Budget and staffing planning across Victorian Catholic education is affecting schools differently, with the recent release of the MACS Operational Guidelines in particular creating significant new challenges for many principals.

Principals are balancing financial requirements with educational quality, staff wellbeing, community expectations and genuine consultation, while making difficult decisions that may affect valued employees.

The IEU has surveyed primary principals about 2027 budget and workforce planning. The picture is not identical across the sector, but recurring concerns include staffing, leadership capacity, student support and the workload and personal pressure being placed on principals.

MACS principals told us:

‘We are asking our staff to do more for less, so burnout is a major concern.’
‘We are wearing the brunt of the decision making. We are carrying the extra workload and having the sleepless nights about the impact on our community.’
‘In order to keep our most disadvantaged students engaged and safe at school, we need the people resources.’
‘Schools could not be working harder than they are and yet we feel a sense of real despair about the future.’

Significant staffing and educational concerns

Around two-thirds of MACS respondents say their 2027 allocation either requires significant reductions or restructuring, or does not appear achievable.

Among those answering the staffing questions:

almost three-quarters expect teacher staffing to be reduced;
almost two-thirds expect LSO or learning-support staffing reductions;
more than four in five expect at least one fixed-term employee not to be renewed;
almost four in five expect part-time employees’ hours to be reduced; and
almost three-quarters expect leadership or Position of Leadership release time to be reduced.

Four in five say they probably or definitely will not retain sufficient leadership release to manage their programs effectively.

The educational concerns are equally clear. Almost 90% say the proposed staffing and class arrangements are not educationally appropriate or only partly appropriate.

Ninety percent of MACS respondents disagree that their financial target can be achieved without diminishing educational provision, and the same proportion disagree that the staffing measures are consistent with their professional judgement as principals.

The strongest expected significant negative impacts include principal workload and wellbeing (88%), leadership capacity (75%), individual student support (73%), quality of teaching and learning (65%) and staff workload and wellbeing (65%).

Leadership, consultation and support

If teachers are allocated their maximum scheduled class time, three-quarters of respondents expect principals, other leaders or POL holders to take additional classes, while almost two-thirds expect classes to be combined or reorganised.

There are also strong concerns about the process. Only a small minority say genuine consultation has fully commenced with MACS.

Ninety percent say MACS has not provided adequate guidance about educational and student impacts. Around three-quarters report inadequate support for employee consultation, inadequate workload and health-and-safety guidance, and insufficient authority to respond to their school’s local circumstances.

Concerns extend beyond MACS

Early feedback from primary principals in regional dioceses shows a less uniform picture, but some important common concerns.

Around three-quarters already expect at least some staffing, budget or operational change in 2027. Almost nine in ten identify principal workload and wellbeing as an area likely to suffer a significant negative impact, while concerns about individual student support, staff workload and support for students with disability or additional needs are also prominent.

Importantly, even some principals who report receiving sufficient information and support are anticipating staffing changes and negative consequences for students and school communities.

This reinforces that there is no single approach that can simply be imposed across schools. Different schools have different circumstances and need genuine consultation, sufficient information and the flexibility to make responsible decisions.

These survey findings describe anticipated consequences under current settings, not inevitable outcomes – it’s crucial that a proper process is followed to minimise the impact of budget pressures on staff and on the delivery of quality education in our schools.

The IEU will continue working with principals and other members to provide practical industrial support, ensure Agreement protections are observed and press employers to address the concerns being raised in schools.

Budget guidelines leave school leaders grappling with difficult choices