School and Campus Naming

Naming a new school

Interim names

Interim names are ‘working names’ used in the planning, design, construction and establishment phases of new schools. These interim names are proposed and approved by the Victorian School Building Authority as a reference for urban planners, designers, developers, other government agencies and local councils to locate the building site. There is no commitment or requirement to use the interim name as the approved school name.

Interim names are allocated to proposed government school sites well in advance of any commitment to deliver a proposed government school. The identification of an interim name for a proposed government school does not represent any commitment to deliver the proposed school, nor does the identification of a proposed school site create an obligation for the department to acquire the land.

New schools

New schools are those that have been announced in the State Budget and funded through the capital works program. The delivery and establishment of a new school can take 1.5 to 2.5 years from the day of announcement in the State Budget, depending on the complexity of the project.

Whilst new schools are being established, regional advisory groups (RAGs) are established to operate as interim school councils. The RAG is comprised of senior representatives from within the region, the new school principal (when appointed), architects and community representatives.

For the purposes of this policy, educational services operating out of non-traditional school settings such as hospitals and youth justice facilities which may not have associated capital works, are also considered to be schools and the guidance provided for schools applies.

The department’s Operations and Governance Division commences the new school naming process 15 months prior to the scheduled opening of new schools. This allows stakeholder consultation and approval processes to occur and provides enough lead time for the new name to inform other important operational activities, such as the design of a school logo, uniforms, branding, signage and promotional activities.

Policy requirements for naming new schools

Policy requirements applicable to the naming of new schools are outlined in the Policy tab and include that:

• Aboriginal language names proposed by Traditional Owners must be used when naming new schools
• school names must accurately reflect the school’s educational and service provision, except that exemptions apply to schools offering specialist education provision
• school names must reflect the key principles under Geographic Names Victoria’s Naming rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities 2022 (naming rules).

Funding of expenses

Costs associated with these naming processes, including Traditional Owner costs, are funded as part of school establishment activities. Typical costs include the requesting of Aboriginal language names from Traditional Owner groups and signage.

Initial phase

The purpose of the following initial activities is to formally advise Traditional Owner groups that the new school naming process has commenced and to request their participation:

1. Operations and Governance Division is advised of new schools requiring names by School Provision and Establishment Division.
2. Confirmation is required from the RAG that costs associated with the naming activity will be borne by the school.
3. Operations and Governance Division submits a request to the relevant formally recognised Traditional Owner group seeking their participation in the new school naming process by:
   • inviting them to a consultation meeting to discuss the policy context, process and timing of the school naming
   • providing information on the new school along with procedural guidance to inform decision-making
   • formally requesting 3 Aboriginal language names for the new school, including the meaning, written pronunciation and an audio recording of each.
4. Operations and Governance Division updates RAGs on progress.
5. In the unlikely event that Traditional Owner groups are unable to provide names, Operations and Governance Division will ask the RAG to propose 3 non-Aboriginal language names.

Compliance and shortlisting

The purpose of the following compliance and shortlisting activities is to identify compliant names that can be put forward to community for consultation:

• Operations and Governance Division, in consultation with Geographic Names Victoria, assesses the naming suggestions against the naming rules, principles and protocols outlined in this policy, noting whether each name complies.
• Operations and Governance Division advises the school of the outcome of the compliance check.
• Compliant shortlisted names are presented to the Minister for Education seeking approval to consult with the community.

Note: As the naming authority, the Minister for Education can decide to directly name a school through ministerial or local announcement, in which case, community consultation would not be required (skip ahead to 'Approval and implementation').

Community consultation

The purpose of the following community consultation activities is to engage with the community to seek their input on the name of the new school:

1. Upon the minister’s approval, Operations and Governance Division lodges a request with the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) to begin community consultation via Engage Victoria, the Victorian Government’s online consultation platform.
2. Once the online consultation period opens, Operations and Governance Division provides the Engage Victoria link to the school principal, region and RAG.
3. The VSBA notifies the community of the consultation via social media and websites.
4. Operations and Governance Division and the VSBA notify department staff via School Update.
5. Once the consultation period has closed, the VSBA compiles the results and provides them to Operations and Governance Division (srs.priorities.unit@education.vic.gov.au)

Approval and implementation

The purpose of the following approval and implementation activities is to gain approval from the Minister for Education, as the naming authority for schools, on the name of the new school and to inform activities contributing to the school’s establishment:

1. Operations and Governance Division submits a briefing to the Minister for Education outlining the results of the community consultation, and seeking approval of the most popular name.
2. As the naming authority, the Minister for Education approves the recommended name or may decide to directly name the school.
3. Operations and Governance Division advises the school principal, RAG and region of the outcome of the minister’s decision.
4. A ministerial or local announcement advises the local community of the approved name, following which the principal may engage the local community using the new name.
5. Operations and Governance Division seeks confirmation of the school’s address from the local council as this typically cannot be confirmed until the later stages of the school’s build.
6. Operations and Governance Division advises School Provision and Establishment Division of the name of the new school.
7. Operations and Governance Division lodges a request with Geographic Names Victoria to gazette the new school's name and update the VICNAMES register.
8. Operations and Governance Division formally advises relevant parties of the new school name, including:
   • Performance and Evaluation Division who will update the department’s Entity Register
   • School Provision and Establishment Division who will advise the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) of the gazetted name. Once registered, the new school is added to VRQA’s state register.
9. School establishment activities can be progressed using the newly approved name, such as logo design, uniforms, signage and website development. School materials, policies, and procedures must also reflect the new school name.
10. The new school is encouraged to promote and celebrate the approved name and incorporate it into future communications.