Dozens of visiting teacher jobs saved after Victorian government backflip

Victoria’s Education Minister has sensationally backflipped on a decision to slash the jobs of more than 80 visiting teachers who support thousands of children with disabilities.

Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins has made a sensational backflip on her decision to slash dozens of teaching jobs. Picture: Luis Ascui

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins has sensationally backflipped on a decision to slash dozens of visiting teacher jobs.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed more than 80 out of 117 teachers who support an estimated 4000 children with disabilities were being let go.

In a meeting with families on Tuesday, Ms Hutchins announced all 80 visiting teachers would keep their jobs.

Disability advocates and families last week called on the state government to urgently reinstate the jobs.

The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch also strongly condemned the state government’s decision to cut visiting teacher jobs in the middle of an already “severe” teacher workforce shortage.

The backflip comes after the Croydon Labor branch last week moved a motion to prevent the removal of visiting teachers.

The motion, which has been obtained by the Herald Sun, called on the Department of Education to immediately commit to “retaining the Visiting Teachers program in frontline positions in schools so they can continue their vital work” and immediately consult with relevant stakeholders and advocacy groups to discuss the needs of children with disabilities.

The motion was sent to Ms Hutchins and Disability Minister Lizzie Blandthorn.

In a meeting with families on Tuesday, Ms Hutchins announced all 80 visiting teachers would keep their jobs. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

It’s unclear whether the internal ructions within Labor prompted Ms Hutchins’ major backflip

But on Tuesday Ms Hutchins said the government had “listened to families, carers and teachers, and have heard about the value that our Visiting Teachers provide for children with disabilities across the state”.

“Many students who currently receive support from the Visiting Teachers program will get the same extra assistance as part of our $1.6bn Disability Inclusion reforms,” Ms Hutchins said.

“We’ll also bring Visiting Teachers into the Disability Inclusion program as Disability Inclusion Visiting Teachers for schools and families who wish to keep using the service.

“The Disability Inclusion Visiting Teachers will mean a more cohesive and consistent approach across the state, ensuring our schools have access to a wider range of targeted supports that build on the individual strengths of each student.”

Speaking on Wednesday, Ms Hutchins denied that further consultations with teachers and parents should have been undertaken prior to rolling out the now-reversed policy.

“We’re all under pressure in terms of budgetary measures that we have to meet that have come out of the most recent budget and that’s something that all of us across government have to acknowledge,” she said.

“We are obligated under our industrial relations agreements to actually consult our workforce first, and that’s the process that we undertook.

“When you’re making change, I know it can create some unrest for parents and I acknowledge that but at the end of the day, we’ve made the right decision.”

Ms Hutchins said the government had now “heard loud and clear” that parents value the role of visiting teachers greatly.

“We’ll keep these positions but they’ve got to be part of the disability inclusion plan. And that’s what we announced to stakeholders yesterday.”

Shadow Education Minister Matt Bach said: “Whilst I welcome today’s decision by the minister, she must also rule out any future cuts to education and frontline teaching staff”.

“We know that under Labor, Victoria is broke, but that does not mean you take the axe to frontline staff who provide an invaluable service to students with a disability,” he said.

AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace says the union welcomes the state government’s announcement of visiting teacher positions being retained.

Shadow Parliamentary Education Secretary Melina Bath said this was a “great day” for regional students and their families.

“As a former teacher, I worked closely with students who need additional support and can only say they need additional funding, not less,” she said.

AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace said the union had welcomed the state government’s announcement of visiting teacher positions being retained.

“This is an important win for our members and the students, their families, and schools they work with. AEU members are congratulated for all their efforts to campaign against these cuts,” Ms Peace said.

“By highlighting the important role visiting teachers play in our schools, we have been able to ensure the continuation of this important program,” she said.

“Visiting teachers are expert, specialised teachers who play a crucial role in our public schools and help ensure that students in need get the supports they require to thrive academically and socially.

“We are pleased the minister has genuinely engaged with the AEU, parents, disability advocacy groups, families and the community and taken this proposal off the table.”

The backflip over the visiting teachers scheme comes amid another embarrassing backdown, with Ms Hutchins agreeing to ensure Andale, a special school in Kew, does not have to pay the new payroll tax next year.

The school was previously one of 60 on the state payroll tax hit list.

Member for Kew Jess Wilson said:“ Andale School should never have been subjected to Labor’s Schools Tax and confirmation it has finally been removed is welcome news.

“Working with the school over the past few months, fighting for the right and fair outcome, has demonstrated the power of community advocacy,” she said.

Murray Nicol, Andale School council president, said the school community was exceptionally happy with the outcome.

“We want to thank Jess Wilson for her advocacy and Minister Hutchins for listening to us,” he said.