Hundreds of South Australian school and preschool leaders will receive substantial pay rises under a major $36.2 million reform package announced by the State Government.
From next year, a new six-level classification structure will replace the existing nine-level system used to assess school and preschool leadership roles. The model is designed to better reflect the complexity of leading contemporary education sites, moving away from a system that has historically relied heavily on enrolment numbers.
Under the changes, 699 principals and preschool directors will receive a pay rise on top of sector-wide increases – four per cent in both 2024 and 2025, and a further three per cent next year. The reform will deliver an average annual boost of $8,679 to public education leaders.
Developed in partnership with the Australian Education Union and key stakeholder groups, the structure aims to bring greater equity and stability to leadership classifications. The current model can see up to 40 per cent of sites shift levels each year, creating uncertainty for staff.
Leaders will now be remunerated based on the complexity of their school or preschool, recognising the additional challenges faced at high-needs or multifaceted sites. The government says this shift will help attract and retain strong leaders – particularly as South Australia rolls out three-year-old preschool from 2026.
The reform follows other recent initiatives to support principals and directors, including 10-year contracts, reduced administrative burden, additional powers to manage aggressive parent behaviour, and a record $1.6 billion enterprise bargaining agreement.
SA Premier Mr Peter Malinauskas said strong leadership is essential to student success.
“High-quality leadership is a significant determinant in building high-quality schools which improve outcomes for students and set them up for life,” he said.
“This reform will result in an average annual pay increase of almost $9,000 for 700 leaders across the public education system, and will result in a fairer system across the board.”
SA Education Minister Mr Blair Boyer said the investment reflects the central role leaders play.
“Strong school leadership is the single biggest factor in improving student outcomes after quality teaching,” he said. “We are making this investment to ensure we are attracting and keeping the best leaders in the South Australian education system.”
For preschool leaders, the reform also marks long-awaited recognition of the complexity of early childhood education.
Lockleys Children’s Centre Director Ms Nadia Carruozzo, who has worked in the sector for nearly 40 years, welcomed the changes.
“It’s not all about the money – it’s about the recognition of the value of the work done in the early years of children’s learning,” she said.
“The current structure doesn’t accurately reflect the complexity of sites. Greater equity and cohesion across the public education system will lead to better outcomes for children and their families.”
The new structure will take effect in 2026.
