Victoria’s looking for 19 new principals for 2026

Image: stock

Victoria is looking for 19 principals to lead schools which are not due to open until 2026.

Education Minister Ben Carroll says the new schools comprise of 13 primary, three secondary, two specialist and one P-9, opening in 2026.

Applications are open via the Department of Education’s online recruitment portal and close on Friday, November 8.

The government says successful applicants will start their new roles in term two next year which will give them nine months to prepare for the 2026 school year.

Preparations will include teacher and staff recruitment, development of a school vision and values, the curriculum and organisational structures, and uniform.

Carroll says the vacant positions are an “exciting opportunity”.

“There’s never been a better time to take on the unique and critical role of principal at a Victorian government school, inspiring and supporting students while shaping the future of our state day in, day out,” he says.

“Each of the 19 schools opening in 2026 presents an exciting opportunity for current and aspiring school principals to lead, backed by the state’s growing teaching workforce.”

The government is promising that the new principals will have the support they need as it works on ways to retain or attract new staff; these include scholarships to make degrees free, financial incentives for hard to fill roles, and paid placements for people training to be teachers and employment-based degrees.