Time release for early career and mentor teachers
Early career teachers and mentors receive time release from face-to-face teaching duties to engage in Career Start activities, including:
- practice-focused mentoring
- learning alliances
- professional learning.
Career Start time release is allocated in addition to any reduction to face-to-face teaching duties provided as part of the 5% weekly reduction in scheduled duties per the Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA) 2026.
As part of school workforce planning, schools should consider how they can best facilitate the time release for their graduate and mentor teachers. Career Start funding is provided to employ teachers to cover the year-long reduction in graduate and mentor teachers’ duties, and ad hoc use of casual relief teachers should be avoided. This will ensure the time release is regular, scheduled and minimises disruption to teaching continuity in the classroom.
Please refer to Use of time release for more information on how graduate and mentor teachers should expect to use this time.
Schools will receive additional funds via the Student Resource Package to facilitate the reduction in face-to-face teaching duties. The time reduction for graduate teachers will be funded at a rate equivalent to a Range 2, Level 4 classroom teacher. The time reduction for mentor teachers will be funded at a rate equivalent to a Range 2, Level 6 classroom teacher.
Career Start early career teachers
Early career teachers participating in the Career Start program in 2027 will receive time release from their face-to-face teaching duties.
Career Start time release for early career teachers should be provided per-week, but schools are encouraged to tailor the time release week-to-week across the term to meet the changing needs of their staffing profile and ensure early career teachers can meet with their mentor and attend full-day workshops and learning alliance meetings. Schools can speak to their assigned Learning Alliance Leader for examples of how to implement time release and to discuss how to tailor time release to their context.
Table 1 details funded time release for different school types as a weekly average and 10-week termly basis.
| School type | Career Start average weekly reduction to face-to-face teaching duties | Total reduction in face-to-face teaching duties for a 10 week term |
|---|---|---|
| Primary, Special and P9/12 schools | 1 hour and 57 minutes | 19 hours and 30 minutes |
| Secondary schools | 1 hour and 34.5 minutes | 15 hours and 45 minutes |
A pro-rata time allowance applies to early career teachers employed on a part-time basis.
For more information on Career Start participation requirements, refer to the Use of time release guidance chapter.
For more information on the Victorian Government Schools Agreement, refer to Industrial Agreements.
Career Start mentor teachers
Mentor teachers benefit from being involved in Career Start. They can access:
- dedicated time release
- opportunities for professional development with regular support and guidance from Learning Alliance Leaders
- program resources focussed on evidence-based practice.
Career Start mentorship is an opportunity to develop leadership capabilities and provides a pathway to middle leadership for experienced teachers.
Mentor teachers receive a 1-hour weekly reduction in face-to-face teaching duties. Mentors supporting more than one Career Start early career teacher will receive the 1-hour weekly reduction for each teacher they mentor.
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