Student Dress Code

Health and safety considerations

Sun protection

Schools:

• with a uniform must ensure a sun protective hat is included, at least as an option, as part of the uniform
• without a uniform must permit sun protective hats in their dress code.

Note: Schools should encourage students to wear a sun protective hat outside whenever UV levels reach 3 or higher. In Victoria UV levels are typically three and above from mid-August to the end of April.

Jewellery, cords, chinstraps and drawstrings

Jewellery, hat cords, chinstraps and drawstrings present risks of injury or strangulation, particularly:

• when worn in the head and neck area
• for primary students engaged in active outdoor play.

When developing a dress code, schools should consider:

• the jewellery students are permitted to wear
• selecting hats or other garments without:
  • cords
  • chinstraps, or
  • drawstrings
• using safety cords designed to detach if caught.

School bags

Carrying school bags may pose risks of back pain or damage due to:

• poor design or poorly fitting school bags
• students carrying bags incorrectly
• students carrying loads that are too heavy.

Schools should select school bags that:

• minimise the risk of back injury to students
• are endorsed by an Australian professional organisation such as the:
  • Australian Physiotherapy Association, or
  • Chiropractors’ Association of Australia
• consider strategies to prevent students from carrying loads that are too heavy.