The Allan Labor Government is backing our teachers by giving them back up 175,000 hours a year to spend in classrooms - not on paperwork.
Acting Minister for Education Lizzie Blandthorn today announced that the government has implemented six recommendations from the Independent Review of Administration and Compliance - cutting paperwork and admin tasks so our teachers can spend less time at their desks and more time with their students.
The review found that over time administrative demands on teachers and principals have grown.
We listened, commissioned a review, and are actioning the recommendations.
The key changes are:
- Simpler student learning, health, and wellbeing plans - a streamlined process to consolidate student health plan paperwork and a new Attendance Support Plan (primary and secondary) combining attendance improvement plans and return-to-school support plans.
- Clearer guidance around individual education plans (IEP) - updated guidance for teachers clarifying when IEP plans are required and the option to use a template to save time on the paperwork.
- Simpler semesterly reports - a new approach to reduce the time teachers spend writing reports, while still giving families clear information about their child's progress.
- Simpler travel applications - updated travel policy, with new guidance for schools from Term 2, 2026.
- Admin support for teachers - continue to monitor and evaluate the teaching assistant pilot launched in Term 3, 2025. The pilot allows education support staff to manage non-teaching admin, freeing up teachers to focus on the classroom. Early results of the pilot are promising.
- Simpler annual plans for principals - funding requirements and professional learning planners have been removed from 2026 annual plans, cutting duplicated reporting and reducing the workload for schools.
The government is considering the remaining recommendations from the review.
These reforms are part of Labor's $1.8 billion investment supporting our hard-working teachers, principals and school staff - to keep great teachers in the classroom and make the Education State the best place in the country to work in education.
As stated by Acting Minister for Education Lizzie Blandthorn
"While admin is necessary, we know our teachers and principals are passionate about their student's success at school - that's why we're saving them time so they can focus on doing what they love."
As stated by Gisborne Secondary College Principal Sarah Rose
"By far the most rewarding and important part of my role as principal is the work I do in engaging with students, staff and families, and work that improves both learning and wellbeing outcomes for our young people."
"Streamlining of student reporting and school planning documentation feels like a tangible improvement to the heavy workload of principals, allowing us to focus on the work that really matters within our communities."
