Outlines responsibilities involved in applying for and processing Mature Age Student Notice applications for students 18 years and older enrolling in state schools.
Statement of intent
Education Queensland screens persons based on their criminal history, who are seeking to enrol as mature age students in State schools, other than schools of distance education and special schools.
Prior to enrolment, applicants apply for a Mature Age Student Notice (new window) 73k 
. The mature age student application process includes a criminal history check by the Queensland Police Service. Information obtained via the criminal history screening process is used to determine suitability for enrolment at a State school, and for making any decisions regarding excluding mature age students. Subject to this process, only mature age applicants whose enrolment would not harm the best interests of children are allowed to enrol in State schools.
A person is not required to apply for Mature Age Student Notice where the person:
-
turns 18 years of age whilst they are still at school; or
-
was previously enrolled in non-State school or State school (and on the day of enrolment was under 18 years of age), and the period between their last day of attendance at their previous school and the proposed first day of attendance at the mature age State school is not more than 12 months (may need to be verified with previous school/s); or
-
holds a student visa (certified copy of visa is required); or
-
wishes to enrol at a school of distance education or a special school.
Mature age students who were 18 years of age or more on the day of enrolment in a State school have an obligation under the Act to disclose any change in criminal history (new window) 200k 
. This includes students not required to obtain a Mature Age Student Notice prior to enrolment. Students who turn 18 years of age whilst at school are not required to disclose their criminal history.
A Positive Mature Age Student Notice remains current for 6 months after it is issued for the State school for which it is issued. Once enrolled the Mature Age Student's Positive Notice remains active while the enrolment and attendance is continuous and ongoing unless the student is issued with a Negative Notice. A mature age student will need to reapply for a Mature Age Student Notice if the six month period from the date of issue of the previous notice has expired and the student ceases enrolment during that period. A new Mature Age Student Notice is required if enrolling at a different school. The term "mature age State school" is referred to in the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld) 
(new window) . A mature age state school is a State school other than a school of distance education or a special school (for example, a P-10, P-12, high school, State college or Centre of Continuing Secondary Education).
If a Negative Mature Age Student Notice is issued, the applicant is not to be enrolled and may not apply for another Mature Age Student Notice for that school for a period of 12 months from the time the applicant is notified that they have been issued with a Negative Notice.
No disclosure of information or unauthorised access to documents, including criminal history checks by current and past officers of the department, is permitted other than for purposes relating to the Director-General's decisions for issuing mature age student notice, cancelling Positive Notice, or excluding mature age student.
Paper and electronic files containing personal information are managed and kept in accordance with department's IFM-PR-008: Managing the Department's Records which includes retention and disposal schedule which accords with Queensland State Archive requirements.
Contacts
For information on mature age students, contact:
Other languages