The Queensland Government has announced it will require all early childhood teachers to be registered under the Queensland College of Teachers, as part of a plan to boost the safety of children in the early education sector.
The change will apply to more than 2,300 kindergartens, long day care centres and preschools across Queensland, and bring early childhood teachers in line with school teachers.
Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the change means all teachers will be professionally registered through the Queensland College of Teachers, creating accountability, better reporting of issues regarding the safety of children or the competency of the teacher, and uplifting the professional status of early childhood teachers.
“There is no greater responsibility than making Queensland children safer,” Minister Langbroek said.
“Families should be able to trust that early childhood teachers meet rigorous professional standards here in Queensland, and by requiring early childhood teachers working in regulated long day care and kindergarten settings to be registered, we are boosting the safety of children.
“Where a person is employed as an early childhood teacher under the National Quality Framework, families should know they have undergone the suitability and eligibility checks required of registered teachers, just as in schools.”
By requiring early childhood teachers to have the appropriate qualifications and registration, the change provides an extra safeguard for the protection of children, adding to the major reforms outlined in the Government’s response to the landmark In Plain Sight report, said Mr Langbroek.
Mandatory teacher registration was also a key recommendation of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority’s review of child safety arrangements under the National Quality Framework.
The Government has introduced an amendment to the Parliament, which will allow early childhood teachers to apply for teacher registration immediately with the expanded range of eligible qualifications.
Mandatory registration requirements, employing authority obligations, and penalties would commence on 1 July 2028.
“Early childhood teachers play an incredibly important role in children’s development and learning, and these reforms will uplift the status of all early childhood teachers as part of Queensland’s teaching profession,” said Minister Langbroek.
“Already the majority of early childhood teachers are registered, but from 1st July 2028 it will become mandatory and registration will be recorded on the Queensland College of Teachers’ existing register.”
