Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia Annual Report 2022–23

​​​​​​​Teacher registration

All teachers teaching in schools and other educational venues in Western Australia, such as a centre‑based education and care service (long day care) and the juvenile detention centre, must be registered with us.

To meet registration requirements, applicants must:

• be appropriately qualified
• have the necessary English language skills
• meet the required professional standards for the relevant registration category
• be fit and proper persons.

To renew registration, we must be satisfied that the teacher continues to meet the requirements for their category of registration. We only renew Provisional Registration where there are exceptional circumstances.

At 30 June 2023, 58,373 teachers were registered with the Board (refer to Table 1). The increase in the number of individuals registered to teach under Limited Registration is due to COVID‑19 and the associated workforce supply issues.

Table 1: Teachers registered at 30 June by category 2019 to 2023​​​​​​​

Category	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Full Registration	44,083	44,970	45,019	44,417	46,169
Provisional Registration	5,721	5,201	5,271	5,627	5,506
Non-Practising Registration	4,289	4,271	4,655	5,335	5,171
Limited Registration	643	701	765	1,372	1,527
Total	54,736	55,143	55,710	56,751	58,373

 

During 2022–23, we received 12,049 teacher registration applications and approved 13,086 applications (refer to Table 2).

Based on the mutual recognition principle, we registered 848 teachers who were registered in another Australian state or territory or in New Zealand.

Table 2: Applications received and approved by type 2021–22 and 2022–23^(a)

Type of application	2021–22		2022–23
	Received	Approved	Received	Approved
New registration	4,052	3,948	4,535	4,212
Renewal of registration	15,116	13,851	4,710	6,005
Move registration category	3,174	2,875	2,576	2,666
Extension of Non-Practising Registration​​​​​​​(b)	221	212	228	203
Total	22,563	20,886	12,049	13,086

_{(a) Number of applications received in one year may not be the same as number approved that same year as applications may be processed in subsequent years.
(b) The extension of Non-Practising Registration may only be approved when there are extenuating circumstances.}

 

Applicants can progress to Full Registration from either Provisional Registration (including early career teachers) or Non‑Practising Registration (refer to Table 3). Applicants must provide evidence that they meet the proficient level of the Professional Standards for Teachers in Western Australia, as well as meeting the other requirements.

Table 3: Approved applications to transition to Full Registration 2021–22 and 2022–23

	2021–22	2022–23
Provisional to Full Registration	1,159	1,747
Non-Practising to Full Registration	371	445

 

Board determinations

We have delegated the granting of teacher registration to the Director, Teacher Registration. Applications considered by the director to require further examination are referred to us.

During 2022–23, we refused 38 of the 53 applications referred to us for further examination, as they did not meet one or more of the requirements for registration or the renewal of registration (refer to Table 4).

Table 4: Applications considered and refused by registration requirements 2021–22 and 2022–23​​​​​​​

	2021–22		2022–23
	Considered	Refused	Considered	Refused
One requirement considered
Qualifications	26	6	13	7
English language	48	27	30	29
Professional standards	0	0	0	0
Qualifications/skills/expertise(a)	0	0	3	0
Fit and proper	11	4	6	1
More than one requirement considered
Qualifications and English language	4	4	0	0
Professional standards and fit and proper	0	0	1	1
Total	89	41	53	38

_{(a) Specific to applications for Limited Registration.}

 

Providing advice to prospective applicants

Prospective applicants can seek written advice from us on whether they meet the qualification requirements for registration, or if they would meet the fit and proper requirements for registration.

Of the 113 requests for qualifications advice finalised in 2022–23, 93 were determined by the Director, Teacher Registration as meeting requirements. The remaining 20 were considered by us, with 13 determined as not meeting requirements.

We received 3 requests for fit and proper advice from prospective applicants in 2022–23 that were not finalised.

In the one unfinalised request for fit and proper advice from 2021–22, we determined that the prospective applicant would be considered fit and proper.

 

Annual teacher registration fee

Registered teachers are required to pay an annual fee by 31 March each year to maintain registration.

In February 2023, we raised 58,422 invoices for the annual fee. The registrations of 1,444 teachers were cancelled, as they did not pay their annual fee by 4 May 2023.

At 30 June 2023, we had reinstated the registrations of 111 teachers whose non‑payment was due to extenuating circumstances.

 

Unregistered teaching

When a concern about unregistered teaching is identified, the case is managed to ensure the obligations of the teacher and the employer are met. No unregistered teaching matters were referred for prosecution in 2022–23.

 

Review by the State Administrative Tribunal

Teachers dissatisfied with a decision we made related to registration can appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT). In 2022–23, one of our decisions was appealed to the SAT but was subsequently withdrawn.

​​​​​​​Our paramount consideration in dealing with disciplinary and impairment matters is the best interests of children. The Teacher Registration Act requires that only fit and proper people be registered as teachers, and places obligations on teachers, employers and certain other parties.

 

Notifications required by the Teacher Registration Act and complaints about teachers

Notifications are received about registered teachers from employers, teachers, the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions. More than one notification may be received for a matter.

Complaints may also be made to us about registered teachers, or a person who was a registered teacher at the time the alleged conduct occurred. More than one complaint may be received for a matter.

In 2022–23, we received 63 notifications and 12 complaints (refer to Table 5) relating to 74 matters.

Table 5: Notifications and complaints received 2021–22 and 2022–23^(a)(b)

	2021–22	2022–23
Notifications from teachers
Legal actions (section 38)	2	7
Loss of qualifications (section 39)	0	0
Issued Working with Children Negative Notice (section 40)	0	0
Notifications from Director of Public Prosecutions or Commissioner of Police (section 41)	1	2
Notifications from employers
Serious incompetence (section 42)	6	6
Serious misconduct (section 42)	36	48
Complaints from the public/other (section 51)	8	12
Total	53	75

_{(a) As per the specified section in the Teacher Registration Act.
(b) More than one notification or complaint may be received for a matter.}

 

The status of ongoing and new matters is shown in Table 6.

Table 6: Status of ongoing and new matters at 30 June 2023^(a)

Status of matters	2022–23
Matters ongoing at 30 June 2023
Still to be decided (section 51(3)(a))	7
Investigations continuing (section 53(2))	32
Completed during the reporting period
Cancellation of registration (section 27(2)(b))	5
Complaint not required (section 45(e))	14
Other person or authority (section 57(1)(a))	2
Not within power (section 57(1)(b))	23
Without substance (section 57(1)(c))	5
Referred during the reporting period
Disciplinary committee (section 53(1)(c))	5
Impairment Review Committee (section 53(1)(d))	0
State Administrative Tribunal (section 53(1)(e))	4
Total	97

_{(a) As per the specified section in the Teacher Registration Act.}

 

Disciplinary committee

During 2022–23, 5 disciplinary matters were referred to a disciplinary committee. Of those matters, 2 have been finalised and the remaining 3 are ongoing.

A disciplinary committee also considered 3 disciplinary matters which were referred in a previous reporting period. All 3 matters have been finalised.

Of the 5 finalised matters:

• 2 teachers received reprimands
• 1 teacher received a period of suspension and their Full Registration was substituted for Provisional Registration
• 1 Full Registration was substituted for Provisional Registration
• 1 was dismissed.

 

Impairment Review Committee

No matters were referred to the Impairment Review Committee in 2022–23.

 

Referral to the State Administrative Tribunal

We referred 4 matters to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) in 2022–23. Of these, 1 was finalised and 3 are ongoing.

The SAT ordered the registration of one teacher be cancelled and that they be disqualified from applying for registration for a period.

Of the 5 ongoing matters from 2021–22 the SAT ordered:

• 1 application for registration be approved
• 2 teachers be disqualified from applying for registration for a period
• 1 Full Registration be substituted for Provisional Registration.

In the other matter, we withdrew our referral to the SAT and subsequently dealt with the matter.

 

Interim disciplinary orders

We have the authority to make interim disciplinary orders that include placing conditions on registration or suspending registration. The interim disciplinary order committee and the Director, Teacher Registration under delegation from the Board also have this authority.

An interim disciplinary order may be made where an activity involves a risk of imminent injury or harm (section 59 of the Teacher Registration Act) or if a teacher is charged with a sexual offence involving a child (section 60 of the Act).

The interim disciplinary order committee met to consider 3 matters pursuant to section 59(b) of the Act. No ‘section 59(b)’ interim disciplinary orders were issued.

The Director, Teacher Registration made 2 ‘section 60’ interim disciplinary orders. Subsequent to these orders being made in each instance, interim negative notices were issued resulting in the cancellation of registration.

Unless the order is revoked, we must refer all matters for which an interim disciplinary order has been made to the SAT within 14 days. As all the interim disciplinary orders were revoked, we were not required to refer any of these matters to the SAT.

​​​​​​​We are responsible for accrediting initial teacher education (ITE) programs delivered by Western Australian higher education providers. The accreditation of ITE programs is directly linked to teacher registration. For a person to be eligible for Full, Provisional or Non‑Practising Registration under the Teacher Registration Act, they must have a teaching qualification from an accredited program or one that we recognise as equivalent to such a qualification.

Applications from ITE providers for program accreditation or re‑accreditation are assessed against the Western Australian Standards for the Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs by a panel of education experts we appoint. The standards are based on nationally agreed accreditation standards.

Approved programs are accredited for up to 5 years and recognised for the purposes of teacher registration by other Australian state and territory teacher regulatory authorities. For the number of accredited ITE programs in Western Australia, refer to Table 7.

During 2022–23, we approved the accreditation of 2 new teacher education programs. The accreditation of 2 programs, no longer offered by the provider, expired and were not renewed. At 30 June 2023, the assessment of 3 applications for re‑accreditation was ongoing.

Table 7: Accredited initial teacher education programs at 30 June 2021–22 and 2022–23

ITE Programs	Undergraduate		Postgraduate		Total
	2021–22	2022–23	2021–22	2022–23	2021–22	2022–23
Early childhood	3	4	1	1	4	5
Early childhood/primary	1	1	2	2	3	3
Primary	5	5	3	3	8	8
Primary/secondary	1	1	0	0	1	1
Secondary	7	5	5	5	12	10
Early childhood/primary/secondary	0	0	1	2	1	2
Total	17	16	12	13	29	29

​​​​​​​We aim to provide clear and consistent information about registration requirements and processes to assist stakeholders understand our regulatory and compliance requirements. In addition, engagement with stakeholders provides the opportunity to improve our regulatory services.

In 2022–23, we published Overview of the Teacher Registration Amendment Bill 2022 and Overseas Qualified Teachers information sheets.

The Teacher‑Student Professional Boundaries: A Resource for WA Teachers booklet is under review, in consultation with stakeholders, for publication as a revised edition.

Employers of teachers are contacted annually about their obligations under the Teacher Registration Act and are reminded:

• to provide notifications when required
• to appoint, employ or engage only registered teachers to teach in educational venues, including in accordance with any conditions on their registration
• of the renewal of registration process
• of the due date for payment of the annual fee
• of the benefits of using the Teacher Registration Information (Professional) online service (TRIP).

The TRIP online management tool for employers is available for use by all schools. It provides principals and employers with up‑to‑date information on the registration status of current and prospective teachers including:

• any conditions placed on a teacher’s registration
• the annual fee due date
• the registration expiry date
• the most recent ‘fit and proper’ determination date.

Teacher Registration directorate staff delivered face‑to‑face and online presentations to pre‑service teachers, early career and returning teachers about the requirements and process for registration.

We supported the Australian Teacher Workforce Data initiative for the third year by providing registered teachers with access to the Australian Teacher Workforce Survey. This data collection provides insights into the national teacher workforce.

Information about a consumer price index rate of 3.25% applied to our fees, effective from 1 July 2023, was communicated by email to a range of stakeholders (including registered teachers) and included on our website in June 2023.

We continued to engage with other regulatory authorities, education sector representatives and higher education providers to exchange information, provide advice and guidance on regulatory requirements and seek feedback on our regulatory services.

Feedback from applicants and teachers is important to us and informs improvements to regulatory services, online services, communication and policies. Feedback can be made in person, by email or by mail.