From the 2026 school year, school council members, except VIT registered teachers and student members, are required to hold a Working with Children Clearance (WWCC) (either a volunteer WWCC, or employee WWCC if they already have this), when nominating for a role on school council. Current (as at commencement of Term 1 2026) school council members are not required to obtain a WWCC until they nominate for re-election/co-option. This policy, guidance and resources have been updated to reflect this change and other changes made to Ministerial Order 1280 (Constitution of Government School Councils) 2020.
Policy
The purpose of this policy is to support the knowledge, understanding and skills of school council members and provide guidance to improve governance.
Summary
- School council members can strengthen their contributions to council by developing skills and knowledge through training.
- School council training is offered free of charge by the department to school council members, including student members, in 3 formats – virtual live, face-to-face and interactive online.
- The School council self-assessment tool provides information and support to members in assessing their effectiveness as a group. School council members can use this tool to help them identify areas of strength and areas for improvement through training. School councils are required to assess their performance on an annual basis.
- An effective school council reviews the skills and expertise of members and aims to build knowledge and capacity across the group.
- Further information on developing good governance and school council skills and expertise is available on the Guidance tab. See also the Resources tab for tools and information.
Details
Good governance enables the school council to:
- perform efficiently and effectively
- respond strategically to changing demands and educational challenges
- strengthen community confidence in the school.
Improving school governance reference guides
The Improving school governance (ISG) reference guides have been developed to improve the knowledge, understanding and skills of:
- school council members including parent, community and student members
- school council presidents
- treasurers and members of finance sub-committees
- school principals.
There are 5 ISG reference guides:
Virtual live training
School council training can be delivered by video conference (for example, via Webex or Teams) by trained facilitators. Principals and school staff can book training through the Synergistiq website. Synergistiq will then liaise with school councils to ensure the training is delivered effectively and meets their needs.
This training covers 4 of the ISG content areas:
- Governance (strongly recommended for all school council members to do as a group early in the life of the new council and at least once every 3 years)
- Finance (recommended for treasurers or members of the finance sub-committee)
- Strategic planning (recommended for school councils in a review year)
- School council president (recommended for presidents).
To book or register interest in virtual live training, schools or individual school council members can register to attend with .
Face-to-face training
Face-to-face training is the same content as virtual live, but the facilitator attends the school in person and delivers the training face-to-face.
Face-to-face training is available to school councils that fit one or more of the following criteria:
- councils at the beginning of the year to improve council cohesion
- councils whose members may have low digital literacy or may face challenges in accessing online training
- rural councils with limited internet access
- culturally and linguistically diverse councils
- councils experiencing internal conflict.
School councils that fit any one of these criteria may apply to Synergistiq to have their school council training session run as face-to-face. A minimum of 10 members is generally required unless special circumstances apply, for example, if a school council has fewer members.
Interactive online training
School council members can also access an interactive online training program featuring videos and activities.
School council members can self-register to access the interactive online training through the school council learning management and complete these modules in sections, in their own time and pace.
Online training can be accessed individually or in small groups, at a time and place convenient to participants.
Training can be completed as a whole module or in part. Participants can bookmark and return to a module at a later time.
Completion certificates can be downloaded at the conclusion of each online module.
Child Safe Standards – training
School councils are required to undertake child safety training to ensure they can effectively fulfil their responsibilities to support a strong culture of child safety and wellbeing at schools. Under Ministerial Order 1359 (the Child Safe for schools), schools must provide school council members with mandatory annual child safety training. This training supports school council members to understand their roles and responsibilities for child safety and wellbeing. This training also ensures school councils are aware of relevant child safety policies and procedures, and their obligations for reporting, information sharing and record keeping. Schools can meet this requirement to deliver annual training by using the ‘School Council training – Child Safe Standards’ presentation, refer to Schools – child safety knowledge, skills and awareness .
It is recommended that principals deliver the ‘School council training – Child Safe Standards’ presentation at the second meeting of the new school council each year so that this training can also form part of the induction for new members. For more information, refer to the Sample agenda and minutes templates in the Resources tab of the School Council – Meetings policy.
Training trailer
Promotional video
School governance – additional support
School council induction video
This induction video provides a summary of:
- the purpose and responsibilities of school councils
- the roles and duties of school council members.
Principals and school council presidents may use the video:
- as general information for school councils
- for recruiting prospective members, or
- for the induction of new school council members.
Induction for new members
All new members to school council will benefit from a supportive and encouraging induction to fulfil their duties.
Principals are encouraged to send a welcome letter to new and returning members of school council which includes key documents and important information about roles and obligations. Sample letters can be found in the Resources tab of this policy.
It is recommended that principals go through the Improving school governance induction checklist or School council governance induction at the first meeting of the new school council (see also the Sample agenda and minutes template – Meeting 1 ). The checklist and presentation remind school council members of their financial responsibilities, the policies and procedures that are required to be followed, the training that is available and where to find more information.
Under Ministerial Order 1359 (Child Safe Standards for schools), schools are required to ensure new school council members receive an induction on child safety and wellbeing. Schools can meet this requirement by delivering the ‘School council training – Child Safe Standards’ presentation available at Child safe standards – training to all school council members at the second school council meeting in term 1 each year – refer to the Sample agenda and minutes templates in the Resources tab of the School Council – Meetings policy. Alternatively, schools can meet this requirement by providing the Child safety induction pack for new school council members upon commencement and following up with delivery of the annual training required for all school council members at a school council meeting during the year at a time that suits.
Below is a list of supports new members may require.
Participation in meetings
Some new school council members may require additional information to participate fully in school council meetings, including advice on:
- department language
- meeting protocols and conventions
- motions
- agendas
- asking questions
- confidently speaking to an agenda item.
Induction support may include:
- providing a mentor who is trained to brief new school council members before and after meetings
- viewing the school council induction video
- a supportive meeting structure that encourages participation including:
- a glossary of terms and acronyms
- report templates
- encouraging new school council members to propose or second motions and participate in discussion
- principal and president meeting with new members to discuss the role of school councillor
- providing new school council members with responsibilities that will ensure they are included and accountable. These responsibilities may include membership of sub-committees and working groups and can be increased as their knowledge and capacity increases.
Department requirements and processes
New school council members may also need support to understand department requirements and processes, especially around:
- legal issues
- policy content and requirements
- school data
- budgets and other financial information
- strategic planning.
The induction program may include:
- the opportunity for new members to:
- participate in school council training
- be made aware of, and use, the department’s resources relating to school councils
- access to appropriate school documentation for which school councils have a legislated function, including:
- School Strategic Plan
- Annual Report
- budgets
- access to other appropriate contextual school documents, including:
- Annual Implementation Plan
- local school policies.
Student school council members
Student school council members are encouraged to participate in training offered by the department, in consultation with the principal.
Where in-person training takes place within school hours at the student’s school, it is managed according to the Visitors in Schools policy.
Where in-person training takes place outside of school grounds, the Excursions policy applies.
Time management
Student school council members may also need support managing their time with study, council and other commitments, for example, senior students need to focus on assessment and exams at various times of the year.
It is recommended the principal and/or school council president:
- liaise with student school council members’ parents to ensure they are aware of requirements, meetings and times
- ensure that teachers are aware of the student members and their time commitment to school council.
School council self-assessment tool
The School council self-assessment tool assists school councils to build their capacity and provides guidance on co-opting community members. It is also located in the School council portal (principal or business manager login and is designed to be used by school council as a group encouraging discussion and providing support in:
- evaluating their effectiveness as a collective
- identifying areas for improvement.
As a group, school council can discuss and review the self-assessment statements. Refer to the Effective governance guidance chapter for further detail.
Further information on governance and the responsibilities and functions of school council can be found at School Council – Powers and Functions.
A self-assessment instructional video can be found in the Resources tab.
Related policies
- School Council – Composition, Eligibility and Office Bearers
- School Council – Conduct and Conflict of Interest
- School Council – Elections
- School Council – Overview
- School Council – Powers and Functions
Relevant legislation
Reviewed 11 February 2026