education.vic.gov.au

Resources

Guidance and supports

Ministerial GuidelinesExternal Link – provide detailed sector-neutral information about the interpretation and application of the relevant provisions of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic)External Link and details of administrative policies, practices and procedures that should be adopted or considered by authorised persons and reviewers when administering and making decisions under the school community safety order scheme (the scheme).

eLearn moduleExternal Link with essential information about the scheme, such as who an order can be issued to and how to issue an order. Completion is required for all principals and other authorised persons prior to issuing an ongoing order.

Overview of the school community safety order scheme

A short video is available that covers essential information to understand the school community safety order scheme.

School community safety orders information session video

The department has recorded an information session video including guidance for authorised persons to understand when and how to use school community safety orders and the supports and resources available.

Templates relevant to this policy and procedure

Script for issuing a verbal immediate school community safety order (DOCX)External Link – includes scripts for issuing a verbal notice of an immediate order and a proposal to make an immediate order.

Letter template to issue an immediate school community safety order in writing (DOCX)External Link – to assist authorised persons to follow up a verbally issued immediate order in writing or to issue an immediate order for the first time in writing. This includes a cover letter, a template order, communication and access protocol template and written submission template.

Letter template – notice of proposal to issue an ongoing school community safety order (DOCX)External Link – to give notice of the proposal to make the order and invite submissions. Includes a cover letter, template proposed order and written submission template.

Letter template to confirm the issuing of an ongoing school community safety order (DOCX)External Link – to confirm the issuing of an ongoing order following consideration of submissions. This includes a cover letter, a template order, communication and access protocol template and Internal review application form.

First warning to parents/carers letter template (DOCX)External Link (staff login required) – to send to a parent or carer in response to an incident or correspondence where they have not met expectations to behave respectfully towards staff as reflected in the Respectful Behaviours within the School Community PolicyExternal Link . This letter is intended to prevent the escalation of behaviours in the early stages and should be sent before sending a communication plan or other measures that manage unacceptable behaviour that is ongoing.

Internal review application form (DOCX)External Link – to be completed by person who wishes to appeal an ongoing order for review by the department.

Written submission form (DOCX)External Link – for the person to respond with any information to be considered before the ongoing order is issued or while an immediate order is in place.

Communication and access protocol (DOCX)External Link – must be prepared by the authorised person where the subject of an order has a child enrolled at the school to ensure that the parent can continue to be informed of and participate in their child’s education.

Application form to request authorisation (DOCX)External Link – for school or department staff to apply to authorise other department employees as authorised persons.

eduSafe Plus manual reporting form – immediate school community safety order (DOCX)External Link – this form can be used to record details of an immediate order if the authorised person cannot access eduSafe Plus.

eduSafe Plus manual reporting form – ongoing school community safety order (DOCX)External Link – this form can be used to record details of an ongoing order if the authorised person cannot access eduSafe Plus.

School community safety order scheme communications material

Communications toolkits

The scheme is part of a suite of measures to create and support a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment within Victorian schools. Use the communications materials contained in these toolkits to inform the school community about the new scheme.

Safety at work posters

Download and print the parent facing poster for display in settings where parents, carers and adults in the school community frequent:

Download safety at work poster in different languages

The poster is available in 30+ languages to select from below:

School community safety order scheme newsletter content

Use these materials to tailor content informing parents, carers, or your school community about the scheme.

You will need to add your principal’s name and signature to these Microsoft Word materials:

Suggested newsletter from principal to school community (DOCX)External Link

Download newsletter content in different languages

The suggested newsletter from principal to school community is available to download in different languages:

Fact sheets for parents

The below fact sheets can be provided to parents who have been issued with an order or who otherwise wish to seek more information about the scheme. It contains information about how an order applies to them, appeal rights and impacts on the child:

Translated fact sheets on immediate and ongoing school safety orders in 30 languages are available to download on the Victorian Government website – Information for parents and carersExternal Link .

Resources

Reviewed 25 January 2024

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