A new report from Monash University has found that only three in 10 Victorian public school staff intend to remain in the system until retirement, prompting renewed calls for funding reform and workforce retention strategies.
The research, conducted by Monash’s Education Workforce for the Future Research Lab within the Faculty of Education, surveyed 8,000 school staff and identified long-standing shortfalls in funding, staffing and professional support as key drivers behind workforce attrition.
According to the findings, just 30 per cent of respondents said they plan to stay in Victorian public schools for the duration of their careers. The report describes the state’s public school system as facing a “pivotal moment”, with uncompetitive wages, excessive workloads and limited professional recognition contributing to burnout and intentions to leave.
Lead author Dr Fiona Longmuir said the research highlighted both challenges and opportunities for the profession.
“The research found there are challenges and opportunities for the future of the profession, however a major concern continues to be the retention of teachers,” Dr Longmuir said.
She added that teachers are calling for reduced administrative paperwork, more time for planning student learning, increased professional autonomy and more flexible work arrangements to help restore professional trust and work–life balance.
Workload pressures were a consistent theme in the findings. On average, teachers reported 12.4 hours of unpaid overtime per week, while education support staff reported 12 hours. For principals, this figure rose to 17.5 hours per week.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian Branch said the findings underscore the urgency of addressing funding and workforce pressures in the public system.
Victorian Branch President Mr Justin Mullaly said reversing the decision not to deliver $2.4 billion in school funding would be the first step towards addressing teacher shortages and ensuring students’ needs are met.
“Victorian public school teachers continue to be the lowest paid in Australia, with education support employees and school leaders underpaid as well. This has an impact on every student across the state in the context of chronic shortages,” Mr Mullaly said.
“Funding cuts and staff shortages contribute to excessive workloads and a lack of support for teachers, principals and education support staff, which limits the ability of schools to fully deliver high-quality education to properly meet the needs of all public school students.”
The union described the report as a “wakeup call” for Premier Jacinta Allan and her government, warning that without immediate action, retention issues are likely to worsen and fewer graduates may be attracted to the profession.
In response to the findings, the AEU is calling on the Victorian Government to commit to a range of measures, including lifting Victorian public school funding to at least 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard, in line with other states and territories.
The union is also seeking increased pay and more flexible attendance arrangements to retain current employees and attract new entrants to the profession. It has proposed the establishment of statewide workforce retention strategies, including retention bonuses, workload reduction initiatives and improved professional support for teachers, education support staff and school leaders.
Additional recommendations include reducing administrative, data reporting and compliance requirements; improving mutual respect, safety and inclusion in schools, particularly in relation to students with complex and challenging behaviours; and providing further support for Aboriginal students and families through strengthened cultural safety and community partnerships.
The AEU is also advocating for reduced class sizes, particularly where there are high numbers of students with additional learning needs or individual education plans, and for significant ongoing investment in school infrastructure to ensure modern, healthy and safe learning environments.
“The Allan Government must deliver now on the funding promises they made in January 2025, as the future of the public school system is threatened without those resources,” Mr Mullaly said.
The full Monash University report is available here.
