Executive Director’s Update to Principals #56 - 17 October 2025

Enterprise Bargaining Offer: Survey Open Now

Employees have now been sent an email with a unique link to vote in the survey and indicate their support for the enterprise bargaining offer for staff.  

This crucial survey will decide whether VCEA and Catholic school employers progress the EB25 offer. If employees want the opportunity to take a formal vote on the offer later this year, with entitlements flowing from January, now is the time to indicate their support by saying YES now.

The email containing the survey link was sent: Friday 17 October
Time: 11.00am
From: Victorian Catholic Education Authority vcea@vcea.catholic.edu.au
Subject line: Your Survey Link – Vote Now

Kate Fogarty, Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst Limited, released the following video this morning which addresses some of the key questions being asked by staff about the offer, and some misinformation being shared. Another video message will be released by me early next week.

A list of talking points for principals is below, which may be helpful as you are having conversations with your staff.

Talking Points for Principals

• This is the largest first-year pay increase in Catholic education in 25 years.
• All staff receive a minimum 7% pay rise from January 2026.
• There’s a $1,500 bonus before Christmas 2025 (pro-rata for part-time) – this is a reward and acknowledgement for our employees.
• Pay parity with government schools is guaranteed for the life of the agreement.
• Teachers get five full days of Time in Lieu each year for out-of-hours work that sits outside their directed duties.
• Enhanced leave: longer parental, menstrual, menopause, compassionate, and natural-disaster leave.
• No one loses pay or status – salary tables are modernised, not downgraded.
• The offer was shared directly with staff to avoid delays and give everyone a say.
• Completing the survey is critical – it’s your chance to have a say and move the process forward.
• The survey is anonymous and confidential.
• Taking the survey does not commit you to the offer; it simply allows us to progress to the next stage and keeps the offer on the table.
• If there isn’t enough support at this survey stage, the offer comes off the table, and we return to the traditional bargaining process that follows on from the Government Agreement. This would likely delay an outcome until late 2026 or beyond.
• A Cooperative Agreement means all Catholic school employers choose to bargain together voluntarily for unity and consistency; an SIA is a Fair Work Commission mechanism that compels employers to bargain together. The reason the unions have declined to meet with us is because they are focused on the type of agreement (SIA). The type of Agreement however, does not and will not deliver better outcomes for employees.
• Due to the timing of the state election in late November 2026, it’s unlikely our people will see any wage increases for at least a year – at best – if we wait for the state sector Agreement to be resolved.
• There is no need to wait for increased pay or improved conditions – why wait, when you can have the benefits sooner?
• More info is at eb.catholic.edu.au.

Additional Resources