The Andrews Labor Government is delivering better support for teachers across Victoria, making sure schools have the resources they need to deliver the great educational experiences students deserve, while supporting their hardworking staff.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today announced an investment of more than $130 million over four years to help schools meet their time-in-lieu requirements under the Fair Work Act - with teachers and support staff to receive back pay from the start of this year.
Ensuring schools meet commitments set out in the recent Fair Work Commission determination on time-in-lieu accrued at school camps, the package will support schools to continue offering enriching camp programs with clarity and confidence.
School camps support students to develop important skills they can take with them into life and their career - this latest investment ensures schools and teachers can continue delivering students the formative experiences they need, with on-call payments to staff who are required to attend school camps overnight.
Victoria is home to some of the most exceptional teachers and staff in the nation, with an additional payment of around $200 per night or 4 hours pay for being on-call while at camp, ensuring their dedication is recognised.
The new agreement better recognises the hard work teachers do and fairly compensates for work out of school hours, while better supporting the attraction and retention of teachers across the state.
The Labor Government's latest investment lifts support for extra-curricular activities in Victorian government schools to $299 million, following an increase in the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund in the Victorian Budget 2023/24.
More than 200,000 students attend camps and participate in sporting events and excursions under the Fund each year, and this boost will make sure more kids across the state - no matter their background - can reap the benefits of education outside the classroom.
As stated by Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins
"Extra support for staff at school camps shows we are serious about backing our teachers and their efforts to provide students with extra-curricular activities they will remember for a lifetime."
"This agreement means schools can plan camps and excursions this year and into the future with clarity and confidence."
