Executive Director’s Update to Principals #31 - 26 June 2025

Increase in Respiratory Illnesses

There is an increased number of respiratory cases in the community at the moment, including influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). All of these conditions have vaccination programs available which should be considered by those eligible within the school community, especially by staff and students with underlying susceptibilities.

Key preventative health actions for school settings include:

• Ensuring adequate ventilation in classrooms, staffrooms and other common areas
• Ensure regular cleaning, sanitising and disinfection of high touch surfaces and objects such as desks, doorknobs, keyboards and toys
• Promoting hand washing and respiratory etiquette to limit the spread of disease
• Promoting vaccination to the school community
• Advising that people with symptoms should stay home while unwell. This is a mandated requirement for COVID-19 and influenza cases in primary schools and children service centres under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019.

Some links which may assist in educating your staff and community:

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) | Better Health Channel
• Immunisation and pregnancy | Better Health Channel
• Influenza (flu) | Better Health Channel
• Influenza (flu) – immunisation | Better Health Channel
• COVID-19 vaccination | Better Health Channel
• School exclusion table for primary schools and children's services | health.vic.gov.au
• Be a Soapy Hero! | Better Health Channel

Periodically Grampians Public Health Unit send health communications to individual school office emails. They are designed to support education providers in promoting flu prevention and winter wellness, and include posters and social media materials that can be adapted and shared across platforms. The latest communication sent was ‘Influenza Communications Resources for Schools - May 2025’, link here: https://my.gh.org.au/flucommunicationspack25-education. Consider signing up to their distribution list.

If you need any further information or support you can speak with one of the Public Health Officers through the following channels: Website: bhs.org.au/gphu, Email:  phu@gh.org.au, Phone: 1300 988 908

People and Development - Employee Relations

Annual Wage Review 2025

• The minimum wage increase was confirmed on the 3 June 2025 by the Fair Work Commission. Annual Wage Review 2024-25 
• This increase only affects employees covered by a Modern Award. This increase does not apply to staff covered by the CEMEA, other than the CRT Rate.
• For the small amount of general school staff not covered by the CEMEA, it will increase the minimum Award rate under the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020.  It comes into effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025. ES General Staff Award 2020

Casual Relief Teacher Rate

• As per clause 11.3(d) of the CEMEA, the Casual Relief Teacher rate (CRT) is linked to and aligns with the Level 5 rate of the Educational Services (Teachers) Award plus$1.00. The updated rate/s can be found here. Casual Rates of Pay Spreadsheet

CEMEA increases

July 2025 Wage and allowance increases will come into effect shortly – please ensure that your staff are aware and where required (non-Centralised Payroll schools), make the necessary adjustments. 

• As per the CEMEA a 1% allowance increase will apply to employees covered by this Agreement. The date effective is the first full pay period after 1 July.
• Please refer to the  Salaries and the Salaries and Allowances Spreadsheet for the updated information which is available on the VCEA Employee Relations page.

Superannuation Guarantee Contribution changes

• From 1 July 2025, the minimum amount employers must contribute to employees’ superannuation will rise from 11.5% to 12%. 
• This is paid on ordinary time earnings (OTE) which generally includes loadings and allowances during ordinary hours of work. It does not include payments for overtime, which is worked outside of ordinary hours of work.

Secondary Principals July 2025 Wage and Salary increases

• A 1% wage increase will apply to secondary Principal salaries and recommended allowances from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025.
• For further information on this, please click here: VCEA Determination 1/2025 or go to the VCEA Employee Relations page on CEVN: VCEA ER Page

If you need any assistance or advice on this, please do not hesitate to contact the ER Consultants: Jo Huntley on 03 4344 4350 jhuntley@dobcel.catholic.edu.au; Nick Barta 0492 327 650 nbarta@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Reminder to circulate Enterprise Bargaining Update to Employees

Employee update

VCEA and Catholic school employers are committed to clear and open communication as an essential part of the enterprise bargaining process.

We recently shared details of an employee update and requested you share the update with all employees at your school.

The update can be accessed here.

The full update can be viewed and downloaded via the link below. 

Promoting DOBCEL Careers - Upcoming Events

The People & Development team continues to actively promote DOBCEL and the diverse career opportunities available across our schools. These efforts not only support workforce growth but also play a vital role in strengthening our visibility and reputation within the broader education sector.

Upcoming Engagements:

• Ballarat Careers and Jobs Expo - Friday 25th July 2025, The Goods Shed Ballarat, 10:00am - 4:30pm
  This year, the team will host a DOBCEL stall at the Ballarat Careers and Jobs Expo, an event that attracts thousands of attendees. Among them will likely be many secondary school students—our future educators, leaders, and school staff. This event provides a key opportunity to engage directly with prospective candidates, including students from our own communities, and to promote the value of working in Catholic education.
• VIT Welcome to the Profession Conference - Monday 24 November 2025, Marvel Stadium Docklands, 9:30am – 3:30pm
  Later in the year, we will again participate in the VIT Welcome to the Profession Conference. Our presence at this event is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the induction of early career teachers in Victoria, while also positioning DOBCEL as an employer of choice for beginning educators.

The Value of Brand Presence:

Participation in events such as these is not just about recruitment—it’s about showcasing the unique culture and mission of our schools. Each interaction is a chance to:

• Promote teaching and non-teaching careers in a meaningful context
• Raise awareness of our school communities and what they stand for
• Enhance DOBCEL’s reputation as a supportive and values-driven employer

Get Involved:

If you or a representative from your school is interested in attending one of these events, please contact Sarah Hanley. Additionally, if there are local events in your area that would benefit from DOBCEL’s involvement, we would welcome the opportunity to explore those with you.

Together, we can continue to share the great stories of our schools and highlight the fulfilling careers available within them.