Education and Training Reform Amendment Bill 2026

What the bill says it does

The main purposes of this Act are— (a) to amend the Education and Training Reform Act 2006— (i) to strengthen Aboriginal recognition and self-determination across the early childhood education, school education, vocational education and training and adult, community and further education system; and (ii) to provide for the collection and disclosure of information about an applicant for registration under Part 2.6 of that Act; and (iii) in relation to interim suspensions under Part 2.6 of that Act; and (iv) in relation to the following registers— (A) the Register of Registered Teachers; (B) the Register of Disciplinary Action; and (v) to impose a penalty for certain false representations concerning former registration as a teacher or permission to teach; and (vi) in relation to the Student Register under Part 5.3A of that Act; and (vii) in relation to the appointment of the Chairperson of the Council of the Victorian Institute of Teaching; and (viii) to remove the requirement for an investigator conducting a health assessment of a registered teacher to report to the Victorian Institute of Teaching in certain circumstances; and (ix) to require schools to develop policies to restrict student use of personal electronic devices during school hours; and (x) to make other minor and consequential amendments to that Act; and (b) to amend the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 to make a statute law revision amendment.

Quoted from: Purpose clause of the bill as introduced. Not written or edited by FOCUp.

Official sources

• Parliament of Victoria: this bill
• Introduction print – Explanatory Memorandum (DOCX)
• Introduction print – Explanatory Memorandum (PDF)
• As passed print – Bill (DOCX)
• As passed print – Bill (PDF)
• Introduction print – Bill (DOCX)
• Introduction print – Bill (PDF)

Timeline

1. First reading passed — Legislative Assembly

   1 Apr 2026

2. First reading: Statement of compatibility tabled — Legislative Assembly

   2 Apr 2026 · Source

3. Second reading moved — Legislative Assembly

   2 Apr 2026 · Source

4. Second reading: Debate resumed — Legislative Assembly

   4 June 2026

5. Second reading: Debate resumed — Legislative Assembly

   16 June 2026

6. Second reading: Government business program — Legislative Assembly

   16 June 2026

7. Second reading passed — Legislative Assembly

   18 June 2026

8. Third reading moved — Legislative Assembly

   18 June 2026

9. Third reading passed — Legislative Assembly

   18 June 2026

10. Message received from Assembly — Legislative Council

    18 June 2026

11. First reading passed — Legislative Council

    18 June 2026

12. First reading: Statements of Compatibility tabled — Legislative Council

    18 June 2026 · Source

13. Second reading moved — Legislative Council

    18 June 2026 · Source

14. Second reading: Debate resumed — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026

15. Second reading: Opposition amendments circulated — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026 · Source

16. Second reading: Government amendments circulated — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026 · Source

17. Second reading passed — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026

18. Committee of the whole: Date committed — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026

19. Committee of the whole: Amendments agreed to — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026 · Source

20. Committee of the whole completed - Bill amended — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026

21. Third reading moved — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026

22. Third reading passed — Legislative Council

    28 July 2026

23. Dealing with Council amendments

    29 July 2026

24. Royal Assent given

    4 Aug 2026

25. Act number 25/2026

    Date not published

Election commitments on the same subject

Matched by shared budget line and wording. A match does not mean this bill delivers the commitment.

• Equal access to education for children with disabilities · Victorian Greens · 12 Aug 2026
• More funding for community and not-for-profit early childhood education and care · Victorian Greens · 12 Aug 2026
• Embed First Nations perspectives in early childhood education · Victorian Greens · 12 Aug 2026
• Investigate embedding anti-racism education in schools · Victorian Greens · 12 Aug 2026
• Get weapons out of education · Victorian Greens · 12 Aug 2026