Ben Carroll has dropped $75 million on a new education fund at The Age Schools Summit in Melbourne today.

The Victorian Education Minister made the announcement as a group of principals and deputy principals took the stage to talk about staff wellbeing — the real reason many came.

One of them was Jo McQuinn, principal of Irymple Secondary College. She travelled six hours to get to the summit. That's a round trip from Mildura to Melbourne and back, just to tell the room what's happening on the ground.

The panel, moderated by Age education reporter Alex Crowe, covered what's actually working in schools, how leaders can support their staff without burning out themselves, and how to measure long-term wellbeing in a system that often just wants numbers.

Carroll's $75m fund is meant to address some of these pressures, though details on exactly where the money goes are still thin. The summit continues after morning tea.

What we know about

the fund

The $75 million is fresh money, not reannounced budget leftovers. Carroll didn't say whether it's one-off or spread over multiple years.

It's aimed at supporting student and staff wellbeing, but the education minister didn't break down how much goes to schools directly versus central programs.

Victorian schools have been crying out for more mental health support. A 2025 survey by the Australian Education Union found 78% of principals reported increased stress levels compared to the year before.

The wellbeing crisis in numbers

Teacher burnout isn't new, but it's getting worse. The latest Victorian government data shows one in five teachers leave the profession within their first five years.

Principals are quitting too. The Victorian Principals Association reported a 40% jump in early retirements in 2025 alone.

McQuinn's six-hour trip says it all — regional schools feel the pinch hardest. They struggle to recruit staff, and the ones who stay carry heavier loads.

The panel didn't just talk problems. They shared initiatives that work: peer support programs, flexible timetables, and dedicated wellbeing coordinators who aren't also teaching full loads.

But measuring whether these actually help long-term is tricky. Schools collect data on sick days and exit interviews, but there's no standard way to track whether a teacher feels supported six months after a program starts.

What happens next

The summit runs all day. More speakers are expected, and Carroll will likely face questions about how the $75m will be distributed.

The education department says guidelines will be released within a month. Schools can start applying for funding from Term 3.

For now, principals like McQuinn are back on the road this arvo — hoping the money actually reaches the staffroom, not just the spreadsheet.