Victorian election promises
Education policies and promises at the 2026 Victorian election
What each side says on schools, TAFE, kinder and teachers: first from their own policy pages and releases, then as quoted in the ads they've paid for. Labor 13, Liberal 6, Nationals 1, Minor parties 4.
From the parties' own policies
Summaries of each party's policy pages and releases, in their words, with what they commit to. Follow the link for the full policy.
Not here yet: One Nation. We can't read their policy pages automatically, so read them on their own sites; what they say in their ads is below.
Victorian Government
Yes to International Students Fund grants for transnational education
The Victorian Government says it is giving up to $5 million to 16 Victorian universities and TAFEs through the Yes to International Students Fund to seed transnational education partnerships overseas. It also says it is calling on the Federal Government to remove international student caps.
- Share up to $5 million among 16 Victorian education providers
- Fund seed grants for transnational education partnerships overseas
- Invest $18.6 million in international education programs and services in 2025/26 Budget
- Call on the Federal Government to axe international student caps
Urgent review of child safety in early childhood education
The Victorian Government says it will hold a rapid review, led by Jay Weatherill AO and Pamela White PSM, into child safety in early childhood education and care and the Working with Children Check, reporting by 15 August. It says it will adopt every recommendation and is also banning personal devices in childcare centres by 26 September, with fines of up to $50,000 for breaches of licence.
- Rapid review of child safety in early childhood education and care reporting by 15 August 2025
- Adopt every recommendation of the review and implement as quickly as possible
- Reforms to the Working with Children Check in Victoria considered in the review
- Every childcare centre required to ban personal devices by 26 September 2025
- Potential fines of $50,000 for centres that breach licence conditions
Planned maintenance funding for 32 Victorian schools
The Victorian Government says 32 schools will share over $10 million from the Planned Maintenance Program for high-priority works such as roof fixes, window replacement, ramps, painting and floor resurfacing. Works are determined by a rolling facilities evaluation process.
- Share over $10 million among 32 schools for maintenance works
- Thornbury High School allocated over $1.2 million for maintenance works
- St Arnaud Primary School allocated over $376,000 for maintenance works
- Nineteen new schools to open in 2026
Funding for kindergarten program at Royal Children's Hospital
The Victorian Labor Government says it is investing $2.5 million in the 2025/26 Budget to continue the Yalingbu Yirramboi kindergarten at The Royal Children's Hospital. The program says it serves about 280 children each year, including those with complex medical needs, with play-based early education at the bedside and in small group sessions.
- Provide $2.5 million in the Victorian Budget 2025/26 for the Yalingbu Yirramboi kindergarten program
- Continue delivering the kindergarten for about 280 children each year
- Run classrooms on wheels to bring learning to children's bedsides
- Run small group sessions each weekday for children well enough to attend
- Support families and home kindergartens with transitions after hospital discharge
Homework Clubs for young people of African heritage
The Victorian Labor Government says it is providing funding to 18 community organisations to deliver Homework Clubs over the next three years. The clubs offer extra tuition for young people of African heritage who need additional support, and include information sessions for parents and carers.
- Fund 18 community organisations to deliver Homework Clubs over three years
- Provide extra tuition for young people of African heritage needing support
- Hold information sessions for parents and carers on the Victorian education system
New integrated children's centre with kinder rooms at Saints College North Melbourne
The Victorian Labor Government says it is funding a new integrated children's centre at Saints College North Melbourne, opening in stages from 2027 to 2029. The centre would have three kinder rooms for up to 47 local children, plus long daycare, health consulting rooms and support for young parents in the school's Young Parents Program.
- Open integrated children's centre at Saints College North Melbourne in stages from 2027 to 2029
- Create three kinder rooms for up to 47 local children
- Provide long daycare, health consulting rooms and support services on site
- Support young parents in the Young Parents Program to stay in education
Victorian Labor
Free kinder for three- and four-year-olds
Victorian Labor says it is providing free kinder for three- and four-year-olds by covering the fees families would normally pay. It says families can save up to $2,700 per child each year, and that 35 new and expanded kinders are delivering 4200 new places with 25 more school-based kinders to open by 2028.
- Cover kinder fees for three- and four-year-olds
- Deliver 4200 new kinder places through 35 new and expanded kinders
- Open 25 school-based kinders by 2028
- Provide 70,000 free Kinder Kits to children starting three-year-old kinder
Investing in schools and teachers
Victorian Labor says it will keep investing in public school buildings, upgrades and teacher pay, and will protect schools from what it calls Liberal and One Nation cuts. The page gives no specific new spending figures or timeframes.
- Keep investing in public schools and classrooms
- Build new schools where new families need them
- Protect schools from Liberal and One Nation cuts
Expand City Futures program to more southeast schools
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $1.2 million to help more southeast students join City Futures, a program of football sessions and in-class theory for school years 7 to 9. The party says the investment will allow the program to more than double the number of schools it works with.
- Invest $1.2 million in City Futures for southeast students
- Allow City Futures to more than double the number of schools it works with
- Deliver football sessions and in-class theory for school years 7 to 9
Build two new TAFE campuses and upgrade three existing campuses
Victorian Labor says it will build two new TAFE campuses in Melbourne's west and north and upgrade campuses in Bendigo, Wonthaggi and Dandenong. The party describes this as a $170 million investment in skills and training for Victorian jobs.
- Build a new TAFE campus in Wyndham for $50 million
- Build a new TAFE campus near Kalkallo in the outer north for $50 million
- Establish a Clean Economy Hub at Bendigo TAFE's Charleston Road campus for $20 million
- Invest $5 million in TAFE Gippsland in Wonthaggi, focused on health and construction
- Build a new Home Building Centre at Chisholm's Dandenong campus for $45 million
Upgrade Winchelsea Primary School facilities and fencing
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $9.11 million to upgrade Winchelsea Primary School. The page says the funding covers new classrooms, open learning spaces, outdoor play spaces, a new administration building, and replacement boundary fencing along the Princes Highway.
- Deliver $8.78 million to upgrade Winchelsea Primary School facilities
- Build new classrooms, open learning spaces and outdoor play spaces
- Build a new administration building at the school
- Spend $330,000 replacing boundary fencing along the Princes Highway
Upgrade Clarinda Primary School with masterplan and Block B works
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Labor government will invest $3.26 million to support upgrades at Clarinda Primary School, including a masterplan and works on Block B. The page does not give a completion date.
- Deliver a masterplan for Clarinda Primary School
- Upgrade Clarinda Primary School, including Block B
Victorian Socialists
Fund public education and end private school funding
Victorian Socialists say they would immediately cease state funding to high fee private schools, make state education free, and reduce class sizes to a maximum of 15. They say they would expand state-run early learning centres by 3,200 so every Victorian child has access.
- Immediately cease state funding to high fee private schools
- Reduce class sizes to a maximum of 15
- Hire 12,000 additional teachers and support staff for public schools
- Expand state-run early learning centres by 3,200
- Provide free nutritious lunches for all primary school children in government schools
Make universities not-for-profit and expand public funding for education
The Victorian Socialists say they will fight to make universities not-for-profit, convert casual and fixed-term university roles to permanent positions, and ban profit-seeking under state law. They also say they will boost TAFE funding, cancel student debt for lower-income graduates, and call on the federal government to abolish university fees.
- Make permanent positions available to casual and fixed-term university workers with three or more months non-continuous work in the last year
- Ban universities from employing more than 5 percent of staff on a non-ongoing basis
- Ban profit-seeking and require universities to reinvest all proceeds into education
- Redistribute Group of Eight wealth to regional universities through a funding levy on endowments, real estate and reserves
- Require non-government training providers to operate not-for-profit and redirect subsidies to public providers
Teacher-led public schools and education funding demands
Victorian Socialists say teachers and education support staff should run the school system, and are running candidates in the November state election, including against Ben Carroll in Niddrie. The party calls for ending funding for high-fee private schools, abolishing NAPLAN, and returning $16 billion it says was taken from schools since 2019 in the 2027 budget.
- End public funding for high-fee private schools
- Abolish NAPLAN
- Immediately implement the 2026 AEU log of claims
- Return $16 billion stolen from Victorian schools since 2019 in the 2027 budget
- End all voluntary parent contributions
Libertarian Party
Education vouchers and equal support for homeschooling families
The Libertarian Party says homeschooling families pay full taxes but receive no support for their children's education, and would introduce education vouchers for homeschoolers. It also says it would end what it calls bureaucratic inconsistencies in homeschooling regulation and focus on results rather than compliance.
- Introduce education vouchers for homeschooled children
- End bureaucratic blurred lines in homeschooling regulation
- Focus homeschooling oversight on results, not compliance
- Give homeschooled kids access to student IDs, discounts and TAFE
Education vouchers so tax dollars follow the child
The Libertarian Party says it would introduce education vouchers so that tax funding follows each child, letting parents choose any school rather than being assigned by postcode. The page argues this would create competition and let specialist schools flourish, though it gives no timeline or costing.
- Introduce education vouchers so tax dollars follow the child
- Let parents pick any school rather than assignment by postcode
- Support specialist schools for autism, ADHD, gifted and trade-focused students
- Cut teacher paperwork to focus on results
The Nationals
New consolidated Sale College at Cobains Road
The Nationals and Liberals say that, in government, they will fund construction of a new, consolidated Sale College on a single site at Cobains Road, bringing the school's two campuses together. They say they will fund stage one construction in their first budget.
- Fund construction of a new consolidated Sale College at Cobains Road
- Fund stage one construction in the first budget
- Bring the school's two campuses together on a single site
Free vehicle registration and training fund for apprentices
The Nationals say they will continue free vehicle registration for eligible trade apprentices, saving regional apprentices $818.60 annually, and establish an Apprentice Training Fund to cover up to half of off-the-job training fees paid by businesses. The release also says a $222 million investment over eight years would establish 10 new technical colleges across Victoria.
- Continue free vehicle registration for eligible trade apprentices
- Save regional apprentices $818.60 annually on vehicle registration
- Establish an Apprentice Training Fund covering up to half of off-the-job training fees
- Establish 10 new technical colleges across Victoria
- Provide vocational training opportunities for 5,000 secondary school students
Victorian Greens
Free, well-funded public education system
The Victorian Greens set out principles and aims for public education across all stages, saying it should be free, secular, well-funded and high quality. The page proposes better pay and conditions for educators, smaller class sizes, free early childhood education and no public funding for schools operating for private profit.
- Universal free early childhood education and childcare services
- Smaller class sizes across the public education system
- Phase out fees for all public education institutions
- Free breakfast and lunch programs for all students, optional and nutritious
- Reject performance-based pay for educators and arbitrary promotion caps
Increase funding for TAFE educators and expand Free TAFE
The Victorian Greens are calling for increased investment in TAFE, citing research that Victorian TAFE teachers work an average of seven unpaid hours weekly. They say funding should match expanded Free TAFE demand, covering educators, teaching hours and resources.
- Increase TAFE funding to match Free TAFE demand
- Fund more TAFE teachers, teaching hours and resources
- Improve class sizes to deliver expanded Free TAFE
Animal Justice Party
Replace animal dissection and plant-based school cafeteria options
The Animal Justice Party says it would formulate education programs to foster kindness and non-violence towards animals. Its listed objectives include replacing animal dissection with virtual or physical alternatives, offering plant-based foods in school, university and TAFE cafeterias, and reducing standardised testing.
- Replace animal dissection with virtual or physical model alternatives
- Facilitate plant based foods in all school, university and TAFE cafeterias
- Teach students nutritional science and plant based eating benefits
- Remove education programs provided by industry organisations
- Reduce focus on standardised testing and give teachers lesson-planning autonomy
Family First
Education policy on parental choice and curriculum
Family First says it will support parents' choice between state and private education, including faith-based schools and homeschooling. It would review the national curriculum to emphasise basics, history and financial literacy, and remove material it describes as gender queer theory and critical race theory. It also says it would limit schools' authority over parents and require teachers and social workers to disclose information to parents.
- Support parental choice between state, faith-based, private and homeschooling
- Review the national curriculum to emphasise basics, history and logic
- Add real world financial literacy to the curriculum for all students
- Remove gender queer theory and LGBTQA+ gender fluid material from school curriculum
- Make it an offence for teachers or social workers to hide information from parents
In their ads
Labor 13 promises
School upgrades
We're delivering $14.07 million for upgrades at Heidelberg Primary School, including a new gymnasium & learning centre.
School funding
Carroll Labor government will invest $14.1 million in finishing off the school's master plan.
School facilities
Labor will deliver $500,000 to kickstart new indoor stadium and courts for Coburg High and Coburg Basketball Association.
School infrastructure
Labor will invest $2.8 million at Pascoe Vale North Primary!
Free tafe
Labor is supporting a further 15,000 students with free TAFE.
Tafe campus
We're building Sunbury's first TAFE!
School gym
We will build a new three court gym at Cranbourne East Secondary College.
New primary school
Labor has committed to delivering a new primary school to support our growing community in Lara.
New school and kindergarten
We're building a new kinder and primary school for Lara West.
Show 4 more promises
School campus
Labor will build a new campus for Docklands Primary.
School upgrade funding
A re-elected Carroll Labor government will invest $10.31m at Rosanna Primary School to upgrade classrooms and the administration buildings.
Schools
3 more schools opening by 2029.
Student support
Labor will expand this program to now include Bellarine Secondary schools.
Liberal 6 promises
School infrastructure
We'll replace outdated buildings and build new permanent classrooms, staff facilities and office spaces.
Technical colleges
10 new Technical Colleges will be established across Victoria, giving 5,000 secondary students hands-on vocational education and training.
School master plan
A Jess Wilson-led Liberal and Nationals Government will deliver a comprehensive masterplan to plan for the future of the school's infrastructure.
School upgrades
We'll deliver the next stage of the school's master plan, including new classrooms, upgraded library facilities, and new outdoor spaces.
School payroll tax
Our Plan will scrap the schools tax within the first 100 days.
School play area
A Jess Wilson-led Liberal Government will deliver a covered play area and new, level sports courts.
Nationals 1 promise
Secondary school
We will deliver A PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR KILMORE.
Minor parties 4 promises
Private school funding
Immediately ending state funding to high fee private schools, and redirecting these funds to the public system.
School fees
Ending all 'voluntary' parent contributions for things like uniforms, devices, camps.
School lunches
Providing free, nutritious lunches to all government primary school students.
Teacher numbers
Hiring 12,000 additional teachers and support staff across Victoria’s 1,600 public schools, boosting salaries and cutting class sizes.
No education promises in ads from Greens or Independents yet. That's what they've advertised, not necessarily their policy.
Recent votes in parliament on education
What MPs actually voted for, from Hansard.
Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026: third reading
Voting yes supported the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026 passing its third reading, which means passing the bill.
Passed 22 to 15
Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported making the amendment to the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026 during the committee stage. The amendment was defeated.
Defeated 14 to 22
Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported making the amendment to the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026 at committee stage.
Defeated 14 to 22
Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported making the amendment to the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026 during committee stage. The amendment was defeated.
Defeated 14 to 22
Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026: second reading
Voting yes supported the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Schools and Other Matters) Bill 2026 being read a second and third time, which agrees with its main idea and passes it.
Passed 52 to 27
Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026: third reading
Voting yes supported the Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026 being read a third time and passing, which means adopting the bill in its current form.
Passed 35 to 3
Other topics
- Health
- Cost of living
- Housing
- Crime and safety
- Transport and infrastructure
- Economy and tax
- Energy
- All victorian election promises
Policy summaries are written by AI from each party's own page and checked against it; every commitment listed appears on the page. Ad quotes are taken from the ads' text and video by AI and grouped by subject; "See the ad" opens the original. How this works.