Education

Schools, TAFE, universities, training, student support

View connections →

58th Parliament (2024–present)2 bills

Education and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026

In CommitteeThis bill is being examined by a parliamentary committee before further debate.

•Non-state schools face less red tape when changing year levels or adding boarding, with targeted assessments replacing full accreditation reviewsClause 9NSSAB can choose a simple or complex assessment depending on the risk and complexity of the proposed change.
•Disengaged children and young people have a formal pathway back into education through recognised re-engagement programsPart 4, new Part 2A (sections 420B-420H)Five named non-government providers are prescribed to deliver education re-entry and transition service programs.
•Young people in youth detention now have education delivery formally recognised in law through Education and Training CentresClauses 38-43ETCs are explicitly recognised as state educational institutions under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006.
•Queensland non-state schools can now partner with overseas schools to deliver the Queensland Certificate of Education internationallyClauses 73-74QCAA becomes the authorising body for overseas QCE delivery, with due diligence and quality assurance functions.

23/4/2026· Hon J Langbroek MPGovernment & ElectionsChildren & Families

Education (General Provisions) Amendment Bill 2025

Passed (amended)This bill became law after being modified during debate.

•Schools no longer need individual parental consent for each digital learning platform, though parents can opt out at any timeClause 37 (new s 426A)The chief executive may approve online services that meet privacy and security criteria, removing the need for per-service consent while keeping an opt-out right for parents and students.
•Home-educated students can now stay registered until 31 December in the year they turn 18, keeping access to student discounts and resourcesClause 9 (s 206)Extends home education eligibility by one year, aligning with the age at which students can attend state or non-state schools.
•When your child changes schools, the new principal must request their educational records within 90 days, helping ensure continuity of learning and safetyClause 34 (new s 388B)Transfer notes become mandatory. The previous school must provide them within 10 school days, including information the principal reasonably believes is necessary to protect the student or school community.
•Principals can delegate notifying students about suspensions to senior staff like deputy principals, speeding up the processClause 14 (new s 289A)The principal still makes the suspension decision but can delegate the function of telling the student to an appropriately qualified teacher who assists with school management.

14/3/2025· Hon J Langbroek MPChildren & FamiliesRegional QueenslandCommittee: pass

57th Parliament (2020–2024)3 bills

Child Safe Organisations Bill 2024

PassedThis bill became law.

•Schools, childcare centres, universities, TAFEs and training organisations must all implement child safe standards and report allegations of worker misconductSchedule 1, sections 3 and 6; Schedule 2, sections 3 and 6Education services including state schools, non-state schools, TAFE Queensland, registered training organisations, and universities are prescribed as both child safe entities and reporting entities.
•Existing risk management strategy requirements for education providers are replaced by the more comprehensive child safe standards frameworkClause 111 and Clause 127The RMS requirements under the Working with Children Act are repealed and replaced by the child safe standards and Universal Principle obligations.

12/6/2024· Hon C Mullen MPChildren & FamiliesJustice & RightsCommittee: pass

Trading (Allowable Hours) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

PassedThis bill became law.

•Parents can permanently attend school P&C association meetings online instead of travelling in personClause 3 (new section 129A)A person who is required or permitted to attend an association meeting may do so by using any technology allowing reasonably contemporaneous and continuous communication.
•Teachers involved in QCT investigations can attend meetings by phone or video link instead of in personClause 5Amends section 181 to allow attendance by audio link or audio visual link at a stated reasonable time.

25/5/2022· Hon G Grace MPBusiness & EconomyWork & EmploymentCommittee: pass (dissent)

Queensland University of Technology Amendment Bill 2021

Passed (amended)This bill became law after being modified during debate.

•QUT students now have guaranteed representation for both undergraduates and postgraduates on the university's governing CouncilClause 4Amends section 15(2) so elected student members comprise one undergraduate student and one postgraduate student.
•QUT academic staff lose one of their three elected Council seats, reducing their voice in university governanceClause 4Elected academic staff members reduced from 3 to 2 under amended section 15(2)(a).
•QUT professional staff lose one of their two elected Council seatsClause 4Elected professional staff members reduced from 2 to 1 under amended section 15(2)(b).
•QUT alumni can no longer be elected to Council but at least 2 of the 4 additional members appointed by Council must be alumniClause 5Amends section 16(2) to require at least 2 additional members be alumni of the university.

1/9/2021· Hon G Grace MPGovernment & ElectionsCommittee: pass

56th Parliament (2017–2020)4 bills

Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019

PassedThis bill became law.

•Apprentices and trainees are better protected from unfair training contract cancellations, with a new show cause and appeal processClauses 10-11 (new sections 35A-35E)Introduces a process for the chief executive to decide contested cancellations, with appeal rights to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
•Training contracts can't be cancelled until at least 21 days after employment ends, giving time to lodge unfair dismissal claimsClause 11Chief executive must not cancel under s36(1)(i) within 21 days of employment ceasing or while a contested event is unresolved.
•At least one TAFE Queensland Board member must now be an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait IslanderClause 29Inserts new section 12(2A) into the TAFE Queensland Act 2013.

22/8/2019· Hon G Grace MPWork & EmploymentHealthCommittee: pass

Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Amendment Bill 2019

PassedThis bill became law.

•Experienced teachers can apply for formal recognition as highly accomplished or lead teachers through a new national-standard certification processClause 4, Section 67ACreates a voluntary certification pathway at the highly accomplished teacher and lead teacher career stages of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
•The Queensland College of Teachers becomes the official certifying authority, ensuring independent and consistent assessment of teacher qualityClause 5, Section 230BThe College has the function of administering the certification process, including deciding applications, keeping records, and coordinating assessor training.
•Teachers who are unsuccessful in their certification application can seek review through QCATClause 10Certification decisions under sections 67D, 67G and 67M are added as decisions for which an information notice must be given, enabling review under chapter 8 of the QCT Act.

12/2/2019· Hon G Grace MPWork & EmploymentCommittee: pass

Anti-Discrimination (Right to Use Gender-Specific Language) Amendment Bill 2018

DefeatedThis bill was defeated at the second reading — the main debate on its principles. It cannot proceed further.

•Students would have been protected from being marked down for using words like 'he', 'she', 'him' or 'her' in their assessmentsClause 4 (amendment to section 10)H is C's teacher. C submits a piece of assessment to H. In the assessment, C regularly uses the words 'he', 'she', 'him' and 'her'. H, when marking the assessment, deducts marks for use of the gender-specific language.
•Educational institutions would have been unable to impose rules or standards that discourage binary gender language without risking a discrimination complaintClause 5 (amendment to section 11)

19/9/2018· Mr R Katter MPJustice & RightsWork & EmploymentCommittee: not recommended

Education (Overseas Students) Bill 2018

PassedThis bill became law.

•Senior students from 2019 sit external exams worth 25-50% of their subject results, alongside school-based assessmentClause 137 (new s 13A)The QCAA gains functions to endorse school-based assessments and develop external assessments for senior subjects.
•Students receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) instead of an Overall Position (OP) for university entranceClause 138 (replacement of s 17)The QCAA's tertiary entrance function changes to providing student information to QTAC for ranking.
•Home education registration is simplified — it now runs until 31 December in the year your child turns 17Clause 127 (new s 229A)Provisional registration or registration for home education ends on 31 December in the year the child turns 17 years.
•If your child's home education registration is cancelled, they remain registered while you exercise your review rightsClause 125 (amendment of s 225)The cancellation decision takes effect only after review rights have been exhausted.

15/2/2018· Hon G Grace MPBusiness & EconomyRegional QueenslandCommittee: pass

55th Parliament (2015–2017)10 bills

Education (Overseas Students) Bill 2017

Lapsed

•From the 2019 Year 11 cohort onwards, senior students sit external exams set by the QCAA and receive an ATAR instead of an OPClause 137 (new s 13A) and Clause 138 (new s 17)Gives QCAA functions to endorse school-based assessments and develop external assessments, and limits its tertiary entrance function to providing student data to QTAC for ATAR ranking.
•Schools teaching overseas students need a Queensland approval that can run up to 7 years and aligns with the Commonwealth ESOS Act and CRICOSClauses 6-12Creates the school provider approval regime and aligns approval criteria with the Commonwealth Act and National Code.
•Home-educating families can keep their child registered until 31 December of the year the child turns 17, and registration continues while any review is being decidedClause 121 (new s 206), Clause 127 (new s 229A), Clauses 123 and 125Simplifies the eligibility period for home education and ensures registration continues until review rights are exhausted.
•Student exchange organisations such as Rotary need an approval, must meet reciprocity and blue card requirements, and appear on a public registerClauses 14-16, 93-94Creates the student exchange approval scheme with mandatory chief executive guidelines and a register published on the department's website.

8/8/2017· Hon K Jones MPChildren & FamiliesGovernment & ElectionsCommittee: pass

University Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

PassedThis bill became law.

•If you study or work at a Queensland public university, you are still guaranteed a say in electing staff and student representatives to the governing body, but the rules will now sit in a published policy instead of a statuteClauses 35, 99, 111, 122, 135, 147, 159 (new Division 3A / 3C)Each university must make and publish on its website a policy covering secret ballots, voter eligibility, nominations, notification periods, publication of results and a complaints process.
•James Cook University's council can shrink or reshape itself, but at least 25% of the seats must still be filled by elected staff and studentsClause 32 (new s 22J)A membership resolution must provide for a council of 11 to 21 members, including at least 25% elected members with academic staff, professional and technical staff, and student representation.
•University governing bodies will have more flexibility to delegate decisions about spending donations and bequests, and vice-chancellors can pass on delegated powers to senior staffClauses 4, 14, 23, 53, 63, 74, 84Removes the current limit on delegating the power to approve spending of funds available by bequest, donation or special grant, and allows subdelegation to appropriately qualified staff.
•University of Southern Queensland students who get their car towed on campus lose the specific statutory right to have that payment demand reviewed under a statute, though university complaint processes and the Ombudsman remain availableClause 163 (repeal of USC s 59)

23/5/2017· Hon K Jones MPGovernment & ElectionsCommittee: pass

Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Bill 2017

Passed (amended)This bill became law after being modified during debate.

•New independent or Catholic schools can open sooner because the two-step provisional accreditation process is replaced with a single decisionClauses 18-25A school can be accredited from the outset if the governing body is suitable and the Board is satisfied the school will comply with the accreditation criteria from the student-intake day.
•You can check any non-State school's current accreditation status on the Board's public online registerClauses 126-127The Board must keep a register of accredited schools and make it available for inspection, replacing the previous paper certificate system.
•Special-assistance schools that re-engage disengaged young people can operate temporarily from short-term sites without full re-accreditationClauses 47-53The Bill enables a special assistance school to provide, on a temporary basis, special assistance at a temporary site under prescribed criteria.
•Schools running for profit lose government funding for the period they were non-compliant, not just going forwardClause 93The Board can decide that government funding eligibility is to be withdrawn for a period the ground existed, supporting Ministerial debt-recovery action.

9/5/2017· Hon K Jones MPChildren & FamiliesGovernment & ElectionsCommittee: pass

Child Protection and Education Legislation (Reporting of Abuse) Amendment Bill 2017

Lapsed

•Religious figures working in or with State schools would have had new abuse reporting dutiesClauses 6-7Amends s365 and s365A of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 to cover religious representatives at State schools.
•The same duties would have applied to religious figures working in or with non-State (including faith-based) schoolsClauses 8-9Amends s366 and s366A of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 to cover religious representatives at non-State schools.

21/3/2017· Mr R Pyne MPChildren & FamiliesJustice & Rights

Grammar Schools Bill 2016

Passed (amended)This bill became law after being modified during debate.

•If your child is at one of Queensland's eight grammar schools, board members now need skills in areas like governance, finance, law or education before they can be appointedClause 14(5)The Minister must be satisfied a nominee has sufficient understanding of grammar school legislation and relevant skills before nominating them.
•Grammar school boards can grow to up to 9 members, with the board itself choosing the two extra people the Minister nominatesClause 14(1)-(2)A board may request the Minister nominate up to two additional members chosen by the board.
•Parents of grammar school students must be told before an administrator is appointed to take over the school's boardClause 42The Minister must take reasonable steps to notify parents of students at the school about the proposed appointment before publishing the gazette notice.
•No new grammar schools can be established under this law - the existing eight in Brisbane, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville are the only onesClause 6The Act names the eight grammar schools and removes the previous Act's power to establish additional grammar schools.

16/8/2016· Hon K Jones MPGovernment & ElectionsCommittee: pass

Education and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016

Passed (amended)This bill became law after being modified during debate.

•Your child must complete Prep (or equivalent) before starting Year 1 from 2017, unless the principal decides they're already readyClauses 8 and 9 (new s 156(1A) and s 175M)Principals of state and non-state schools must not enrol a child in Year 1 unless satisfied the child has done Prep, equivalent education elsewhere, was registered for home education, or is otherwise ready considering the child's attributes.
•Children must be at least 5 years and 6 months old on 31 December to register for home educationClause 10 (new s 206)Replaces section 206 to set home education eligibility at 5 years and 6 months on 31 December in the year registration takes effect.
•Non-state schools that receive too much government funding will have to pay the money back as a debtClauses 12-14Creates a statutory debt owed to the State for overpayments and implements the arrangement required under the Commonwealth Australian Education Act 2013.
•Non-state school regulators can now share suspicions of fraud or criminal activity with police and courtsClause 5 (s 173 amendment)Amends the Accreditation Act confidentiality provisions to allow disclosure to a law enforcement agency where reasonably necessary for preventing, detecting, investigating, prosecuting or punishing a criminal offence.

24/5/2016· Hon K Jones MPChildren & FamiliesWork & EmploymentCommittee: pass

Child Protection (Mandatory Reporting - Mason’s Law) Amendment Bill 2016

Passed (amended)This bill became law after being modified during debate.

•If you work in child care, kindergarten or family day care with a Certificate III or higher, you are now legally required to report suspected abuseClause 4The obligation applies to supervisors and staff who hold an approved qualification at QEC services and education and care services.
•Individual operators of child care services must report, but corporate providers are excluded (their qualified staff still must)The amendment was drafted to apply only to approved providers who are individuals, relying on the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 definition of 'person'.
•The Department of Education will run a training program before the law begins on 1 January 2017Explanatory notes state the delayed commencement provides time for a comprehensive training and education program about the scope of the reporting obligation.

17/3/2016· Ms T Davis MPChildren & FamiliesJustice & RightsCommittee: pass

Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) and Another Act Amendment Bill 2015

Passed (amended)This bill became law after being modified during debate.

•If you're a VET student, apprentice or trainee, you get a dedicated independent office to complain about poor training quality or unfair decisionsClause 5 (new s 112D)The Ombudsman can receive complaints about the provision and quality of VET by RTOs, supervising RTOs, and employers of apprentices and trainees.
•You can ask the Training Ombudsman for advice, help making a complaint, or to refer your complaint to the right agencyClause 5 (new s 112D)Functions include helping people make complaints to a referral entity, referring complaints, and giving information or advice to complainants.
•If you're unhappy with how the Department of Education and Training investigated your complaint, you can ask the Ombudsman to take a fresh lookClause 5 (new ss 112I, 112J)A complainant who is not satisfied with the chief executive's investigation may ask the training ombudsman to further deal with the complaint.
•The Ombudsman must publicly report each year on complaints and systemic issues in Queensland's VET sectorClause 5 (new s 112ZI)Annual report must be given within 3 months of financial year end and tabled in the Legislative Assembly within 14 days.

1/12/2015· Hon Y D'Ath MPWork & EmploymentCommittee: pass

Jobs Queensland Bill 2015

Passed (amended)This bill became law after being modified during debate.

•Queensland's apprenticeship and traineeship system will be reviewed and advised on by an independent bodyClause 7Jobs Queensland's functions include advising on the apprenticeship and traineeship system in Queensland.
•Government spending on vocational training will be guided by independent advice about future skills demandExplanatory notesThe advice and reports from Jobs Queensland will help inform priorities for state investment in skills, training and workforce planning.
•Up to $40 million over four years will fund the new body over its first termExplanatory notesThe Government has allocated up to $40 million over four years to establish Jobs Queensland.
•The body must publish an annual report tabled in Parliament, so citizens can see what advice it gaveClause 21Jobs Queensland must prepare an annual report on the discharge of its functions, which the Minister must table in the Legislative Assembly within 14 days.

16/9/2015· Hon Y D'Ath MPWork & EmploymentCommittee: pass

Queensland Training Assets Management Authority Repeal Bill 2015

PassedThis bill became law.

•TAFE Queensland gets priority access to state-owned training facilities instead of competing for them commerciallyPolicy objectivesThe Government's intent is that TAFE Queensland will have priority access to state-owned training assets to support its planning and delivery of quality training.
•Control of Queensland's vocational training assets returns to the Department of Education and TrainingClause 4, section 227On the commencement, the assets and liabilities of QTAMA become assets and liabilities of the State held in the department.
•TAFE Queensland is backed by a $34 million, three-year investment to restore its role as the state's premier VET providerPolicy objectives
•The separate authority that managed training assets on a commercial basis is abolishedClause 4, sections 223 and 225The Queensland Training Assets Management Authority Act 2014 is repealed and QTAMA and its board are dissolved on commencement.

21/5/2015· Hon Y D'Ath MPWork & Employment