A career in education can be diverse and offers many professional and personal rewards which can extend far beyond the classroom. Career progression can look different for every teacher and reflects their personal aspirations and interests, and can include relocation to new schools or locations, recognition as an experienced classroom teacher and transition into school leadership roles.
One of the best advantages of working for the Department of Education is the large and diverse
network of schools where our teachers and school leaders work, and how we can help you to take on new opportunities and relocate to a new school or community.
Leadership opportunities
You can access a range of supported pathways and development opportunities that can help you to progress from classroom teaching into a variety of school leadership roles and specialist positions including:
- Principal
- Deputy Principal
- Head of Department (Curriculum)
- Head of School
- Head of Campus
- Head of Special Education Services
- Guidance Officer or Senior Guidance Officer.
Teaching opportunities
Roles such as Senior Experienced Teacher, Highly Accomplished Teacher (HAT) and Lead Teacher (LT) recognise and provide pathways for teachers who want to continue to be in the classroom.
Eligible state school teachers have the opportunity to pursue voluntary national certification for HAT and LT status while remaining in the classroom.
Teachers in a range of state school contexts and curriculum areas, including primary, special education, outdoor education and physical education, mathematics, English, science and performing arts, have been successful in gaining certification.
The Queensland College of Teachers is the certifying authority for Queensland state school teachers seeking certification as a Highly Accomplished Teacher or Lead Teacher. For more details about this process, visit the
Queensland College of Teachers website.
We also provide experienced teachers and school leaders with the opportunity to undertake national training so that they can become an assessor within the certification process. Our assessors hold a range of positions across different school settings and contexts including primary, secondary, primary and secondary combined, special schools, schools of distance education and regional locations.
Rural and remote opportunities
Many teachers and school leaders credit the experiences they had teaching and living in rural and remote communities as a critical component of their progression into school leadership.
Taking opportunities to experience
new school settings and communities provides valuable personal and professional development opportunities and through our teacher mobility processes we can help you to find a school and community that aligns with your career and lifestyle goals.
If you are interested in a transfer or relocation opportunity, we encourage you to chat with your supervisor or Principal, and access the information about our teacher mobility processes on OnePortal (departmental access only).
Professional development opportunities
Our
Education Futures Institute (EFI) empowers educators, departmental staff, school and system leaders to build their professional expertise and wellbeing by engaging in high-quality, targeted capability development at key career stages.
The EFI offers both custom and partnership learning courses and programs targeted at developing capability across key career stages. The institute also works with educational experts to deliver flagship programs with a focus on curriculum, teaching and learning.
Current EFI programs include a focus on supporting early career teachers, middle leaders and aspiring, beginning and experienced school leaders.