Victoria’s public education system is set for a further boost, with the Allan Labor Government announcing a broad package of new schools, land acquisitions, upgrades and maintenance programs aimed at keeping pace with the state’s rapid growth.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll confirmed that land will be secured for future schools in key areas including Arden, the City of Darebin, Casey and Melton. The acquisition effort will be backed by $237.4 million in the upcoming state budget, building on the Government’s long-standing infrastructure pipeline.
Beyond that, the 2025/26 Budget includes $411 million for new and expanded schools, including two entirely new facilities to open in Aintree and Officer by 2027. A further $321.7 million will go towards upgrading 35 schools across the state, while $342 million has been earmarked for essential maintenance and $25 million for smaller-scale works through the Capital Works Fund.
As Victoria’s population pushes past 7 million and looks toward London-sized projections by the middle of the century, the education system is being reshaped not just for today’s students but for the hundreds of thousands more expected over the next two decades.
Arden, which will soon be connected via the new Metro Tunnel station, is expected to house 20,000 people by 2051. A dedicated school in this precinct will be part of a broader plan to build around public transport hubs and housing developments that are already taking shape.
“This is about planning for the future and delivering the schools our growing communities need, close to home and well-connected to public transport,” said Ben Carroll. He called the Arden development “a great local high school” in waiting.
The Government says it remains on track to meet its 2018 promise of building 100 new schools by 2026. With that target in sight, attention is now shifting to the next phase: expanding inner-city options, modernising existing schools, and using land more strategically in growth corridors.
As part of this, $1 million has been allocated to a feasibility study exploring a new maths and science specialist school for the north-west. A further $1.4 million will go towards expanding recreational spaces at schools in Melbourne’s western suburbs to increase their use beyond the standard school day.
Another $1 million from the Precincts and Activity Centres Planning Fund will help identify school sites near new housing areas and urban renewal zones. This reflects a shift towards placing services like schools, parks and public transport within walking distance of where people already live—rather than building them long after communities have filled in.
Harriet Shing, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts, said Melbourne’s size by the 2050s would demand more than new roads and train lines. “We’re investing in the neighbourhoods, homes, jobs, services and green spaces that our city needs,” she said.
“The new school for the Arden Precinct will be a wonderful addition to the inner city, and help us not just to manage growth, but to grow well,” she added.
The announcement also builds on the Government’s messaging around equity—ensuring students in both inner and outer suburbs have access to modern, well-connected schools. With Victoria’s outer edges growing fast, there’s also a political imperative to be seen delivering in areas where families are often waiting the longest for local infrastructure.
Shing said the aim is to ensure “connected and inclusive neighbourhoods where families can work, learn and thrive, closer to home.”
For now, the focus is on delivery. With 100 schools expected to open by next year, the next challenge will be keeping pace with demand—and making sure schools in growth areas aren’t just built quickly, but built well.
More information is available at schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au.
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