About 20,000 Victorian teachers, support staff and school leaders marched through Melbourne's city centre on Thursday after walking off the job across the state.
A sea of protesters draped in Australian Education Union red gathered at the intersection of Bourke and Swanston streets chanting, cheering and distributing flyers.
"What do we want? More funding. When do we want it? Now," the crowd roared as the march began.
Traffic officers kept commuters at bay, with a several-block stretch of Bourke Street closed.
Placards called on the state Labor government to live up to Victoria's nickname as the "education state".
"Supporting teachers equals supporting students," one sign read.
"My students could write a better offer," another said.
Primary school teacher Brian, who preferred not to have his surname published in order to avoid potential repercussions, said educators like him had been left with no choice but to take to the streets.
"We weren't champing at the bit to get out here and do this," he told AAP.
"I think we'd all rather be in the classroom."
The march came to a head outside state parliament, where union leaders delivered impassioned speeches.
State president Justin Mullaly foreshadowed more industrial action to keep pressure on the Victorian government as it prepares to face the polls in November.
"We'll be back here on Spring Street," he said outside parliament.
"We will escalate our campaign, if we need to, we will stop work again."
Among the audience was Luisa Thiedeman, an education support worker at a school for children with autism.
She said funding constraints at specialist schools had reached a crisis point and were holding students and staff back.
"We are unrecognised, underfunded and underpaid," she said.
"We do not have the relevant resources that we need on a daily basis to help our students."
While all public schools remained open on Thursday, many classes were expected to be disrupted.
Mother-of-two Niki Galvin, who opted to keep her primary school-aged child at home, backed the striking teachers.
"Most parents instinctively understand how important it is that we attract and retain quality teachers," she said.
"It's only right that we support the union's efforts to redress that inadequacy and historical unfairness."
Union educators have been locked in a pay dispute with the state government for nearly a year, with graduate teachers - the worst paid in the nation - earning $13,000 less than those in the Northern Territory, the best paid.
The government's revised pitch of a 28.3 per cent pay rise over four years was narrowly defeated, opposed by just over 51 per cent of members.
Education Minister Ben Carroll reiterated the latest pay offer would have made Victorian teachers and support staff the best paid in the country with the "best conditions".
"Families are already juggling a lot, and today's disruption is disappointing," he said.
Mr Mullaly acknowledged the recent offer was significant but argued it was not enough to meet the demands of educators.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare stressed teachers should be paid what they deserve and expressed confidence the Victorian government would ultimately be able to broker a deal.
Former deputy principal Melinda Davis said the teacher strike was not simply a dispute over pay, it was about addressing conditions and class sizes.
"The profession is at breaking point because the system is no longer fit for purpose," the Swinburne education expert said.
"That is the message Victoria's teachers are taking up to the premier."
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