Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Ministers statements: teachers

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:36): Education is everything to Victoria’s future. Victoria’s educators show up every day with passion, creativity and heart. Our nation-leading NAPLAN results could only be achieved thanks to our nation-leading teachers right across our great state. Victorian students are not only the top performers in Australia but also the top performers of any time on record in our state. The credit belongs to our teachers, and it is wonderful to have so many colleagues here that are former teachers as well. Teachers’ work matters more than words can capture. Teachers pour themselves into our kids each and every day. They do not just teach our kids; they believe in them, they lift them and they shape their futures, and in turn our kids shape our own futures here in the state of Victoria. That is why education is the single most important investment we can make in Victoria’s future. Teachers carry a responsibility that stretches far beyond the classroom and the curriculum. They shape character and confidence and help make dreams come true.

It is because we know how important our educators are that we are employing a lot more of them. $35 billion is being invested by the Allan Labor government to build 19 new schools opening next year as part of our 100 new schools commitment. Those 100 new schools are already creating some 4400 teaching and support roles in the Education State. This is building on the more than 35,000 new registered teachers we have had since we came into office. In the past 12 months alone we have recruited more than 1400 teachers to work in Victorian classrooms. In fact this is twice the national average. We need more teachers because we are investing record numbers in the Education State. We need to celebrate and value the profession of our teachers and the positive and ongoing impact teachers have on students and the community. Under the Allan Labor government teachers will always come first.