Victorian public school teachers, principals and other education staff won't show up for work on Tuesday over a pay dispute, while teachers in Tasmania will also strike.
About a third of the 30,000-strong unionised workforce are expected to march from Victorian Trades Hall to parliament for a rally on the front steps.
Victorian educators had sacrificed their pay during the COVID-19 era and opted for a small increase before inflation took off, ACTU secretary Sally McManus said.
"There's a real depth of anger amongst Victorian teachers," she told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
"They're now the lowest paid teachers in the country."
Schools will remain open across the state, but many parents have been told classes won't run and are being asked to keep their children home if possible.
More than 500 schools will either be closed or significantly disrupted, the president of the Victorian branch of the education union warned.
"We're asking for what we think we're worth," Justin Mullaly said.
"If we don't do that, nobody's going to line up and do that for us.
"There are education support staff who have multiple jobs. We shouldn't have that."
A school in Melbourne's outer east recommended parents make alternative arrangements for their children, while only four of 34 classes were slated to run at a nearby primary school.
The Department of Education did not provide details on how many schools would operate at reduced capacity but confirmed it was working to limit disruption.
The 24-hour teachers strike is Victoria's first in more than 13 years and comes eight months out from the state election.
Premier Jacinta Allan pleaded for the Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union to cancel the action and return to the negotiating table to prevent disruption.
But the union told AAP the strike action would go ahead as planned, threatening a further escalation if necessary.
"The premier and the education minister need to act immediately on this," Mr Mullaly said.
Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick accused the state government of being more focused on the demands of the CFMEU than the teachers' union.
"They deserve to be paid more," he said.
Public schools will also close in Tasmania over three days as teachers strike in their battle for improved pay and conditions.
Stop-work action will begin in the state's northwest on Tuesday, followed by the north on Wednesday and the south including Hobart on Thursday.
Tasmania and Queensland have offered teachers an eight per cent pay rise, below the 13 per cent offer made to those in the Catholic system.
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