MEDIA RELEASE
27 November 2025
APPOINTMENT OF NEW REGISTRAR FOR THE TEACHERS REGISTRATION BOARD OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The Teachers Registration Board of South Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Sue-Ann Charlton as its new Registrar. Ms Charlton will officially assume the role in early January 2026, taking over from Acting Registrar, Joseph Nguyen.
Presiding Member of the Board, Ms Carolyn Grantskalns, warmly welcomed the appointment, stating: “I am confident that Sue will make an outstanding contribution to the Board and play a pivotal role in the national conversation on teaching. Child safety is always our primary focus, and I believe that Ms Charlton will be a driving force in upholding that commitment.”
With extensive experience as a senior executive and board director, Ms Charlton brings a wealth of expertise in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and driving cultural and business transformation at local and national levels. Her ability to think critically, challenge the status quo constructively, and foster meaningful, positive growth will be instrumental in guiding the Board into the future.
The Teachers Registration Board is a highly respected statutory authority which builds public trust in the teaching profession. The TRB establishes and maintains a teacher registration system and professional standards to ensure members are competent and fit and proper persons to have the care of children.
Ms Charlton expressed her enthusiasm for the role, stating: “I am eager to meet the team and build on the important work already underway. Collaboration across the sector will be key, and I acknowledge the significant progress that has been achieved. My focus will be on advancing that momentum to strengthen the profession and, most importantly, deliver positive outcomes for the children of South Australia.”
The Board sincerely thanks outgoing Acting Registrar, Joseph Nguyen. “I would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution of the Acting Registrar, Joseph Nguyen, for his leadership and commitment to both the Board and its staff,” Ms Grantskalns said.
Any enquiries can be forwarded to Media and Communications officer, Susan Gallina at susan.gallina@trb.sa.edu.au or 0437 327 263.
MEDIA RELEASE
Friday 18 July 2025
Resignation of Registrar
As Registrar of the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia, Ms Leonie Paulson has tendered her resignation, effective 10 July 2025.
Accepting her resignation, the Board has appointed Acting Registrar, Joseph Nguyen, to continue in the role until the end of this year, at which time the Board will commence a formal recruitment process. Mr Nguyen will undertake all responsibilities associated with the Office of the Registrar, including representation at state and national meetings/forums.
The Board would like to thank Ms Paulson for her contribution to the secretariat, teachers and the wider education community in South Australia. The Board looks forward to continuing its work with many of its valued stakeholders while also strengthening the important partnerships that raise the standing of the teaching profession.
For any meeting invitations, correspondence, or queries, please contact the Registrar’s Executive Assistant via email at ea@trb.sa.edu.au
Any other enquiries can be forwarded to Media and Communications officer, Susan Gallina at susan.gallina@trb.sa.edu.au
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 1 August 2024
New Code of Conduct for all teachers registered in South Australia
A new Code of Conduct applying to all registered teachers, and unregistered special authorisation holders, was developed by the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia and came into effect on the 1st of August.
The Code was developed after wide consultation across the state and Teachers Registration Board Registrar, Leonie Paulson, is confident that it reflects the views of a broad cross-section of the SA community.
According to Ms Paulson, the Code aims to promote the high standards of the teaching profession and will support teachers as they navigate an increasingly complex work setting. For students who are studying teaching, the Code will help them in their understanding of the profession they are about to enter.
“The safety of Children and Young People is the paramount focus of the Code,” Ms Paulson said. “It sets best practice professional standards for teachers, regardless of work setting or who their employer is. This could be from children taught in long day care settings through to kindergarten, primary and secondary education.”
The new Code is overarching and builds upon guidelines already in place in South Australia, such as the Protective practices for staff in their interactions with children and young people. The Code sets standards of the regulator in addition to other employer guidance or codes.
Ms Paulson said, “Rather than list a range of unacceptable behaviours, the Code effectively re-directs teacher attention to standards of professional conduct in four key relationships or pillars, being: Teachers, Learners and families; Teachers in the community; Teachers and their Colleagues; and finally, Regulatory and Reporting obligations of the teacher. In this way, the Code highlights professional expectations when joining this profession, rather than merely setting out worst behaviour or “misconduct”. It aims high – as all teachers urged us to do throughout the consultation.”
Not all states and territories currently have such a code. However, since an amendment to South Australian legislation in July 2021, the Teachers Registration Board has made it a priority to develop this Code in consultation with the SA community.
Board Presiding Member, Carolyn Grantskalns, herself a teacher, noted that “the Code was an important part of both supporting teachers and recognising excellence as they complied with the professional expectations clearly set out. The small minority of teachers unable to do so would continue to be the focus of action by the Board recognising that a breach of the Code could be followed up with swift regulatory action, including urgent suspensions, conditions imposed, or indeed teacher registration being cancelled.”
A comprehensive Guideline has also been developed to support understanding of the Code and its use in education settings. The Code and the supporting Guidelines can be found on the Teachers Registration Board website.
Amended Regulations – Early Childhood Teacher Registration
Carolyn Grantskalns, the Presiding Member of the Teachers Registration Board, was pleased to advise Board staff of the welcome news from the Malinauskas government to provide an additional $1.9 billion investment in early childhood education over 9 years. Ms Grantskalns noted changes to the Teachers Registration and Standards Regulations, 2021 will permit early childhood teachers who have completed a 3-year, Birth – 5 early childhood qualification to now be immediately registered with a condition on their teacher registration to teach in early childhood settings and lead in the provision of teacher-led, high-quality play-based education in preschools, kindergartens and long day care centres. The Board looks forward to the positive impact the changes will have on teachers, schools, and the wider community.
Overview
Since 1976, early childhood teachers who have completed 4-year bachelor’s qualifications have been on the register of teachers.
In order to increase the workforce of early childhood teachers able to staff universal 3-year-old education (from 2026), the Government has recently approved an amendment to the Regulations that will permit early childhood teachers who have completed a 3-year, Birth – 5 early childhood qualification to register with a condition on their registration.
From 6 June 2024, the Teachers Registration and Standards Regulations, 2021 have been amended to now enable the registration of 3-year trained early childhood teachers.
The condition will limit 3-year early childhood trained teachers to teach in an early childhood setting. This will include pre-schools, kindergarten, early childhood learning centres and in delivering education programmes in out-of-school-hours care.
For more information, a fact sheet is available.
