The Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union reached an in-principle agreement with the state government, closing the wage dispute with teachers. The deal offers increases of 28% to 32% over four years, depending on the position, following the first statewide strike in 13 years that mobilized thousands of educators in March.
The role of technology in the new teacher salary structure 📱
The agreement includes adjustments linked to technical responsibilities, such as managing digital learning platforms and automated assessment tools. Teachers with roles in ICT integration will receive the highest increases, reflecting the demand for technological skills in the classroom. The government will also fund training in educational software and school data systems.
Salaries go up, but the teacher's coffee is still just as expensive ☕
Teachers celebrated the 32% increase, although some calculated that the raise will barely cover the cost of the extra cups of coffee needed to grade nighttime exams. A math teacher joked that now they can afford the gym membership they never use. The March strike, at least, served a purpose beyond wearing out shoe soles.