Behaviour – Students

12. Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour

The Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour statement (the statement) was released on 10 November 2025 to support positive student behaviour in Victorian government schools. This page has been developed to support schools to understand their policy requirements and how to use the statement.

Purpose of the statement

The statement has been developed to:

• provide consistent messaging about student behaviour expectations in Victorian government schools
• provide information about the important role that parents and carers play in supporting their child’s behaviour
• provide schools with messaging to support local discussions about behaviour and how parents and carers can support this.

Values and school philosophy policy requirements

The Minimum Standards for school registration require all schools to have a policy or statement affirming the school adheres to the democratic principles and outlining the school’s values and philosophy. A template Statement of Values and School Philosophy (staff login required) is available on the School Policy Templates Portal.

This template has been updated to include the Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour statement in the ‘behavioural expectations’ section. It is now a requirement for schools to include this ‘behavioural expectations’ section in their Statement of Values and School Philosophy:

• Schools must update their Statement of Values and School Philosophy to include this ’behavioural expectations’ section when their Statement of Values and School Philosophy is next due for its 4-year review. However, it is strongly recommended that schools make this update as soon as practical. School Council approval is required for changes to this policy.
• Schools may also choose to refer to the Respectful, safe, engaged: Shared expectations statement in the ‘school values’ section of their Statement of Values and School Philosophy.

Using the statement within schools

The Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour statement may be used to support discussions with parents and carers about how they can support their child’s behaviour. This may include (but is not limited to):

• information in newsletters provided to community
• information in parent/carer information sessions
• information on the school’s website
• meaningful and tailored engagement with the local community
• an optional acknowledgement of the statement for parent/carers to be included upon enrolment or annual permission form processes (see further information below).

Sample communication templates are available on the Resources tab.

It is important to tailor school communications to best reflect and support your school’s context.

Meaningful community and parent/carer engagement

The statement is designed to help schools build common language and shared understanding about expectations for student behaviour, and the important role that parents/carers play in supporting this.

It is important that schools meaningfully engage with their local communities when discussing the statement. Parents/carers and students will have varied requirements for support in engaging with the statement. Schools can identify the best way to support their school community through:

• tailoring communications to best support individual school contexts and demographics
• understanding different values and cultural backgrounds that shape language and engagement with student behaviour
• applying an inclusive understanding of expected behaviours for students with disability (for example, providing supports and adjustments so that a student can meet expectations for student behaviour)
• working in partnership with community, parents and carers
• ensuring clear messaging that the statement applies to everyone and no one is singled out
• collaborating with school councils to engage with the school community.

It is also important to consider how to make information accessible and understandable for parents and carers. For example, by:

• using the translations (available soon) and Easy English version of the statement
• considering engaging different support roles to provide safe and culturally responsive engagement with families
• providing additional supports and tailored communication for families as required to support understanding in how the statement applies to their child.

The statement must not be used to shame or stigmatise student or parent/carer behaviour or actions.

Optional parent/carer acknowledgement template

Schools can incorporate an acknowledgement of the statement into school enrolment processes and/or annual permission processes.

An Acknowledgement template (DOCX) is available for schools to use to seek parent/carer acknowledgement of the statement.

If a school chooses to incorporate parent/carer acknowledgment:

• it is optional for parents/carers to sign the acknowledgement
• parent/carer failure to sign an acknowledgement cannot be an impediment to a student attending school
• meaningful community and parent/carer engagement is vital to ensure the acknowledgement is signed in a way that is informed. Parents/carers must be fully informed before acknowledging
• appropriate supports must be put in place to support the community (for example, tailored engagement and communications approach with parents/carers)
• the acknowledgement must not be used in a way that stigmatises or shames parents/carers, regardless of whether or not the acknowledgement is signed. It is important to:
  • ensure there is clear messaging that everyone is being asked to acknowledge the statement, and no one is being singled out
  • ensure ample opportunity for the parent/carer to consider and understand the acknowledgement.