The Australian Education Union (AEU) is urging the Victorian government to trial a four-day work week for teachers to help address future recruitment and retention challenges.

The union proposed the idea late last year, coinciding with plans to enshrine the right to work from home into law in the state. It recommends a 30.4-hour job-share model for public school teachers, allowing staff to work from home while ensuring students attend school five days a week.

AEU President Justin Mullaly said the trial could provide much-needed flexibility and make teaching positions more attractive. “We want the state government to introduce a trial that gives staff the option to attend on-site less frequently while still accessing work-from-home arrangements,” he said.

The union believes the initiative could help attract more people into the teaching workforce amid a staff shortage.

Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll praised the state’s teachers as among the “best in the nation,” emphasizing that they deserve nationally competitive wages, awards, and conditions.

However, the Australian Principals Federation cautioned that implementing the proposal would be challenging, noting that teaching is a social profession where being physically present at school is a critical part of the job.