Vic teachers repaid millions for laptops

Victoria teachers will be repaid $37 million in fees unlawfully deducted from their wages for using workplace-issued laptops to write school reports and plan lessons.

The state government has deducted fees from public school teachers' wages since 2009 for using laptops under salary packaging arrangements.

In November, the Federal Court ruled the deductions were unlawful, and on Friday the Victoria government was ordered to repay $37 million to 46,000 teachers.

Most teachers who took part in the program can expect to receive several hundred dollars, Education Minister James Merlino says.

The education department stopped the deductions in November after Justice Mordecai Bromberg's landmark ruling.

The Australian Education Union launched legal action against the government in 2013 arguing it was unreasonable for teachers to have to pay for resources which were a necessary part of their job.

"Expecting teachers and principals to pay out of their own pockets for a computer they use (for work) ... is absolutely unfair," said Meredith Peace, President of the union's Victoria branch.

The state government says it recognises laptops have become an essential tool for teachers and will not appeal Friday's orders.

It will also pay some of the union's legal costs.

"These orders also mean unlawful deductions like this cannot happen in future," Ms Peace said in a statement.

Teachers and principals who had money deducted for laptop use will be repaid by Christmas Eve, with five per cent interest.

Former teachers will be reimbursed by the end of March.