The Victorian Catholic Schools Agreement (VCSA) is a significant agreement for Catholic schools in Victoria, Australia. It is a comprehensive agreement that governs the employment conditions of teachers and staff in the Catholic education sector.
The VCSA sets out the terms and conditions of employment for teachers and other staff in Catholic schools, including their hours of work, leave entitlements, salaries, and other benefits. It also includes provisions for professional development and career progression for teachers and staff, as well as for the management of complaints and disputes.
One of the most important aspects of the VCSA is its focus on ensuring fair and equitable employment conditions for teachers and other staff in Catholic schools. This is particularly important given the significant contribution that Catholic schools make to education in Victoria, with around one in five students attending a Catholic school in the state.
The VCSA is negotiated by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) on behalf of Catholic schools in the state. The CECV works closely with the Independent Education Union (IEU) to ensure that the agreement meets the needs of both teachers and schools.
The VCSA has been in place since 2013, and has been revised and updated several times since then. The most recent update to the agreement, which was negotiated in 2019, included a range of improvements for teachers and staff in Catholic schools.
Some of the key changes included in the 2019 VCSA update include:
– An increase in the starting salary for graduate teachers, to support the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers in Catholic schools.
– Improved provisions for part-time and casual teachers, including paid personal leave and long service leave entitlements.
– Enhanced professional development opportunities for teachers, including additional funding for professional learning and the establishment of a new Professional Development Fund.
Overall, the VCSA is an essential agreement for Catholic schools in Victoria. It provides a clear framework for the employment conditions of teachers and staff, and ensures that Catholic schools can continue to attract and retain high-quality educators to support the education and development of their students.
