a LAT application must be submitted to the Board by emailing trb.admin@trb.tas.gov.au
• LAT applications can take up to four to six weeks to process and approve
• Employers should always check their TRB Online account online to ensure a LAT is approved and current
• Making a payment does not mean a LAT is approved. There are many components to a LAT application, and payment is just one of those
• When a LAT application is approved, the nominated person and the employer/school will receive an email confirmation from the Board
• The nominated person cannot teach until the LAT is approved

There are some occasions where a person can be legally employed to teach under the direct supervision of a registered teacher. This is known as Permission to Teach (PTT). PTT can occur when these requirements are met:

• The school/employer requires someone with specific expertise to run a short-term, part-time program in conjunction with the regular classroom teacher
• Employment is limited in nature, ad hoc, short-term, and subject-specific
• The expertise cannot otherwise be provided by a registered teacher or LAT holder

Please note

• Persons eligible for teacher registration cannot be employed under PTT
• Only schools/employers can apply for PTT. The Board will notify the employer of the outcome by email
• People employed under PTT must be additional to the regular staffing numbers that have been established to appropriately cater to students
• The teaching and learning program, duty of care, and responsibility for students must remain the full responsibility of the registered teacher on site
• PTT is not required for parents, volunteers, and visitors/guests who are not employed/engaged by the school in a teaching role