Your AEU membership fees – or union dues – are based on your job role, sector, and how many hours a week you work. This makes things equitable for everyone. AEU membership fees are paid every 28 days by direct debit from your bank account, or by credit card.
It’s important that you’re paying the correct fees, so you will be covered if you ever need to seek industrial or legal help.
It's your responsibility to let us know when your employment or leave details change by updating them in your member dashboard. Alternatively, you can call us on 03 9417 2822 or email [email protected].
2025 membership fees and deduction dates
You can find our rates (payable every four weeks) below.
Our direct debit payment dates, refund policy and information about membership fees while on leave are available below.
Early childhood
Teacher, preschool field officer and early years advisor. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 65.84 |
| 0.9 | 59.47 |
| 0.8 | 53.09 |
| 0.7 | 46.72 |
| 0.6 | 40.35 |
| 0.5 | 32.92 |
| 0.4 | 26.55 |
| 0.3 | 20.18 |
| 0.2 | 13.81 |
Assistant and co-educator. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 35.66 |
| 0.9 | 32.30 |
| 0.8 | 28.95 |
| 0.7 | 25.59 |
| 0.6 | 22.24 |
| 0.5 | 17.83 |
| 0.4 | 14.48 |
| 0.3 | 11.12 |
| 0.2 | 7.77 |
Casual relief teacher. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| N/A | 21.18 |
Casual EC assistant. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| N/A | 12.95 |
Early career teacher – discounted. Read more
Graduate teacher, para-professional, Teach for Australia* and
Career Change programs*
We recognise that graduate teachers have a lot of expenses, so membership fees are lower for the first three years of teaching. Graduate teachers receive a 40% discount off their fees in their first year of teaching. In the second year they will receive a 30% discount and then a 20% discount in their third year of teaching.
| Time fraction | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 42.36 | 49.07 | 55.78 |
| 0.9 | 38.34 | 44.37 | 50.41 |
| 0.8 | 34.31 | 39.68 | 45.05 |
| 0.7 | 30.29 | 34.98 | 39.68 |
| 0.6 | 26.27 | 30.29 | 34.31 |
| 0.5 | 21.18 | 24.54 | 27.89 |
| 0.4 | 17.16 | 19.84 | 22.53 |
| 0.3 | 13.14 | 15.15 | 17.16 |
| 0.2 | 9.11 | 10.45 | 11.79 |
*Members receive the discount across the two years of the program and the first year of teaching.
Pre-service teachers – FREE.
Schools
Teacher (primary, secondary and special settings), principal and instructor. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 69.19 |
| 0.9 | 62.48 |
| 0.8 | 55.78 |
| 0.7 | 49.07 |
| 0.6 | 42.36 |
| 0.5 | 34.60 |
| 0.4 | 27.89 |
| 0.3 | 21.18 |
| 0.2 | 14.48 |
Education support staff and Koorie educator. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 39.01 |
| 0.9 | 35.32 |
| 0.8 | 31.63 |
| 0.7 | 27.94 |
| 0.6 | 24.25 |
| 0.5 | 19.51 |
| 0.4 | 15.82 |
| 0.3 | 12.13 |
| 0.2 | 8.44 |
Casual relief teacher. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| N/A | 21.18 |
Casual education support staff and Victorian School of Languages casual (including Saturday morning). Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| N/A | 12.95 |
Early career teacher – discounted. Read more
Graduate teacher, para-professional, Teach for Australia* and
Career Change programs*.
We recognise that graduate teachers have a lot of expenses, so membership fees are lower for the first three years of teaching. Graduate teachers receive a 40% discount off their fees in their first year of teaching. In the second year they will receive a 30% discount and then a 20% discount in their third year of teaching.
| Time fraction | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 42.36 | 49.07 | 55.78 |
| 0.9 | 38.34 | 44.37 | 50.41 |
| 0.8 | 34.31 | 39.68 | 45.05 |
| 0.7 | 30.29 | 34.98 | 39.68 |
| 0.6 | 26.27 | 30.29 | 34.31 |
| 0.5 | 21.18 | 24.54 | 27.89 |
| 0.4 | 17.16 | 19.84 | 22.53 |
| 0.3 | 13.14 | 15.15 | 17.16 |
| 0.2 | 9.11 | 10.45 | 11.79 |
*Members receive the discount across the two years of the program and the first year of teaching.
Pre-service teachers – FREE.
TAFE
Teacher, senior educator and education manager. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 65.84 |
| 0.9 | 59.47 |
| 0.8 | 53.09 |
| 0.7 | 46.72 |
| 0.6 | 40.35 |
| 0.5 | 32.92 |
| 0.4 | 26.55 |
| 0.3 | 20.18 |
| 0.2 | 13.81 |
Industrial skills instructor. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 52.42 |
| 0.9 | 47.39 |
| 0.8 | 42.36 |
| 0.7 | 37.33 |
| 0.6 | 32.30 |
| 0.5 | 26.21 |
| 0.4 | 21.18 |
| 0.3 | 16.15 |
| 0.2 | 11.12 |
Sessional teacher. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| N/A | 21.18 |
Disability
Instructor. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 45.72 |
| 0.9 | 41.36 |
| 0.8 | 37.00 |
| 0.7 | 32.64 |
| 0.6 | 28.28 |
| 0.5 | 22.86 |
| 0.4 | 18.50 |
| 0.3 | 14.14 |
| 0.2 | 9.78 |
Casual instructor. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| N/A | 12.95 |
AMES
Teacher. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 62.48 |
| 0.9 | 56.45 |
| 0.8 | 50.41 |
| 0.7 | 44.37 |
| 0.6 | 38.34 |
| 0.5 | 31.24 |
| 0.4 | 25.21 |
| 0.3 | 19.17 |
| 0.2 | 13.14 |
Casual relief teacher. Read more
| Time fraction | 28 days |
|---|---|
| N/A | 21.18 |
Other
| Associate member | 66.00 annually |
| AEU News subscription | 66.00 annually |
| Pre-service | No charge |
Changes to your employment
There are several employment changes that can affect your membership fees. Read more here.
Membership fees while on leave
You can pause your membership while you take unpaid leave. Read more
Simply provide your leave dates in writing to our membership team or through your member dashboard. Your debits will be suspended until you return to paid employment. Your membership remains active, and you are welcome to access membership services or contact us for assistance or advice while on leave.
While members are required to pay fees for any period of paid maternity leave, fees are adjusted to reflect the member's maternity leave status. Read more
If you take maternity leave at full pay, you will continue to pay the full rate. If you take your maternity leave at half pay, your fees are halved accordingly. This acknowledges your change in circumstance and allows you to retain access to services and benefits provided by the AEU, including the capacity to seek support, advice or assistance throughout your paid maternity leave and unpaid family leave period.
Most importantly, you will have the support of the AEU when negotiating your return to employment at the conclusion of your leave. Simply provide written notification of the start and end dates of your planned leave, indicating half or full pay, and we will adjust your fees accordingly.
Similarly, members are required to pay fees for any period of paid long service leave, with fees adjusted to reflect the member’s long service leave status. Read more
If you have elected to take long service leave at full pay, you will continue to pay the full rate. If you take your long service leave at half pay, your membership fees are halved accordingly. This allows you to retain access to services and benefits provided by the AEU, including the capacity to seek support, advice or assistance throughout your long service leave period.
2025 direct debit and credit card schedule
Bank First & credit cards: 23 January, 20 February, 20 March, 17 April, 15 May, 12 June, 10 July, 7 August, 4 September, 2 October, 30 October, 27 November, 25 December
Banks, Bank Australia & building societies: 9 January, 6 February, 6 March, 3 April, 1 May, 29 May, 26 June, 24 July, 21 August, 18 September, 16 October, 13 November, 11 December
Please note we do not cover everyone working in education.
If you are unsure whether the AEU is the right union for your profession, please call our friendly team on 03 9417 2822.
Assistants, educators and co-educators working in long day care cannot be covered by the AEU, unless they are covered by the VECTEA. If you work in long day care and are not employed under the VECTEA, please contact the United Workers Union or the Australian Services Union.
Residential care workers in the disability sector are not covered by the AEU.