Flexible Work for Classroom Teachers Initiative (Reference 154)
Brief description of the program
The 2025 Flexible Work for Classroom Teachers initiative is available in the 2024–25 and 2025–26 financial years. Up to 300 grants have been funded to support classroom teachers in a job-share or part-time arrangement. The funding will allow eligible classroom teachers to have a cross-over day with their job-share partner or will support a new or increased part-time arrangement.
This initiative aims to reduce the administrative burden on school leaders and classroom teachers by providing additional support and promoting work-life balance.
Under this initiative, a grant of $20,000 (including school on-costs) will be provided to support a classroom teacher in an eligible flexible work arrangement for up to 12 months. Schools that wish to continue flexible work arrangements for classroom teachers after this time will need to fund this from their existing budget.
All 300 grants have been allocated, with funding for the initiative ending on 30 June 2026.
Eligibility
Classroom teachers with the following arrangements are eligible for funding:
- a crossover day in a teacher job share arrangement (substantive reduces to part time)
- creation of a new role (to cover teacher/s non-classroom facing responsibilities, for example, yard duty)
- timetabling arrangement (arranging timetable to allow teachers to work from home one morning a week)
- other – schools can propose flexible work arrangements in line with the Flexible Work policy.
Participating schools were able to apply and receive funding for up to five eligible flexible work arrangements. The department aims to support as many schools as possible through this initiative. While funding isn’t guaranteed, each application helps us better understand school needs.
Calculation
Funding will be allocated as credit (100%).
Schools will receive a grant of $20,000 (including school on-costs) for a classroom teacher with an approved flexible work arrangement in place.
Rate
Schools will receive a grant of $20,000 (including school on-costs) for a classroom teacher with an approved flexible work arrangement in place.
Funding will be processed through the Student Resource Package (SRP) and allocated across the SRP cycles depending on the arrangement’s commencement date and duration.
Funding allocations for Term 1 and Term 2, 2026 will be processed in the Indicative 2026 SRP cycle.
Participants can choose to discontinue their flexible working arrangement. If this is the case, or if there are any other changes to the flexible work arrangement, please advise the Schools Workforce Initiatives and Support team (Schools.Initiatives@education.vic.gov.au) to update details for the flexible working arrangement.
Relevant information
- Equal Opportunity – Employees
- Flexible Work for Classroom Teachers Funding
- Flexible Work policy (for non-principal roles)
- Flexible Work resources
- Gender Equality Action Plan for
- Human Rights Charter
- Inclusive Workplaces
- Parental Absence – Teaching Service
- Respectful Workplaces
Contact for school queries
Email: Schools.Initiatives@education.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 7022 5555
Reviewed 31 December 2025