Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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TEACHERS REGISTRATION (NORTHERN TERRITORY) BILL 2004


Bill presented and read a first time.

Mr STIRLING (Employment, Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.

The purpose of this bill is to regulate the teaching profession in the Northern Territory to raise the status and standards of teaching. The bill fulfills the government’s commitment to establish an independent teacher registration board, under its own legislation, to promote teaching as an attractive employment option, and to regulate the profession on behalf of teachers. The bill is the Territory’s contribution to Australia-wide efforts to ensure that we have quality teachers, recognised as professionals, working with children and young people in our government and non-government schools.

Part 2 of the proposed act sets up a 12 member teacher registration board, with 10 members, either teachers or educators, representing teacher employers, teacher unions, indigenous teachers, parents, Charles Darwin University, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and teacher professional associations, the term of appointment is for four years. The board’s functions are to register teachers, or grant authorisation to an employer, to employ an unregistered person, liaise with providers of teacher education and professional development in the Northern Territory, to develop appropriate courses, and to develop a code of ethics for Territory teachers. The board will promote the profession, establish professional standards for teachers based on board consultation, and regulate the profession through qualifications and criminal history checks, and investigation and prosecution of breaches of this act. The board has the power to suspend or cancel registration or authorisation, to share information with other teacher registration authorities, and to charge a fee for provision of the service.

Part 3 allows for the administration of the board, with a director appointed by the minister. Meeting processes are set out and confidentiality of proceedings and disclosure of interest are required. The board has power to establish committees, which will enable broad teacher participation in the professional work of the board.
Part 4 requires that a register of teachers is kept, and may be inspected on payment of a fee, but that a teacher’s private details, such as personal address, must not be available for inspection. Registration is granted on the basis of a minimum set by the minister on the advice of the board: good character, as indicated by criminal history check, and other matters the board considers relevant.

Mutual recognition of this teacher registration by other registration authorities in Australia or New Zealand is prescribed my mutual recognition legislation already in place. The director may issue an interim certificate of registration once the qualifications and criminal history checks are satisfied, pending board endorsement at its next meeting. This will enable staffing arrangements at schools to be expedited, while maintaining the integrity of the checking process. There are appeals provisions for the board’s refusal to register.

Part 5 allows for the board to grant employers authorisation to employ unregistered persons as teachers under circumstances where the employer convinces the board that the educational outcomes for students are safeguarded. The authorisation is granted for no more than a calendar year. There is no appeal against refusal to grant authorisation.

Part 6 creates the inquiry and discipline processes of the board, where the board investigates complaints about a registered teacher’s or authorised employee’s professional conduct or fitness to teach. If it is considered necessary, the board has the capacity to suspend registration authorisation at any stage after receiving a complaint. Appeals against decisions may be made to the local court. Found guilty of a sexual offence under the Criminal Code, a registered teacher’s registration is automatically cancelled and an authorisation is revoked. An inquiry may be requested to rescind the cancellation or revocation.

Part 7 creates offences of employing unregistered persons, teaching unregistered without authorisation, and false or misleading statements and penalties for these offences.

Part 8 provides for transfer of information between the board, the Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police Force, and the employer in respect of matters which should be investigated by the police. This section also provides for immunity from liability of the director and staff, annual returns and reports, notifications and regulations.

Part 9 allows for transitional provisions for teachers currently employed, but without four-year qualifications. The teachers who have three-year qualifications may be registered if the board is satisfied that the teacher is competent. This will include relief teachers who have been employed on a casual basis in the current year that the act commences. Teachers employed before criminal history checks were made must undergo such a check, but will not be required to pay the fee for the check. The registration fee paid in 2004 will cover registration until the end of 2005.

Madam Speaker, this bill provides for the regulation of the teaching profession by the profession through a Teacher Registration Board. Its aim is to deliver quality teaching and probity checks for all teachers in government and non-government schools throughout the Territory. Research shows the good teachers make a difference in the educational achievements of children and young people. I commend the bill to honourable members.

Debate adjourned.


 

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