In response to the Key Findings and Recommendations made by the Expert Advisory Panel for Regional and Rural Students the Government has committed to targeted initiatives to attract more teachers to regional, rural and metro hard to staff schools.
The $41.7 million funding boost aims to attract excellent teachers to fill hard-to-staff positions in government schools across the state. It also provides support to teachers settling into their new roles.
This investment incorporates and builds on previously announced initiatives to:
improve educational outcomes for rural and regional students
better support students in these areas
address the disparity between regional and metropolitan schools.
Quality teachers are the greatest in-school influence on student outcomes and, to achieve the ambitious Education State reform targets, Victorian Government schools urgently need more high quality teachers. Increasing the supply of high quality teachers in Victorian schools will ensure every student, regardless of where they live, has excellent teachers in their classrooms.
The STARRS Program will lift the overall supply of quality teachers to Victorian government schools and increase the attractiveness of positions in rural and regional schools, disadvantaged schools and certain subject areas, providing students across the state with access to quality teachers.
The financial and non-financial incentives to attract and retain teachers in hard-to-staff positions are based on evidence that shows a combination of incentives is most effective at encouraging teachers to move to where they are needed most, including to rural, regional and disadvantaged schools.
The initiative strongly aligns with the Victorian Government’s broader vision to build Victoria as the Education State so that every student can access a great local school with great teachers and a quality education, no matter where they live.
Promote professional and social networks
Integrate teachers into the school community
Connect new teachers to other teachers in the area.
Cross collaboration between schools and teachers
Facilitating local area meetings
Organising professional development
Network Funding
Local Coordinator
Professional Development
See the Guidelines for more information on the funding available and how to claim.
Networks are encouraged to collaborate to focus on the attraction, retention and development of teachers within their Network.
Funding of $10,000 will be allocated to Network Chairs to support Networks and schools to work in collaboration to design bespoke solutions to boost teacher retention.
The funding provided to schools will give the opportunity to use bespoke solutions designed to boost teacher retention, with differentiated solutions for each school context.
Each Network will have the option of engaging a trained and dedicated local coordinator to support the Network in developing, attracting and retaining teachers and the utilisation of funding.
To support job satisfaction and career development, teachers receiving a financial incentive payment receive funding up to $5,560 per year for two years with five days' time release to undertake professional development.
This may include the equivalent of one university subject per year, or other appropriate programs.
See the Professional Development page for opportunities available.
See the funding guidelines for more information on the funding available and how to claim this funding.