Information for New Teachers

Like members of other professions which occupy a position of trust and responsibility, teachers are legally required to be registered to practice their profession.

Teacher registration responds to community expectations of anyone who is employed to teach Tasmanian students. It promotes community confidence in the work of Tasmanian teachers and recognises teachers as highly skilled professionals.

Registration sets benchmarks for the teaching profession in terms of:

• qualifications
• teaching competence
• skill and knowledge
• character
• fitness to teach.

As a registered teacher, you have been assessed to be a person with appropriate qualifications, who is competent, of good character, and fit to be a teacher. You must satisfy a standard of behaviour that is generally expected of a teacher.

The Board has developed a Code of Professional Ethics for the Teaching Profession in Tasmania. The Code describes the ethical commitments, practices, and aspirations that underpin the teaching profession in Tasmania. As a registered teacher, the Board expects that you will adhere to the principles contained in the code.

The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Teacher Standards) define the work of teachers and make explicit the elements of high-quality, effective teaching in 21st-century schools. The Teacher Standards provide a framework that makes clear the knowledge, practice, and professional engagement required across teachers’ careers.

As a registered teacher, you are legally obliged to:

• ensure that you have current registration before you are employed or engaged to teach
• advise the Board if you are charged with a prescribed or other offence*
• advise the Board if you are convicted of a prescribed or other offence*
• notify the Board if you change your name, address or qualifications
• assist the Board in holding an inquiry if required to do so.

When giving information to the Board, you must not knowingly make a statement that is false or misleading or omit any matter knowing that without that matter the information is misleading.

*A prescribed offence is an offence, committed in Tasmania or elsewhere, where a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed (whether or not it is imposed). For example, driving under the influence, common assault, stealing, or drug offences.

All registered teachers are granted a cycle of registration. A cycle is normally five years.

Registration fees are payable for each year of registration. You may choose to pay for the full duration of your cycle, or you can pay on an annual basis. The fees paid will determine the financial expiry date of your registration. In order to maintain your registration, you must pay for another year before your financial expiry, or your registration will lapse.

You can pay for future years in your current cycle of registration at any time in your TRB Online account by clicking on “Pay registration”.

Please note: Clicking “Pay registration” will generate a new invoice for payment.

When your registration cycle expires
If your registration cycle ends at the same time as your financial expiry date, you can no longer simply pay to maintain your registration. You must either renew your registration (Full) or re-apply for registration (Provisional). The two processes look quite similar, however, there are important differences.

To renew your registration, you must demonstrate ongoing competence as a teacher at the Proficient career stage of the Teacher Standards – this means you must meet the requirements either for teaching service or engagement in relevant professional learning during your last registration cycle. If you cannot demonstrate ongoing competence in this way, the Board may grant a conditional registration.

If you have provisional registration you must re-apply for registration. This means you must apply for registration in your TRB Online account and meet the current criteria for teacher registration.

In both situations, you must continue to be of good character and fit to teach.

Do I need to renew my registration or re-apply for registration?
If you hold Full registration or Specialist Vocational Education and Training registration (SpVET), you can apply to renew your registration.

If you hold provisional registration, you must re-apply for registration.

You can apply for teaching roles in Tasmanian schools once you have been granted registration to teach in Tasmania.

Tasmania has several teacher employer groups, including:

• Department for Education, Children and Young People (government schools)
• Catholic Education Tasmania
• Christian Schools Tasmania
• Independent Schools Tasmania

The best time to apply for teaching positions is from early September to the start of the next teaching year. However, there are many teaching positions (fixed-term, relief, and permanent) that become available throughout the year.

Please note
Questions about work conditions or pay rates should be directed to your (potential) employer.