The Nationals have successfully gained a full inquiry into Victoria’s education system.
Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Region, Gaelle Broad, strongly supported the motion for the
inquiry in Parliament yesterday.
The motion by Nationals MP Melina Bath asked Parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Committee to
look at a range of key issues.
The inquiry will examine learning outcomes in state school Prep to Year 12 students, impacts of the
COVID 19 pandemic on student learning and wellbeing, and importantly, the state of the teaching
profession including teacher retention.
“This issue is of great importance to me and to the thousands of people living in northern Victoria,
whether they personally have children of school age or not,” Ms Broad said.
“The state of the Victorian education system affects everyone. Sadly, I have to report that –
according to many of the constituents I speak to – our education system is struggling badly.
“The teachers and other school staff do a tremendous job, often under extreme pressure. Many
central and northern Victorian schools now rely heavily on casual relief and emergency teachers.
“According to research from Federation University, teachers are leaving the profession in droves
citing salary, lack of respect, intensification of workload, assessments, parent issues and the “full-on”
demands of teaching leading to burnout, particularly after the COVID pandemic.”
Ms Broad said students were often struggling too.
“I’ve spoken with parents, teachers and students. Young people are struggling with mental health
and disengagement,” Ms Broad said.
The inquiry will consider the current state of student wellbeing in Victoria, including the impact of
State Government interventions following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Broad also acknowledged the valuable contribution that teachers make.
“I look forward to this inquiry into the state of Education in Victoria, in the hope that we can move
forward and make our schools a better place for everyone.”
Caption – The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Region Gaelle Broad with Shadow Assistant Parliamentary Secretary
for Education Melina Bath.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
Notice of motion
MS BATH
I give notice that, on the next day of meeting, I will move —
That this House requires the Legal and Social Issues Committee to inquire into, consider and
report, by 25 June 2024, on the Victorian education system across government schools,
including —
(1) trends in student learning outcomes from Prep to Year 12, including but not limited to —
(a) the factors, if any, that have contributed to decline;
(b) disparities correlated with geography and socio-economic disadvantage;
(2) the state of the teaching profession in Victoria, including but not limited to —
(a) the adequacy of existing measures to recruit, remunerate and retain teachers;
(b) training, accreditation and professional development, particularly for teaching
students with special needs;
(c) the adequacy of the Department of Education’s measures to support teachers;
(d) the impact of school leadership on student wellbeing, learning outcomes and school
culture;
(3) the current state of student wellbeing in Victoria, including but not limited to the impact
of State Government interventions, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to
address poor mental health in students, school refusal, and broader student
disengagement;
(4) the administrative burden on teachers and the availability of new technologies to
alleviate the burden;
(5) examples of best practice in other jurisdictions and educational settings used to improve
student learning outcomes and wellbeing; and
(6) school funding adequacy and its impact on student learning outcomes and wellbeing
