Department Policy Updates

The Department has advised that several policies have been updated, including information relating to the ongoing enterprise bargaining process for the VGSA 2026.

The updated policies cover a range of areas relevant to principals and school leaders, and members are encouraged to review the latest versions to ensure compliance with current requirements.

Policy	Change
Recognition of Prior Service for Leave Purposes — Teaching Service: Overview \| VIC.GOV.AU \| Policy and Advisory Library	The Recognition of Prior Service for Leave Purposes policy has been updated to clarify that employment as a Casual Relief Teacher during a break in service with the teaching service which is in excess of 12 months does not entitle an employee to be recredited more than 266 hours of personal leave on re-employment
Enterprise Bargaining: Overview \| VIC.GOV.AU \| Policy and Advisory Library	Page has been created to house updates on enterprise bargaining for the VGSA 2026.
Remuneration — Teaching Service: Overview \| VIC.GOV.AU \| Policy and Advisory Library	Commencement salaries for education support class employees with required qualifications has been updated to reflect the agreement provisions.
Recruitment in Schools: Qualifications \| VIC.GOV.AU \| Policy and Advisory Library	The qualifications chapter of the Recruitment in Schools guide has been updated to provide for updated mandatory qualification requirements for teachers and principals, preventing employment for graduates of 1 year diploma of teaching.
Workforce Support and Initiatives for Schools: Overview \| VIC.GOV.AU \| Policy and Advisory Library	Contact details updated From: Display name: SWG Policy Initiatives Primary SMTP: SWG_Policy.Initiatives@education.vic.gov.au To: Display name: Schools Workforce Initiatives and Support Primary SMTP: Schools.Initiatives@education.vic.gov.au
Flexible Work for Principals /classroom teachers.	The main changes to the PAL page ‘Flexible Work for School Leaders funding’ (FWSL): The years mentioned was updated from 2025 to 2026, in order to announce the 150 additional grants. A new Expression of Interest link was added into the page for schools to apply for the 2026 school year. A ‘Good news story’ section was added. This includes a link to a video highlighting the success of the initiative at Montmorency Primary School. The funding has reached capacity, the policy page was updated to include this information and to state that the funding will conclude June 30th, 2026. The changes to the ‘Flexible Work for Classroom Teachers funding’) include: Removed the eligibility criteria from the page.
Professional Practice Days resources tab.	Broken links and references to outdated material has been removed.

Policy

Change

Recognition of Prior Service for Leave Purposes — Teaching Service: Overview | VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

The Recognition of Prior Service for Leave Purposes

policy has been updated to clarify that employment as

a Casual Relief Teacher during a break in service with

the teaching service which is in excess of 12 months

does not entitle an employee to be recredited more

than 266 hours of personal leave on re-employment

Enterprise Bargaining: Overview | VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

Page has been created to house updates on

enterprise bargaining for the VGSA 2026.

Remuneration — Teaching Service: Overview | VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

Commencement salaries for education support class

employees with required qualifications has been

updated to reflect the agreement provisions.

Recruitment in Schools: Qualifications | VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

The qualifications chapter of the Recruitment in Schools

guide has been updated to provide for updated mandatory qualification requirements for teachers and principals,

preventing employment for graduates of 1 year diploma

of teaching.

Workforce Support and Initiatives for Schools: Overview | VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

Contact details updated

From:

Display name: SWG Policy Initiatives
Primary SMTP: SWG_Policy.Initiatives@education.vic.gov.au

To:

Display name: Schools Workforce Initiatives and Support
Primary SMTP: Schools.Initiatives@education.vic.gov.au

Flexible Work for Principals /classroom teachers.

The main changes to the PAL page ‘Flexible Work for School Leaders funding’ (FWSL):

The years mentioned was updated from 2025 to
2026, in order to announce the 150 additional grants.
A new Expression of Interest link was added into
the page for schools to apply for the 2026 school year.
A ‘Good news story’ section was added. This includes
a link to a video highlighting the success of the
initiative at Montmorency Primary School.
The funding has reached capacity, the policy page was updated to include this information and to state that the funding will conclude June 30th, 2026.

The changes to the ‘Flexible Work for Classroom Teachers funding’) include:

Removed the eligibility criteria from the page.

Professional Practice Days resources tab.

Broken links and references to outdated material has been removed.