Upcoming Stop Work

Dear parents, carers and members of the Heathmont College Community,

As you may be aware, the Australian Education Union (AEU) has been negotiating, on the behalf education staff, with the state government and Department of Education for improvements to pay and employment conditions. Negotiations have been occurring over the last seven months.

Currently, Victorian public schools are the lowest funded in Australia and there are significant staffing shortages across Victoria. Victorian public school teachers are also the lowest paid teachers in Australia, with many education support employees and school leaders paid less than their colleagues in other state and territories who do the same role. This is despite Victoria regularly outperforming other states and territories, often with the highest proportion of students in the top two proficiency bands. In 2024, Victoria achieved the highest or second-highest scores in 7 out of 8 measures for reading and writing. In 2025, Victoria was ranked first or second in 18 of 20 NAPLAN measures.

Victorian education staff are seeking pay increases and reductions to excessive workloads, with the aim of ensuring the retention of existing employees and the attraction of the next generation to enable the ongoing provision of a high-quality education to students. We are also seeking additional funding for schools.

AEU members have recently undertaken a vote to endorse industrial action, with the union calling a statewide 24-hour stop work for Tuesday 24 March. This is never an easy decision either for the union or for individuals. Education staff do not get paid when they undertake stop work industrial action and are aware of the impact it has on our students. Nonetheless, with a goal to improve student education and conditions for education staff, the stop work action for 24th of March will go ahead.

On Tuesday 24th March, despite many of our staff likely undertaking stop work action, Heathmont College will remain open. Classes will continue for Year 12 students and students in younger year levels (years 7-11) will be able to attend school and participate in an alternate program.

We appreciate the Community’s support in this matter. If anyone has any questions and/or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact myself via email (shane.hunt@education.vic.gov.au) or phone (9871 4888).

Appreciate your support,

Shane Hunt

Assistant Principal