This procedure outlines parameters for professional development for departmental employees, including processes for: planning, monitoring and reviewing employee professional development; release time for teachers; guidelines for school/work unit and individual professional development plans; and study and research assistance.
Statement of intent
The Department of Education and Training is committed to improving organisational and individual performance through professional development which leads to a skilled, confident and flexible workforce.
Professional development enables the enhancement of knowledge, skills and behaviours within or beyond the requirements of a position to meet present or future Department of Education and Training objectives and career plans of the individual. It can occur within or outside an employee's workplace. Responsibility for delivering and accessing professional development must be balanced and shared between individuals, schools, work units and the Department.
Systemic priorities for all employees are outlined annually in the Department's Professional Development Agenda. School/work unit professional development plans are developed collaboratively by employees to ensure coverage of systemic priorities and to maximise the capacity and capability of teams and individual employees. Individual professional development plans are negotiated between individual employees and their supervisors.
To ensure minimum disruption to student learning, the Department funds six student-free days for school development activities, including professional development - five on designated dates and one locally arranged in accordance with Show holidays. While teachers' non-contact time is rostered for preparation and correction, teachers may choose to use their rostered non-contact time for professional development. This arrangement should not occur at the Principal's direction.
Professional development may comprise a range of activities, as listed in the Guidelines for Professional Development Planning. Formal study or research is one such activity that enhances professional expertise. All permanent, and in certain circumstances temporary, employees are eligible to apply for study or research assistance either at the instigation of the Department or the employee. While there are two categories of courses of study, desirable and essential, attracting different levels of assistance, an employee must have prior course approval from the Principal/Manager to ensure access to assistance. The Explanatory Notes attached to the Application for Course Approval (new window) 603k 
outline guidelines for managing resources from individual schools/work units. It should be noted that there is no central funding pool for study and research assistance. As with all professional development opportunities, the principles of equity and equal employment opportunity apply to employees' access to this assistance.
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