Following an agreement between the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the ACT Government, a new ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 (the EA) has been resoundingly endorsed by teachers in ACT government schools, with an 83% vote in favour. AEU members have also been calling for measures to address workload which have been included in the EA.
What has been agreed for ACT teachers in government schools?
The following pay rises are part of the package for this year to March 2026 (see below).
Additionally, from January 2024, a new pay structure is introduced which provides higher increases at particular steps, including a new graduate rate and a new top step. By the end of the EA in March 2026, the top incremental step will be $129,107 and the new graduate rate will be $91,937. This reflects an increase of 13% at the top step and nearly 20% on the starting rate over the life of the EA.
In addition, increased superannuation of approximately 0.5% above the legally required Superannuation Guarantee will apply for most of the period and the employer will make a co-contribution of 1% if the employee makes an additional super contribution of 3%.
Face to face teaching hours for new teachers have also been reduced under the EA.
Discussions with Catholic Education Canberra & Goulburn
IEU representatives met with Catholic Education Canberra & Goulburn (CE) representatives on Thursday 6 July. Although we discussed the ACT settlement in detail, no offer has been put to the IEU. Further, no commitment has been made by CE to match the one-off payment that the ACT Government will make on commencement of the EA applying to teachers in government schools.
The IEU advised CE that we will be insisting on an outcome comparable to the government settlement, irrespective of the precise form it takes. The IEU has called on CE to clarify its position without further delay.
