Four Day Workweek for Teachers: Victorian Union Push Explained

Victoria’s teachers union has urged a trial of a four-day workweek for education staff. The move comes as the state government prepares to legislate expanded working-from-home rights across the public sector. The proposal has sparked debate about how frontline professions — such as teaching — can remain competitive. Flexibility at work is increasingly seen as a standard workplace benefit in today’s labour market.

Education advocates warn that if greater flexibility is not offered, careers that require in-person attendance could become less attractive to prospective employees. With hundreds of teaching vacancies currently across Victoria, recruitment and retention remain ongoing challenges for the sector.

Critics, however, argue that working from home is simply not feasible. Teaching is centred on classroom learning and face-to-face interaction with students.

So what exactly is the union proposing — and how has the government and broader education sector responded?

What is the union’s proposal?

The Australian Education Union (AEU) is recommending a 30.4 hour job share model in state schools. The proposal would expand working-from-home options for teachers while keeping students at school five days a week.

Experts question why teachers must remain working in person when students are not at school. This includes periods such as school holidays or after school hours. Addressing this issue could help with the more than 900 teaching vacancies that currently exist in the state.

“It is clearly the case that working from home rights are a key measure which will help address barriers to women’s participation in the workforce and the gender pay gap,” a submission from AEU president Justin Mullaly to the government in November read.

“With the sector continuing to confront chronic workforce shortages, it will make working in public education less attractive when other industries, where there are fewer operational impediments to having employees working from home, increasingly make use of this flexibility and overtly advertise it to prospective employees.”

What has been the response?

The Australian Principals Federation said it would be challenging to put the proposal into effect. They argued that teaching is a social job and an important part of that is being present at school.

Meanwhile, Premier Jacinta Allan dismissed concerns about the policy. She rejected claims that industries unable to offer working from home would become less attractive.

“Working from home works for everyone, and in those two industries, where we’ve seen working from home, arrangements being offered already across community, in those two industries, we are seeing more and more people,” Ms Allan said.

“We’ve got more people applying to university.

“We are seeing, despite working from home, being in place across many industries, we are seeing more applications from young people wanting to be a teacher.”

While discussions about flexibility continue, teaching remains one of the most rewarding and in-demand professions in Australia. With more than 900 vacancies across Victoria alone, there is strong demand for passionate and skilled educators. A career in teaching offers the chance to make a lasting impact on young people’s lives. It also allows you to contribute meaningfully to the community and build a secure, long-term career in the public sector. As workforce shortages persist, qualified teachers are likely to remain highly sought after — making now a compelling time to consider applying for a teaching position.

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Article References

Bennett, E (17 February 2026) ‘Australian Education Union pushes for four-day work week trial for teachers in Victoria’, Nine News, accessed 19 February 2026.

White, A & Bourke R (17 February 2026) ‘Australian Education Union urges Victorian govt to trial four-day work week for school staff’, Herald Sun, accessed 19 February 2026.