School and Campus Naming

Policy

This policy sets out the requirements and process for naming new and existing Victorian government schools, educational services, campuses, school buildings and school spaces.

Summary

• The naming processes must be followed when naming schools, educational services, campuses, school buildings and school spaces. Existing names do not need to be changed to meet the requirements of the policy however school councils may choose to initiate renaming processes to align with current standards.
• Aboriginal language names must be used when naming new and renaming existing schools, educational services, campuses and new school buildings funded by the Victorian Government. Exemptions apply in certain circumstances, such as permitting modification of existing or past school and campus names.
• In exceptional circumstances, commemorative names of deceased persons may be used for new school buildings funded by the Victorian Government.
• School names must accurately reflect the school’s educational and service provision, except that exemptions apply to schools offering special education provision.
• School and campus 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).
• The minister approves names for schools, educational services, campuses and new school buildings funded by the Victorian Government.
• Schools may give their existing school buildings and spaces an Aboriginal language name, a commemorative name of a deceased person or other non-Aboriginal name and this does not require Ministerial approval. Names of commercial businesses and not-for-profit organisations must not be used.
• With the exception of naming a new school, costs associated with naming activities are borne by the school or related capital works funding.
• Schools must follow this policy and the guidance in the Guidance tab.

Details

The naming processes in this policy and the associated guidelines on the Guidance tab must be followed to ensure a consistent process for naming of schools, educational services, campuses, school buildings and spaces.

For the purposes of this policy, educational services operating out of non-traditional school settings such as hospitals and youth justice facilities are considered to be schools and the requirements and guidance provided for schools applies.

The Guidance tab outlines naming processes for:

• naming a new school
• renaming an existing school due to changed education provision
• renaming an existing school due to a reorganisation (merger, demerger or relocation)
• renaming an existing school as initiated by school council
• naming a new or temporary campus, or renaming an existing campus as initiated by school council
• naming a new school building funded by the Victorian Government (optional)
• naming an existing school building or school space (optional).

Preferencing of Aboriginal language names

Aboriginal language names must be used for naming new schools and campuses and for renaming existing schools and campuses unless an exception applies.

Aboriginal language names must also be used for new school buildings funded by the Victorian Government, except in exceptional circumstances where schools have sought and gained approval to use a commemorative name of a deceased person. Refer to the guidance chapter Naming a new school building funded by the Victorian Government.

Temporary campuses must only be given an Aboriginal language name if a permanent school or campus is planned on the site in future. Temporary campuses are otherwise given a name based upon their geographic location, such as incorporating the name of the road or locality.

To ensure accuracy of language, only Traditional Owners can propose Aboriginal language names. The department or school must send a written request seeking potential Aboriginal language names to the formally recognised Traditional Owner group of the land on which the school, campus or building is situated. A map showing formally recognised Traditional Owner groups across Victoria is included in the Resources tab.

Where a Traditional Owner group is not formally recognised for the specific location, the department or school must seek advice from Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups (LAECGs) via the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc (VAEAI). Consultation must be undertaken with all Traditional Owners who assert rights and interests in the area. These may include Traditional Owner families and groups without formal recognition as well as formally recognised Traditional Owner groups of neighbouring areas.

Where Traditional Owner groups have been consulted and are unable to provide names, the school will be asked to provide potential non-Aboriginal language names.

Where a commemorative name of a deceased person is proposed for a school building or school space, Traditional Owners will not be consulted unless the name is of an Aboriginal person.

The naming rules

The ‘naming rules’ are the statutory guidelines provided under section 5 of the Geographic Place Names Act 1998 (Vic). They are mandatory for all Victorian Government-owned or administered roads, features and localities under the naming authority of councils, government departments and other authorities.

Government-owned schools and campuses are considered ‘features’ under the Geographic Place Names Act 1998 (Vic) and statutory guidelines, and proposed names must comply with the naming rules. The rules do not apply retrospectively to existing school and campus names.

The department’s Operations and Governance division (OGD) works with Geographic Names Victoria (GNV) to assess proposed school and campus names against naming principles (section 2, Naming rules for places in Victoria – Statutory requirements for naming roads, features and localities 2022).

The optional naming of school buildings and spaces are not considered registered features under the Geographic Place Names Act 1998 (Vic) and statutory guidelines, and are not required to comply with the naming rules but there are still department policies that apply.

Education provision

Proposed school names must include an education provision description. Standard naming conventions include:

• primary provision – ‘Primary School’
• secondary provision – ‘Secondary College’, ‘College’ or school year level descriptor, for example, ‘7–12 College’
• both primary and secondary provision – year level descriptor, for example, ‘P–9 College’ or ‘P–12 College’
• provision inclusive of kindergarten services – may include ‘K’ in the year level descriptor, for example, ‘K–12 College’
• intensive English language provision – ‘English Language School’ or ‘English Language Centre’.

Specialist schools may choose to omit the mode of education provision from their name. Standard naming conventions include:

• if omitting the mode of education provision – ‘School’
• if including education provision – ‘Specialist’, ‘Special’ or ‘Special Development’ School
• schools for students with a specific type of disability may include their specialisation in the school’s name, for example, ‘Autism School, ‘School for Deaf Children’.

Commemorative names

Commemorative names of living or deceased persons are not to be used for naming schools or campuses.

In exceptional circumstances, a commemorative name of a deceased person may be considered for the optional naming of school buildings and school spaces.

Whilst the Geographic Place Names Act 1998 (Vic) applies to schools and campuses, and does not extend to school buildings and school spaces, department policy requires that any proposal to use a commemorative name for a school building or school space must align with the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2022 Principle (I): Using Commemorative Names, namely that they:

• must be applied posthumously – the names of people who are still alive must be avoided because community attitudes and opinions can change over time
• must be applied at least 2 years posthumously
• use the first name and last name of a person – although it is preferred that only one name be used
• the initials of a given name must not be used in any instance.

Proposal of a commemorative name of a deceased person for a school building or school space must consider:

• the person’s achievements
• relevant history and association to the area
• the significance of the person to the area/land
• the character of the person and appropriateness of the commemoration.

Proposals to commemoratively name a new school building funded by the Victorian Government require:

• endorsement from the region
• family support for the proposal, confirming that they agree that the name can be associated with the space (and providing authorisation for any other specific personal information to be used, such as a photograph or background information)
• a detailed biography of the person being commemorated
• assurance that due diligence has been carried out and that the person is considered to be of good character
• support from Traditional Owners if knowingly commemorating an Aboriginal person
• approval from the minister.

Proposals to commemoratively name an existing school building or school space require:

• documentation of the reason for the commemoration which might include the person’s achievements, relevant history, significance and/or association to the area/land
• assurance that the person is considered to be of good character is documented
• written consent from the family confirming they agree that the name can be associated with the building or space (and providing authorisation for any other specific personal information to be used, such as a photograph or background information)
• written support from the formally recognised Traditional Owners of the land on which the space is situated if knowingly commemorating an Aboriginal person
• approval from the regional director.

Approval of names

The Minister for Education is the naming authority for government schools and educational services under the Education Training and Reform Act 2006 (ETRA) s5.2.1(2)(c)).

As naming authority, the Minister for Education approves naming requests for schools, campuses and new school buildings funded by the Victorian Government, usually after community consultation, and in exceptional circumstances may directly apply a name.

With the exception of commemorative names as outlined in the section above, school principals have the authority to name existing school buildings and school spaces.

Refer to the Guidance tab for detailed information on the required processes for naming new and existing schools, campuses, school buildings and school spaces.

Related policies

• Minimum Standards and School Registration
• Repurposing and Renaming School Spaces

Relevant legislation

• Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic)
• Geographic Place Names Act 1998 (Vic)
• Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2022 (Vic)