New research from Monash University has highlighted a worsening crisis within Victoria’s public school system, revealing alarming trends about the state’s educator workforce. The study, which surveyed over 8,000 Victorian teachers, principals, assistant principals, and education support staff, paints a concerning picture of the sector’s future.
The survey found that only 30% of educators intend to stay in public schools until retirement. Nearly 40% are uncertain about their future in the system. Mid-career educators have a high likelihood of leaving, raising concerns about the loss of valuable experience and its impact on student learning and school leadership.
The research, conducted by the Education Workforce for the Future Research Lab at Monash University, found excessive workloads and inadequate pay as the main reasons driving educators away. On average, Victorian public-school teachers work an additional 12.4 unpaid hours each week. Despite their hard work, they struggle to find time for essential activities like direct student engagement and collaborative teaching due to overwhelming administrative duties.
Meredith Peace, president of the Australian Education Union Victorian Branch, has criticized the state government’s handling of the issue. “The state Labor government have not done enough to fix the teacher shortage crisis and have done nothing new to fix the issue in over 12 months,” Peace said. “This new research is a wakeup call for Education Minister Carroll and the Premier. Teachers, principals and education support staff are bogged down with administrative duties and meetings that are not directly related to students’ class work.”
Peace also pointed out that Victorian public-school salaries are not competitive with those in other states or the private sector. She called for immediate reforms, including retention payments and salary increases to reflect the demanding nature of the job.
Dr. Fiona Longmuir, lead researcher at Monash University, echoed concerns over teacher retention. “Given the recent years of attrition and current conditions of teacher shortages impacting the provision of education across Victoria, this should be of significant concern,” Dr. Longmuir said. She proposed several measures to address the crisis, including salary increases for principals, teachers, and education support staff, reducing administrative burdens, and improving flexibility and support for school leaders.
This research, which is part of a new series of public education discussion papers, underscores the need for systemic reforms to safeguard the future of Victoria’s public schools and ensure continued quality education for students.