From 21 July 2025, principals can decide, in exceptional circumstances, to expel students for behaviour which occurs outside of school, including online behaviour. Please note that guidance related to the Exceptional grounds – outside of school activity does not take effect until 21 July 2025.
Resources
Ministerial Order and Expulsion Policy overview
- Ministerial Order 1125 – Procedures for suspension and expulsion of students in government schools
- Expulsion Policy overview
- Expulsion Policy overview
Expulsion templates and support tools
Expulsion consideration
- Principal expulsion checklist (staff login required)
- Exceptional Grounds - outside school activity quick reference guide (staff login required) – This resource includes prompts and examples to support principals to consider whether a behaviour falls within the scope of the Exceptional grounds – outside of school activity for suspension or expulsion
- Exceptional grounds – outside school activity quick reference guide (staff login required) – accessible version
- Notice of suspension (staff login required) – used where the student is suspended from school immediately while an expulsion is being considered
- Allocating a teacher checklist (staff login required) – used when allocating a teacher to support a student when suspension last more than 5 consecutive days
- Student absence learning plan (staff login required) – used to support the student’s learning while they are absent from school
- Record of behaviour support and intervention meeting (staff login required):
- guidance on convening a behaviour support and intervention meeting
- meeting agenda with essential questions to guide discussions
- template to record the meeting outcomes
Relevant person during an expulsion process
Nomination and consent of relevant person form – used when a student, parent or carer seeks to nominate another adult to participate in the expulsion process as a Relevant Person
Appointing a person from the suitable persons list
Request to appoint a person from the suitable persons list form (staff login required) – used by the principal, in consultation with the Student Support Services Regional Network, when there is no adult available to act as the ‘relevant person’ for a student
Support person
Support persons guide – information and checklist to guide a support person in their role supporting students during an expulsion process
Expulsion decision
- Notice of expulsion and expulsion appeal information and form (staff login required) – to be completed, signed by the principal, and provided to the parent/carer when confirming a decision to expel.
- Expulsion report (staff login required) – to be completed, signed by the principal, and forwarded to the Regional Director with a copy of the Notice of Expulsion and any other relevant documentation
- Supported transition plan (staff login required) – used when supporting a student to transition to another educational setting following expulsion
Appeal process
- Expulsion appeal process overview (staff login required)
- Expulsion Review Panel Report (staff login required) – used by an Expulsion Review Panel and forwarded to the Secretary or delegate
- Student Safety and Wellbeing Expert Panel referral form (staff login required) – used by a principal if an expulsion decision has been overturned on appeal but the principal continues to hold significant concerns for the safety of students
Training resources
Information for parents, carers and students
- Information for parents and carers about school expulsions
- Information for parents and carers about school expulsions
- Information for students about school expulsions
- Information for students about school expulsions
Resources for supporting student behaviour
- Behaviour – Students – policy, guidance and resources on supporting student behaviour, including responding to challenging behaviour.
- Behaviour support at – professional learning courses for educators and early childhood professionals
- Conflict resolution and mediation (login required)
- Managing and Reporting School Incidents (including emergencies) Policy
- Respectful Relationships
- Restraint and Seclusion Policy
- Student Sexual Offending and Problem Sexual Behaviour Policy
- Student Support Services
Reviewed 01 July 2025