Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Catholic Education Office

Teacher Exchange Program

Related Policies:

Transfer

Purpose:

This policy facilitates opportunities for teachers to extend their professional experience by teaching in other Archdiocesan systemic schools.

Policy:

The teacher exchange program is open to Principals, Assistant Principals, Religious Education Coordinators, Coordinators and continuing status teachers in both ACT and NSW sectors of the Archdiocese. Exchanges are available for both primary and secondary teachers.

Exchanges will, under normal circumstances, be for a whole school year.

Teachers on exchange remain employees of the Catholic Education Office and have a guaranteed right of return to their school of origin. All entitlements are continuous throughout the exchange.

Undertaking teacher exchange does not disqualify an employee from applying for another permanent position or promotional position that may become available during the exchange period.

Implementation of teacher exchange is dependent on both parties being available and willing to undertake the program. Both parties will be asked to make a written commitment to the exchange. In unforseen circumstances involving one member of an exchange (eg late resignation) schools may be asked to employ a temporary teacher so that the exchange may go ahead for the remaining partner.

In some circumstances, exchanges involving more than two teachers may be undertaken e.g. three way exchange.

Any personal costs incurred (e.g. removal, rent or additional travel) will be borne by the employee.

Where residences are exchanged, teachers need to formalise that aspect of the exchange as a personal contract. The Catholic Education Office accepts no responsibility for residences.

All teachers will have the opportunity to apply for the exchange to be varied to a transfer. This will only occur where the following conditions are met:

• all teachers involved in the exchange agree;
• all Principals involved agree;
• Parish Priests (in the case of primary schools) agree; and
• the Director of Catholic Education approves the transfer.

Definitions:

Teacher exchange

Temporary exchange of positions usually involving two teachers which usually lasts for one complete school year.

Teacher transfer

Procedures:

1. Details of the program, policy and procedures for teacher exchange are published through CEO Bulletin and Human Resources Circular.

2. Timeline for teacher exchange published during June.

3. Application forms, including the Principal's recommendation, is to be forwarded to the Catholic Education Office by close of Term 3.

4. Negotiation with Principals, Parish Priests and applicants takes place.

5. Confirmation of exchange made by Week 2 Term 4.

6. Monitoring the exchange.

7. At the end of Term 2 of the exchange year all teacher exchanges will be reviewed.

7.1 In some cases, exchangees may wish to request that their exchange be varied to a transfer from the beginning of the next calendar year.

7.2 Teachers will have the opportunity to vary exchange to a transfer provided all policy requirements (outlined above) are met.

References:

Nil

Forms:

Application for Teacher Exchange
Application to vary teacher exchange to transfer

Last updated on December 2, 2006