Victorian public school teachers, principals and education support staff have begun an industrial campaign as Term 1 gets underway, citing pay disparity, excessive workloads and ongoing funding concerns.
On Tuesday, the Victorian Branch of the Australian Education Union (AEU) applied to the Fair Work Commission to conduct a ballot of members to endorse protected industrial action, including stopping work. The move follows almost seven months of negotiations after the previous enterprise agreement expired last year.
AEU Victorian Branch President Mr Justin Mullaly said staff were being “taken for granted” by the state government, which he said had failed to put a fair pay offer on the table.
“The old agreement expired last year, and we have been negotiating in good faith with the Allan Labor Government. Their failure to come to the table with an offer is downright disrespectful,” Mr Mullaly said.
According to the AEU, Victorian public school staff are now the lowest paid in the country. By October 2026, teachers are expected to earn up to $15,359 a year less than their NSW counterparts, while a classroom-based education support employee starting out would be 10.5 per cent behind. A Victorian principal new to the role would start $27,841, or 18 per cent, behind colleagues interstate.
The union also highlighted workload pressures, with Victorian public school staff working an average of 12 hours of unpaid overtime each week.
“Public school staff should go into the 2026 school year feeling supported and valued; instead they feel abandoned and underappreciated,” Mr Mullaly said.
He warned that ongoing pay and conditions issues were compounding workforce shortages across the state. “As the chronic shortage of school staff continues into 2026, the Premier and Education Minister ought to know that Victorian students are set up for success when their teachers, principals and education support staff are supported to stay in the profession,” he said.
Funding concerns have further intensified tensions. The AEU said a December agreement between the Victorian and Australian governments left Victorian public schools the lowest funded in the nation and funded at the same level as in 2023.
“This is completely unacceptable and breaks Premier Allan’s promise to fully and fairly fund our schools,” Mr Mullaly said, adding that the state had denied public schools $2.4 billion in funding through to 2031.
If approved by the Fair Work Commission, the AEU will ballot members in the coming weeks, with industrial action set to commence if endorsed.
