The changes came into effect on 19 December 2023, and strengthened the regulation of the teaching profession in Western Australia (WA), supporting teachers to demonstrate their high standards of professionalism to the community through registration and a responsive regulatory approach that upholds professional standards and operates in the best interests of children.

An Information Sheet and short video summarising the key changes are also available.

Legislation changes

The Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA) is the body responsible for the registration of teachers in WA. It registers all teachers, from early childhood to Year 12, who teach in a WA educational institution.  The TRBWA is also responsible for the accreditation of initial teacher education programs in WA.

The TRBWA performs its functions in accordance with the Teacher Registration Act 2012 (Act), the Teacher Registration (General) Regulations 2012, and the Teacher Registration (Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs) Regulations 2012 (Regulations).

The Act and Regulations, along with relevant Board policies, changed on 19 December 2023, following a Review of the Act.

Why were changes needed?

The Review of the Act was undertaken to consider the operation and effectiveness of the TRBWA. The review identified some changes needed to the current legislation to achieve the following:

• Strengthen the powers of the TRBWA to respond to matters of child safety involving teachers, consistent with recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
• Ensure an effective registration system that allows teachers to move between registration categories and improve fairness for teachers returning after an absence.
• Allow WA to participate to a greater degree in the Australian Teacher Workforce Data Strategy, providing a clearer picture of the national teacher workforce. 
• Promote a skilled teaching workforce.

Changes to Non Practising Registration

From 19 December 2023, teachers holding Non-Practising Registration are required to change their category of registration before they commence teaching. 

Teachers holding Non-Practising Registration are no longer be able to teach from 19 December 2023, aligning this category with other states and territories, reducing confusion for teachers, employers, and other stakeholders.  Teachers holding Non-Practising Registration still appear on the Register of Teachers, but they are not permitted to teach as a registered teacher in any WA school or early childhood service.

Information outlining the changes to Non-Practising Registration is provided below.  

Non-Practising Registration

Legislation to 18 December 2023

Legislation from 19 December 2023

T  eachers holding Non-Practising Registration	Can teach by submitting a Notice of Teaching Form to TRBWA	Are required to change their category of registration before they commence teaching, as they are unable to teach while holding this category
Options for holders of Non-Practising Registration	Can transition to Full Registration or Provisional Registration, if eligible May be eligible for Limited Registration Can teach when holding Non-Practising Registration by submitting a Notice of Teaching Form to TRBWA	Can remain a holder of Non-Practising Registration (will not be able to teach)   Can transition to Full Registration or Provisional Registration, if eligible (to be able to teach)
Non-Practising Registration expiry	Non-Practising Registration expires 2 years from the day the teacher commenced teaching If the teacher has not submitted a Notice of Teaching, Non-Practising Registration can be held indefinitely	Non-Practising Registration can be held indefinitely (subject to meeting the ongoing requirements for registration)
New applicants without any type of current teacher registration in WA (see section below if you are an overseas qualified teacher)	Can apply for Non-Practising Registration (Application fee applies)	Can no longer apply for Non-Practising Registration, and may wish to apply for a different category of registration
Teachers holding Limited Registration	Can apply for Non-Practising Registration	Can no longer apply for Non-Practising Registration, and may wish to apply for a different category of registration
Transitioning from another category to Non-Practising Registration	Can transition from Full Registration or Provisional Registration	No change No fee applies
Register of Teachers	Will appear	Will appear however can no longer teach

Teachers with Non-Practising Registration are required to continue to be a fit and proper person to be registered, keep contact details up to date in Teacher Login, and continue to comply with all legal requirements for registration, which includes paying the teacher registration annual fee.

It is acknowledged there are circumstances where a teacher may wish to maintain their Non-Practising Registration, for example, taking a break from teaching, while their name remains on the Register of Teachers.

Teachers holding Non-Practising Registration who have been taking a break from the profession and would like to return to teaching, must apply and be granted either Full Registration or Provisional Registration to be eligible for employment as a teacher, or if they have the offer of a teaching position, they may be eligible for Limited Registration.

Changes to Provisional Registration

From 19 December 2023, the category of Provisional Registration has two sub-categories:   

Provisional Registration Sub Category	Register of Teachers	Difference
Graduate Teacher	Provisional Registration – Graduate Teacher	Teachers who completed an Australian or New Zealand accredited ITE qualification within five years of making their application*
Returning Teacher	Provisional Registration – Returning Teacher	Teachers who completed an Australian or New Zealand accredited ITE qualification greater than five years from making their application* Overseas qualified teachers with a teaching qualification and teaching experience that the Board considers is sufficient to enable the person to hold registration as a teacher*

*Subject to assessment of application for registration

This change reflects feedback from the teaching community that a differentiation between graduate teachers, and teachers returning after an absence, was needed.

It is generally expected that a teacher holding Provisional Registration will make an application for Full Registration before their Provisional Registration expires.

Where this does not occur, the Board can agree to renew a teacher’s Provisional Registration if there are sufficient reasons for doing so.

Where the Board has agreed there are sufficient reasons, the teacher will continue to hold the same subcategory of Provisional Registration (Provisional Registration (Graduate Teacher) or Provisional Registration (Returning Teacher), as they do currently.

Changes to the Register of Teachers

From 19 December 2023, the Register of Teachers was amended to reflect the changes to the Provisional Registration category, to provide more information to users.

The category of Provisional Registration now has two sub-categories – Graduate Teacher and Returning Teacher.

At this stage, no changes have been made to how the category of Non-Practising Registration appears on the Register of Teachers. 

Only teachers holding Full Registration, Provisional Registration (Graduate Teacher or Returning Teacher) or Limited Registration are eligible to teach.

What has changed for Overseas Qualified Teachers

From 19 December 2023, overseas qualified teachers seeking to apply for teacher registration in WA may be eligible for one of the following categories of registration:

Registration Category	Eligibility criteria	Description
Provisional Registration (Returning Teacher)	has a teaching qualification and teaching experience that the Board considers is sufficient to enable the person to hold registration as a teacher. has the necessary English language skills to teach in a WA school. is a fit and proper person to be registered (provide an overseas criminal history check (OCHC) if required, and provides consent for a national criminal history check)	Allows you to teach as a  registered teacher in any WA educational institution
Limited Registration	has an offer of a teaching position has the required skills, expertise and/or qualification(s) for the duties of the teaching position offered has the English language skills required for teachers in WA is a fit and proper person to be registered (provide an overseas criminal history check (OCHC) if required, and provides consent for a national criminal history check)	Allows you to teach in WA subject to an employer or school making an application for registration on your behalf.