State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement—update
In February, the Department of Education formally commenced negotiating a replacement certified agreement covering the employment of teachers, with a view to ensuring our teachers are supported to continue delivering what matters—world-class education for Queensland students.
On 19 June 2025, the department provided to the Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) an offer to settle negotiations for its consideration.
On 20 June 2025, the Queensland Teachers' Union formally rejected the offer.
On 27 June 2025, the department provided to the QTU a revised offer to settle negotiations.
The revised offer
The revised offer, combined with the important strategies the government is delivering, provides adequate protections and fair conditions of employment and reflects employees’ efforts in delivering education services to Queensland state school students.
The revised offer recognises the measures aimed at supporting our workforce outside the Certified Agreement and demonstrates our commitment to addressing your needs while ensuring financial responsibility aligning with the Public Sector Wages Policy supporting the Government’s budget position.
What’s included
The revised offer is made on a without prejudice basis, enhances the offer dated 19 June 2025, and is subject to final endorsement by government. The proposed enhancements directly address the QTU’s key areas of interests and are:
- the introduction of an additional fixed student free day from 2026
- the introduction of a new progression pay point for Experienced Senior Teachers (i.e. EST3)
- providing the same salary progression for 3 and 4-year trained teachers
- a beginning teacher one-off lump sum payment of $400. No application form required (red tape reduction) and the payment is intended to cover the registration fee and/or initial costs for newly graduated teachers
- a new overnight domestic camp allowance of $100 per night for teachers in Stream 1
- ability to cash out unused additional discretionary leave under the Recognition of Rural and Remote Service Scheme (RoRRS)
- more support for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees by
- consolidating the existing 4-step pay structure for Assistant Teachers to a single step at the highest pay
- automatic progression from Community Teacher to Senior Community Teacher after at least 12 months at Community Teacher Step 4.
The above is in addition to the offer presented on 19 June 2025 which contains:
- a 3-year term for a replacement agreement
- increases to wages and existing allowances (normally adjusted in accordance with wage increases) as follows
- 3% payable from 1 July 2025
- 2.5% payable from 1 July 2026
- 2.5% payable from 1 July 2027
- a Consumer Price Index Uplift Adjustment (CUA) payment to wages paid or payable of up to an additional 0.5% in the first year and 1% for the subsequent years (conditions apply)
- creating a replacement agreement that is easy to navigate, has a focus on employee entitlements, support principals and senior leaders to understand and apply the agreement and support staff to understand their entitlements
- this revised offer strengthens workplace conditions, empowers our workforce and supports the delivery of excellence for Queensland students.
Frequently asked questions
Who is covered by the Department of Education State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement?
The certified agreement covers approximately 55,000 teachers comprising:
- Stream 1—‘Teaching Stream’ / fully classroom teachers
- Stream 2—‘Heads of Program’ (includes heads of program, heads of curriculum, heads of department, guidance officers, heads of special services 2 and 3)
- Stream 3—‘School Leaders’ (deputy principals, principals, and heads of special education services 4)
- Other—community teachers and assistant teachers; supply teachers.
What is the enterprise bargaining process?
There are 4 key phases during the enterprise bargaining process:
- Negotiations (in progress)
- Consultation and ballot
- Certification
- Implementation
What is the proposed term for the replacement agreement?
The replacement agreement is proposed to have a 3-year term.
What is the Consumer Price Index Uplift Adjustment (CUA)?
The CUA is an additional payment to wages, subject to conditions, designed to account for inflation. The proposed adjustments are:
- up to 0.5% in the first year of the agreement
- up to 1% in year 2 and year 3 of the agreement.
If in principle agreement is not reached between all of the parties within July 2025, the first wage increase date will be the first day of the month in which the parties reach in-principle agreement and subsequent wage increases yearly thereafter.
What is the new Student Free Day for?
One additional fixed Student Free Day is proposed from 2026, to provide time for planning and professional development, and important tasks not able to be conducted during teacher contact hours with students (e.g. assessment moderation, collaboration, operational and pedagogical alignment).
What is the Experienced Senior Teacher (EST) Step 3?
A new pay level, EST Step 3, will be introduced in the third year of the agreement. This recognises and values the experience of teachers who choose to remain in the classroom.
How will salary progression change for 3-year trained teachers?
From commencement of the agreement, 3-year trained teachers will now have the same salary progression as 4-year trained teachers to support attraction and retention of classroom teachers.
What changes are being made for beginning teachers?
The current reimbursement of Queensland Teachers’ College registration fees will be replaced with a $400 beginning teacher payment. This payment will be processed through Payroll (PAYG) without requiring an application form, reducing red tape. It covers registration fees and contributes to other initial costs for newly graduated teachers.
What is the change to leave entitlements for rural and remote employees?
Rural and remote employees (TR4-7) eligible for the additional discretionary leave under the Recognition of Rural and Remote Service Scheme (RoRRS) will be able to cash out unused leave not taken in the relevant calendar year. Previously, unused leave was forfeited. There are no changes to the amount of leave available and principals are to ensure all reasonable efforts made to grant an employee’s application to take additional discretionary leave in the first instance.
What is the new camp allowance for teachers?
A $100 per night overnight domestic camp allowance will be introduced for teachers in Stream 1 classifications who volunteer for school camps. This recognises the disruption to normal work and home routines.
What is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employee initiative for community and assistant teachers?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community teachers with at least 12 months of service at Step 4 will automatically progress to Senior Community Teacher. The requirement to sign an undertaking for higher duties will be removed.
In addition, the current 4-Step pay structure for assistant teachers will be consolidated into a 1-Step structure, using the existing Step 4 pay point. This aims to improve attraction and retention in schools serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
What happens next?
Once in-principle agreement is reached, and subject to government approval, the department and QTU will continue drafting the proposed agreement.
Once government approval is received, the proposed agreement and supporting explanatory material will be shared with employees. Following consultation, the department will conduct a ballot of all employees covered by the proposed agreement and seek employee support for the proposed agreement.
If majority of the employees who vote, vote ‘yes’ in the department’s ballot and the agreement is subsequently certified by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, the wage increase can be paid.
Information explaining the proposed agreement will be provided before the ballot. Balloting all employees is a requirement of the
Industrial Relations Act 2016.
How can I find out more information?
Employees will receive email updates relevant to their specific certified agreement. These updates will also be available to all employees under the 'Awards, agreements and salaries' section on OnePortal (search ‘enterprise bargaining’ on OnePortal to access). If you have an individual query that isn’t covered in the material, please visit Services Catalogue Online and search for ‘Enterprise bargaining enquiry form’ to submit your query.