Victorian government school staff have approved their new enterprise agreement: 93.1% of the 80,742 employees who voted said yes, the Department of Education announced on 17 September 2026. Once the Fair Work Commission approves it, a teacher at the top of the classroom scale goes from $118,063 to $133,456 from October 2026, and to $151,419 by November 2029.
Update, 24 September 2026: the Department of Education lodged the agreement with the Fair Work Commission for approval on 23 September 2026 (matter AG2026/2746). The Commission's agreements in progress list showed it at initial assessment on 24 September 2026. It is not yet approved, so the VGSA 2022 rates are still what is paid.
Key figures (proposed VGSA 2026)
| What changed | Detail |
|---|---|
| Graduate teacher (1-1), from Oct 2026 | $79,589 → $92,882 |
| Top classroom teacher (2-6), from Oct 2026 | $118,063 → $133,456 |
| Leading teacher / learning specialist (3-2), from Oct 2026 | $129,544 → $146,439 |
| Top classroom teacher (2-6), from Nov 2029 | $118,063 → $151,419 |
| Lump sum on commencement (full-time) | $2,000 |
| Staff ballot | 93.1% yes, 77.1% turnout |
What happens next
The ballot was the Fair Work Act's employee vote. The department lodged the agreement with the Fair Work Commission on 23 September 2026, and the government says approval can take up to six weeks. The agreement starts operating on the seventh day after the Commission approves it, and runs to a nominal expiry date of 10 August 2030.
Until then the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 still applies, and its 1 July 2025 rates are what teachers are paid. The Victorian teacher pay scale shows both: the rates in force now, and the new agreement's full schedule.
When each pay rise applies
Schedule 1 of the proposed agreement sets five increases, each from the first pay period on or after the date shown. The first two dates fall before the agreement can start; clause 8 still makes each increase payable from its own date.
| From the first pay period on or after | Increase | Graduate (1-1) | Top step (2-6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 August 2026 | 3.00% to 6.33% | $84,631 | $121,600 |
| 1 October 2026 | 9.75% | $92,882 | $133,456 |
| 1 November 2027 | 4.00% to 7.12% | $96,598 | $138,794 |
| 1 November 2028 | 4.00% | $100,462 | $144,346 |
| 1 November 2029 | 4.90% | $105,384 | $151,419 |
Percentages are from the department's Agreement Explanation. The August 2026 step is bigger at the bottom of the scale — 6.33% for a graduate against 3% at the top — so over the whole agreement a graduate's salary rises from $79,589 to $105,384, about 32.4%, while the top classroom step rises about 28.3%.
What else is in the deal
- $2,000 lump sum for full-time employees when the agreement starts, pro rata for part-time staff.
- Meetings halved from 80 to 40 hours a year from the 2027 school year, with another 40 hours set by teachers for planning, preparation and assessment.
- Professional practice days: one in 2026 and four a year from 2027, extended to education support staff for the first time.
- Face-to-face teaching maximums — 21 hours a week in primary and special schools, 18.5 in secondary — written into the agreement.
- An overnight school camp allowance from 2027, replacing time in lieu.
The agreement covers the principal, teacher, paraprofessional, education support and executive classes. The government says salaries across teachers, education support staff and principals rise by at least 28.3% over four years and at least 13% by October 2026.
How the deal was reached: two strikes and a rejected offer
- March 2026: teachers rejected a 17% offer; the AEU was seeking 35%. On 24 March teachers, principals and support staff held a 24-hour statewide strike — the first in 13 years — and police estimated 35,000 marched to Parliament House (ABC).
- May–June 2026: the AEU reached an in-principle deal worth 28% to 32% over four years, but members voted it down against the union's advice, about 58% to 42% (ABC).
- 23 July 2026: a second statewide strike; police estimated 20,000 at the Melbourne rally (ABC).
- 10–17 August 2026: the government revised its offer, adding the $2,000 lump sum. AEU members voted 79% to accept, the government announced the in-principle agreement on 17 August 2026, and a third strike set for 19 August was called off.
- 17 September 2026: the all-staff ballot result — 93.1% yes from 80,742 voters.
What it means for your pay
On $133,456 a year, a top-step classroom teacher's take-home pay is close to the take-home pay on $135,000; a graduate on $92,882 is close to $95,000. Use the pay rise calculator to see what your own step's increase is worth after tax, and the teacher pay by state guide to compare Victoria with other states.