The Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian Branch has reached in-principle agreements with the state government that will see experienced teachers earn more than $150,000 before the end of the decade, and Victorian educators become Australia’s highest paid.
The union also endorsed an offer for early childhood staff who will receive a near-40 percent pay increase. It means, for the first time, the early childhood workforce will have equal pay to school teachers and staff.
Under the in-principle schools agreement, the AEU said pay for school teachers, assistant principals and principals would increase by between 28.3 percent and 32.4 percent over four years.
This means an experienced teacher’s pay will increase from the current $118,063 to $151,419 by 2029, including a $15,393 boost this year to take them ahead of NSW teachers.
More than 90,000 full-time teachers will earn over $1,000 more per month by October this year and almost $3,000 more per month by 2030, the Victorian Government said.
Meanwhile, an early career teacher would have a pay increase of $12,343 by October 2026, bringing them into line with their counterparts in NSW, with further increases in subsequent years.
Range 2 education support staff in schools, which includes classroom support, administrative staff, and those supporting students with disability, would receive a minimum pay increase of 29.8 percent over four years. Range 3 education support staff will receive a minimum of 29.29 percent over the same period.
The in-principle schools agreement also includes four professional practice days for teachers and education support staff so that important planning and preparation can be undertaken to further support student learning and wellbeing.
Early childhood teachers will receive the same percentage salary outcomes as school teachers.
Pay for early childhood educators will increase by 39.1 percent on average over four years, according to the AEU.
It means early childhood teachers will reach wage parity with Victorian Government school teachers for the first time.
Both agreements also include measures to address workloads and ensure teachers, education support staff, early childhood educators, principals and other education leaders have more time to complete their work, the union said.
“These are really significant improvements in the pay and conditions of public school and kindergarten staff, won through the campaigning of AEU members,” AEU Victorian Branch President Mr Justin Mullaly said.
“Our members are working hard every day in Victorian public schools and kindergartens.
“This is a win for teachers, educators, principals and education support staff, but it’s also a win for all Victorians. Nationally competitive pay and measures to tackle overwork and burnout will help keep experienced educators in the sector and attract the next generation.”
AEU Victoria Vice President Early Childhood, Ms Cara Nightingale, said: “Bringing kindergarten teachers’ pay into line with that of school teachers – who have done the same years of study – recognises the value of their work and will help attract the workforce needed to make Victoria’s free kindergarten ambition a reality.
“The near-40 percent pay increase for early childhood educators is also an historic achievement for a female-dominated profession that has been undervalued for too long.”
The Victorian Government said, in addition to nation-leading pay rises, time-off-in-lieu arrangements for camps have been reformed, making administration easier for school leaders.
This will now include an overnight payment for camps plus increased allowances for specialist school staff.
“We’ve always said our public school educators deserve a pay rise – that is what we’re delivering,” said Premier Ms Jacinta Allan.
“Our teachers, school leaders and education support staff show up every day and this is about saying thank you.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Mr Ben Carroll said children deserved the best teachers.
“Our society demands it,” he said. “This reflects the important work our educators do every day teaching and shaping our youngest Victorians.”
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn added that early childhood teachers and educators were critical to children’s learning and development.
“The Victorian Government has funded a settlement outcome that will deliver significant improvements to pay and conditions – for the first time our early childhood workforce will have equal pay to school teachers and staff,” he said.
The school and early childhood agreements were endorsed in-principle by elected councils of 120 school staff and 40 early childhood teachers and educators, respectively. They will now go to the wider AEU membership for their consideration.
