The Tasmanian Government has opened consultation on legislation to improve how teachers are registered in the state.
Minister for Education, Jo Palmer said the draft Teachers Registration Bill 2026 will ensure children and young people are safe while learning, that teachers, including those in early childhood settings, are high quality and meet professional standards, and that the law is contemporary and fit-for-purpose.
“Teachers play a vital role in shaping the lives of children and young people, which is why it’s so important our teacher registration system is modern, clear and works as it should,” Minister Palmer said.
“Our Government is delivering for Tasmanians by improving the education system to better meet the needs of children and young people, keep them safe, and prepare them for the future.”
Key changes that will be implemented through the Bill include delivering Commission of Inquiry protections for children to cover all forms of abuse, ensuring our children and young people are safer, and registering university-qualified early childhood teachers in early childhood education and care settings alongside school teachers, recognising the important role they play in teaching our youngest children.
The proposed legislation also aligns with national standards by:
- Requiring teachers to undertake 100 hours of professional development every five years, formalising the work teachers are already doing to maintain currency of professional knowledge;
- Requiring provisional teachers to gain full registration within five years, with exceptions, recognising the initial period of registration as a period of learning and support for our teachers;
- Streamlining the process for teachers to transition from provisional to full registration;
- Providing for a non-practicing category of registration, giving fully registered teachers the flexibility to maintain their registration while they aren’t in direct teaching roles.
Consultation on the draft Bill will close on 2 June.
Feedback can be provided by email to legislation@decyp.tas.gov.au or by mail to Government Relations and Strategic Legislation, GPO Box 169, Hobart TAS 7001.
For more information, visit the Department for Education, Children and Young People website.
