VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

Policy last updated

3 June 2025

Scope

  • Schools
  • School councils

Date:
January 2020

Policy

Changes to the Student Dress Code policy to improve uniform affordability were announced on 2 April 2025. The resources for this policy have been updated and expanded to support implementation of these changes. This includes an updated local student dress code policy template. Further information on implementing the uniform affordability changes is available in the Student Dress Code policy FAQ (DOCX)External Link .

Policy

This policy sets out requirements for schools and school councils to develop, implement and review their student dress code policies.

Summary

  • All school councils have the authority to develop dress codes for their students, should they choose to do so.
  • School councils must work with their school communities when developing and reviewing dress codes.
  • School councils are responsible for deciding on arrangements for the supply of school uniform items.
  • The principal may determine the consequences to be imposed on an individual student for not complying with the student dress code, in accordance with the relevant school and department policies. Refer to the Implementing and enforcing student dress codes section of the Guidance tab for further advice.
  • All student dress codes must:
    • ensure that uniforms are affordable
    • not include branded pants, shorts, skirts, skorts and socks
    • comply with human rights and anti-discrimination legislation
    • support inclusion, which includes flexibility to affirm the gender of trans and gender diverse students and allows for cultural and religious expression, for example, a hijab or turban
    • include an exemption process
    • include health and safety considerations
    • explain requirements relating to uniform supply arrangements
    • be communicated clearly to students and parents/carers
    • be published on the school’s website.

Details

School councils have the authority to develop dress codes for their students, including:

  • confirming whether or not the school will have a school uniform, and if wearing it will be mandatory or optional
  • identifying clothing to be worn for specific activities (such as sport, laboratory experiments, bags)
  • detailing exemption grounds
  • determining methods of enforcement (provided they are consistent with department and local school policies on behaviour and student engagement).

Dress code consultation

School councils must consult with the school community when developing and reviewing student dress codes and must provide an opportunity for a variety of viewpoints of parents/carers, teachers and students to be expressed. The purpose of the consultation is to ensure that the dress code is appropriate for the school community, noting that communities are diverse and can change over time.

The school council should carefully consider the forms of consultation that will be undertaken in developing or reviewing a dress code. Please refer to the Developing and reviewing dress codes section of the Guidance tab for further advice regarding modes of consultation.

Compliance with human rights and anti-discrimination law

Student dress codes must comply with human rights and anti-discrimination legislation.

Refer to the Human rights section in the Guidance tab for further explanation of these requirements.

Implementing and enforcing dress codes

If a student dress code is developed, schools must:

  • communicate their dress code to the school community, including by publishing the dress code and full uniform list on the school website with clarity on compulsory and optional items
  • assist families having difficulties with uniform costs
  • ensure that measures used to enforce the dress codes are consistent with the department’s Student Engagement policy and guidance and the school’s Student Engagement policy, and have regard to student wellbeing, inclusive practice and human rights.

Refer to the Implementing and enforcing student dress codes section of the Guidance tab for guidance on communicating, implementing and enforcing student dress codes.

Cost considerations

The Department of Education aims to provide every student in Victoria with equal access to high-quality public education. To assist in achieving this aim, student uniforms must be affordable, which means they must be financially accessible without creating an unreasonable burden on families or a barrier to enrolment for students. To ensure affordability, schools must not include branded pants, shorts, skirts, skorts or socks in their uniform.

Refer to the Uniform branding and cost considerations section in the Guidance tab for further advice.

Health and safety considerations

Student dress codes must take into account health and safety considerations relating to sun protection and risks from jewellery, cords, chin straps, drawstrings or school bags. Refer to the Health and safety section in the Guidance tab for further advice.

Exemptions

Schools must have an exemption process in their dress code policy and must follow the exemption process contained in the Exemption procedures in the Guidance tab.

Uniform supply arrangements

School councils:

  • are responsible for deciding on arrangements for the supply of school uniform items
  • must comply with written agreements with clothing suppliers and may be subject to legal proceedings if a dispute arises between the parties
  • must not make any misrepresentations while making agreements with suppliers (for example, misrepresenting the number of students at the school)

For further guidance on school procurement requirements, refer to the Procurement – Schools policy. For further guidance on uniform supply arrangements, refer to the Uniform supply arrangements section of the Guidance tab.

Policy template available

A Student Dress Code Policy templateExternal Link (staff login required) is available on the School Policy Templates Portal. Schools can modify the template to suit their local circumstances.

Definitions

Branded uniform item
Branded items are those featuring a school logo or name that can generally only be purchased from uniform suppliers.

Dress code
A written statement of school council expectations regarding student appearance. A dress code applies during school hours, while travelling to and from school, and when students are engaged in school activities out of school hours. A dress code may:

  • define standards for the general presentation of students
  • set out broad guidelines about student appearance
  • require students to wear a school uniform
  • define expectations for garment design and colour.

Relevant legislation


Guidance

Student Dress Code Guidelines

These guidelines contain advice for schools about legal requirements and best practice when developing, reviewing and implementing student dress codes at a local school level. The guidelines contain the following chapters:

  • Developing and reviewing student dress codes
  • Uniform branding and cost considerations
  • Exemption procedures
  • Health and safety considerations
  • Human rights requirements
  • Implementing and enforcing student dress codes
  • Parent complaints
  • Uniform supply arrangements
  • Dress code legislation.

Developing and reviewing student dress codes

Developing and reviewing student dress codes

To support school councils in developing and reviewing student dress codes, refer to the Checklist for developing or reviewing a student dress code policy (DOCX)External Link in the Resources tab. Principals must table this checklist at a school council meeting before developing or reviewing a local student dress code.

Identifying the purpose of student dress codes

School councils should clearly identify the purpose(s) of the student dress code.

These purposes may include:

  • promoting a sense of identity and pride, cohesion and good order in the school
  • allowing all students to feel equal
  • preventing bullying and competition on the basis of clothing
  • ensuring students’ appearance reflects the expectations of their school community
  • enhancing the profile and identity of the school and its students within the wider community
  • strengthening the spirit of community within the school
  • enhancing individual student safety and group security
  • ensuring all students are dressed safely and appropriately for school activities
  • preparing students for the expectations of workplaces
  • encouraging students to present themselves appropriately for a particular role.

Consultation process

The school council must consult with the school community when developing and reviewing a student dress code. In preparing to consult, the school must carefully consider the forms and modes of consultation, for example:

  • letters, emails and social media messages to parents/carers
  • surveys
  • information in newsletters
  • public meetings
  • student meetings
  • focus groups
  • information on the school website.

Refer to the Student Dress Code policy consultation guide (DOCX)External Link in the Resources tab for sample consultation questions.

Refer to the Template consultation information factsheet for parents/carers (DOCX)External Link that schools can use to inform parents/carers of their role in the consultation process.

When undertaking community consultation, the school council must allow at least 2 weeks to receive feedback.

Mechanisms for consultation must be identified in the school’s local student dress code policy or, alternatively, be recorded in school council minutes.

In preparing for the consultation the school council must:

  • read the department’s Student Dress Code policy
  • calculate the current cost of a full student uniform and consider whether this is affordable (if reviewing an existing student dress code)
  • research student uniform costs and consider what is affordable for the local community (if developing a dress code for the first time)
  • prepare consultation materials that set out:
    • the consultation process and timeframe
    • the purposes of the student dress code
    • any proposed changes to the student dress code and the reason for these changes
  • guarantee opportunity for the viewpoints of parents/carers, teachers and students to be expressed
  • translate material into community languages, or employ an interpreter for meetings, where appropriate
  • provide for careful consideration of any information and variety of viewpoints collected in the consultation process before finalising the decision-making process
  • seek out and consider the views of different groups within the school community (such as from different cultural, religious or ethnic backgrounds or other groups that may have additional needs in complying with a proposed student dress code)
  • provide a timeline for implementation of the student dress code.

This consultation process must engage with parents/carers on uniform costs and seek to understand how these costs might affect different groups within the community. Other topics that may be relevant considerations during consultation include:

  • purpose of the student dress code policy
  • uniform design
  • practicality of uniform
  • inclusivity of uniform
  • materials used in uniform construction
  • uniform supply arrangements.

Important

School councils must document their student dress code consultation and development process as evidence that they have consulted with their school community. Once completed, the Checklist for developing or reviewing a student dress code policy must be retained as evidence of the consultation in line with the department’s Records Management policy.

The school council must be able to demonstrate to its school community that it has considered the cost implications of its selected school uniform and the ability of its community to afford it.

The school council’s student dress code policy development documents, including details of the consultation process, may be required as evidence or used by bodies such as the Victorian Ombudsman’s office in the event of a dispute.

Student dress code content

As the student dress code takes precedence over a student’s individual preferences, the dress code must:

  • be compliant with federal and state anti-discrimination laws — refer to the chapter on Human rights requirements
  • clearly outline:
    • the rights and responsibilities of parents/carers, students and the school
    • how parents/carers or students apply for an exemption from the dress code
  • ensure the student uniform is affordable and does not include branded pants, shorts, skirts, skorts and socks
  • set out uniform supply arrangements and strategies to assist families who have difficulty meeting uniform costs
  • be respectful of the cultural norms of the school community
  • be reasonable by contemporary standards and avoid unnecessarily intruding on students’ rights in matters of personal appearance
  • allow for individual expression through alternatives within overall garment requirements
  • ensure all students can wear any of the approved uniform items
  • be suitable to the role of a student and the tasks and functions they perform
  • outline the dress code complaints/concerns process
  • consider health and safety issues, including sun protection
  • allow students to dress comfortably in all weather conditions
  • provide clothing for sports or physical education that is practical and that all students will feel comfortable wearing
  • support informal or incidental physical activity such as lunchtime sport, walking or cycling to school
  • include a full uniform list identifying compulsory and optional items
  • be communicated clearly to students, and parents/carers prior to enrolment, providing a basis of assent
  • outline the consultation and decision-making processes for reviews and amendments
  • be reviewed if circumstances change significantly.

All gender options, trans and gender diverse students

Schools must take reasonable steps to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex, gender and sexuality. The department requires schools to support students who want to affirm their gender identity at school, including wearing the appropriate uniform that reflects the gender identity of the student. As such, student dress codes must ensure that students are able to wear whatever uniform items they feel comfortable wearing.

Trans and gender diverse students must be given flexible, inclusive uniform options as a step in preventing discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

This includes arrangements that support students’ safety, wellbeing and inclusion, such as:

  • including exemptions where uniform items are not appropriate in size or fit for trans or gender diverse students and similar substitutions are needed
  • working with uniform suppliers to list items by cut rather than gender which creates the impression that the uniform has gender divisions that are not present in the school’s policy
  • enforcing uniform standards equally, regardless of gender identity (for example, hem length, hair length, make up and jewellery)
  • explicitly acknowledging trans and gender diverse students in the student dress code
  • referring to the department’s LGBTIQA+ Student Support policy.

Religious and cultural requirements

Some students may wish to observe particular religious and cultural requirements while also complying with the student dress code.

Schools are encouraged to include items such as head coverings and longer sleeves or skirts in the uniform as standard to avoid students needing to seek an exemption to wear them.

Schools are encouraged to provide students who wear braids or locs with the option to wear them loose unless it is a specific safety concern, for example, in applied technology classes.


Uniform branding and cost considerations

Uniform branding and cost considerations

School councils must factor in the overall cost of uniforms, including sports uniforms and other specific purpose items, to ensure financial accessibility for parents/carers. The cost of school uniforms must not form a barrier to parents/carers sending their child(ren) to a government school.

In addition, no student should face obstacles to participation in school activities due to additional uniform expenses.

To ensure affordability, student uniforms must not include branded pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, leggings and socks that feature the school logo or name.

The school council must consider the following measures to minimise uniform costs.

Avoid customised items

Customised uniform items are those of unique fabric, colours or patterns that can only be purchased from a single supplier. School councils are recommended to avoid customised uniform items including items with bespoke fabric or items with multiple colours where a single-coloured option is available, for example, customised blue piping on a shirt collar and arms when a white shirt is sufficient.

Minimise uniform changes

School councils are encouraged to avoid frequent uniform changes which can increase costs for families. School councils are advised to avoid unnecessary uniform changes (for example, changes to school logo or fabric choice) and, where uniform changes are made, ensure adequate transition periods.

Trans-seasonal uniform

School councils are encouraged to consider introducing uniform items that are suitable to wear across multiple seasons. A trans-seasonal uniform gives students the choice to wear uniform items year-round, which is more cost-effective.

Affordable school shoes

School councils are encouraged to explore strategies to reduce the cost of school shoes which are often an expensive part of the student uniform. Strategies school councils may consider include specifying shoes that can be purchased from more than one supplier or permitting shoes that students are likely to wear outside of school (for example black runners).

Uniform class sets

School councils are encouraged to consider maintaining class sets of sporting and academic uniform items (including blazers and ties) for students to borrow when representing the school at activities. This ensures students do not feel excluded from participation in activities that might require additional uniform items.

Second-hand uniforms

School councils are encouraged to have second-hand uniforms for sale and to clearly communicate this option to families via their website. Second-hand uniform items are less expensive than new items and are more sustainable. Schools and school councils may decide to have periodic second-hand uniform sales or participate in other appropriate second-hand uniform sale services.


Exemption procedures

Exemption procedures

School councils must include exemption processes in their local school-based student dress code and follow the exemption process outlined below to comply with obligations under human rights and anti-discrimination legislation.

Exemptions allow school councils to impose uniform standards on all students but still recognise cases in which the application of those standards affects some students unequally.

Legal grounds for exemptions exist when:

  • an aspect of the code:
    • prevents students from being able to attend school or participate in school activities on the same terms as other students because of the personal characteristics referred to in human rights and anti-discrimination requirements
    • offends a religious belief held by the student or parents/carers
    • prevents students from complying with a requirement of their religious, ethnic or cultural background
  • the student has a particular disability or health condition that requires a departure from the dress code
  • the student or the parents/carers can demonstrate particular economic hardship that prevents them from complying with the dress code.

Further grounds for exemption may be allowed at the principal's discretion.

The exemption process should only be necessary in exceptional circumstances, as a student dress code should accommodate the needs of all students.

The principal is responsible for managing and conducting the exemption process. In exceptional circumstances, the principal may nominate another staff member at the school or regional office to consider an exemption request.

The exemption process

These stages describe the exemption process.

  1. Parents/carers or students approach the principal for an exemption.
  2. The principal:
    • considers the grounds for exemption
    • explains the exemption process to the applicant
    • guarantees that issues of a personal nature revealed to substantiate the request will be strictly confidential
    • encourages the applicant to support their case with evidence.
  3. The principal seeks to negotiate a resolution that is acceptable to all parties. This may include:
    • a modification of the dress requirements rather than a complete exemption
    • granting assistance to allow compliance with the dress code without embarrassment or stigma – for example, when the exemption is sought for economic purposes
    • conditions under which the exemption is allowed.
  4. The principal:
    • grants an exemption, or
    • provides reasons in writing when an exemption is not granted.
  5. The principal keeps a written record of
    • all the decisions made and
    • the reasons provided.

Note

If the principal is consistently granting exemptions on similar grounds, the school council should review the student dress code with consideration to whether it should be updated to address these needs.


Health and safety considerations

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 student 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 3 and above from mid-August to the end of April.

When developing or reviewing a student dress code, schools must refer to the Sun and UV Protection policy for requirements relating to clothing.

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 student dress code, schools should consider:

  • the jewellery students are permitted to wear
  • selecting hats or other garments without:
    • cords
    • chinstraps
    • 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 must select school bags that minimise the risk of back injury to students. The Australian Physiotherapy AssociationExternal Link and Chiropractors’ Association of AustraliaExternal Link both provide advice about what type of school bag to select and how to use school bags safely.


Human rights requirements

Human rights requirements

By upholding human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, schools can:

  • support a safe and inclusive school environment where the school community feels:
    • welcome
    • supported
    • physically and emotionally secure
  • ensure that their student dress codes enable all students to participate fully in school life
  • increase the sense of belonging to and engagement with schools for students:
    • from all backgrounds including the diversity of religious, linguistic and cultural backgrounds
    • regardless of personal characteristics, such as disability, health condition, and gender expression
  • model appropriate behaviour for resolving issues and promote mutual respect for all members of the school community
  • build effective relationships with:
    • parents/carers
    • students and staff from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.

Under state and federal law, it is unlawful to discriminate on the basis of sex, gender identity, intersex status, disability, age and race.

This applies regardless of whether the views of the school community have been taken into account.

Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)

The Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) requires that students are not discriminated against (directly or indirectly) on the grounds of personal characteristics, such as: age, disability, gender identity, physical features, race, religious belief, sex or sexual orientation.

  • Direct discrimination may occur where a school has different uniform requirements for students with different personal characteristics and this difference results in one group of students being treated less favourably than another.
  • Indirect discrimination may occur when treating everybody the same way disadvantages someone because of a personal characteristic. For example, a school's physical education uniform could indirectly discriminate against students of particular faith backgrounds if, by wearing it, they were not able to conform to their cultural or religious requirement to dress modestly.

For a full list of personal characteristics protected under State equal opportunity law, visit: Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights CommissionExternal Link .

The Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) allows schools to set and enforce reasonable standards of dress and appearance for students.

  • The more extensive, engaging and collaborative the consultation process, the more likely it is to be considered reasonable.
  • A standard is considered reasonable if the school has taken into account the views of the school community in setting it.

Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) (Charter)

Schools and school councils must act and make decisions consistently with human rights requirements.

  • Schools must treat students equally and balance the rights of individual students against the best interests of the school community as a whole when developing and implementing their student dress codes.
  • For more information on the Charter, including training modules and policy guidance see: Human Rights Charter.

Rights may be subject to reasonable limits that can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society taking into account factors such as the nature of the right, the importance and purpose of the limitation, and whether any less restrictive means could reasonably achieve the same purpose.

  • School councils are encouraged to consider ways of accommodating a student’s human rights under the Charter (for example right to equal and effective protection from discrimination) while maintaining a suitable standard of dress and appearance, for example, through an exemption process, or through providing suitable options within the student dress code.
  • Dress codes with gender specific requirements are not necessarily discriminatory under the law, however, schools and school councils are expected to develop, as far as practicable, dress code requirements that are similar for all students and where options are available, they should be available to all students.
  • In particular, all schools must allow girls the option of pants and shorts in their dress code.
  • This does not supersede students' right to feel safe and comfortable at school.

Implementing and enforcing student dress codes

Implementing and enforcing student dress codes

Communicating the student dress code

The student dress code, including any changes in uniform requirements must be:

  • published on the school’s website
  • communicated widely throughout the school community
  • provided to all prospective students and parents/carers prior to enrolment at the school
  • translated into community languages, if required
  • communicated via a translator, if required, for example at an information night.

A full list of uniform items must be published on the school’s website. A link to the uniform supplier’s website can be included but is not a substitute for a list of items on the school’s website.

The uniform item list must clearly state which items are compulsory, which items are optional, and which items may be purchased from more than one supplier.

Important: Schools must ensure that students and parents/carers are aware that they can apply to the principal for an exemption to the dress code.

Support for families

Schools must investigate options for supporting families who may have difficulty meeting the cost of uniform items. For example, the provision of second-hand uniforms and class sets of uniforms. Refer to the Uniform branding and cost considerations chapter for further advice.

Schools must include information about financial support options or strategies for supporting parents/carers in these circumstances on their website, Parent Payments policy or in their student dress code and ensure this information is communicated to the school community.

State Schools’ Relief also helps with school clothing and footwear. Principals assess requests and apply to State Schools’ Relief when they believe there is a need to support a student whose family is facing difficulty in providing the appropriate uniform items for schools. State Schools' Relief provides articles of clothing for students either directly to the family or through an authorisation to the school clothing shop or local supplier.

Enforcement

Schools may choose to include appropriate measures to enforce their student dress code in their student engagement policy (staff login required)External Link . The department’s Student Engagement policy and guidance supports schools to create a positive school culture, clearly articulating school-wide expectations and consistent processes to address areas of concern. Best practice includes responses that are proportionate and predictable and not arbitrary. Enforcement measures must not reduce a student’s access to learning. Furthermore, enforcement measures must not include checks that might embarrass or humiliate students.

Schools are advised to treat non-compliance with student dress codes like any other inappropriate behaviour using the school’s standard policies and processes to determine how inappropriate behaviours will be addressed and how students will be supported to demonstrate appropriate behaviour in the future. Overly punitive responses, or responses that negatively impact a student’s wellbeing, may limit attendance and contribute to poor outcomes for students already at risk. Refer to the Behaviour – Students policy.


Parent complaints

Parent complaints

Parents/carers or students can:

  • raise specific complaints about the student dress code with the school
  • suggest desired student dress code changes to the school council for consideration in the next review of the student dress code.

Uniform supply arrangements

Uniform supply arrangements

Considerations

When deciding on a uniform supplier, school councils should consider:

  • costs
  • quality of items
  • quality control of the supplier
  • reliability, continuity and lead time of supply
  • ability of manufacturers/suppliers to meet required delivery deadlines
  • selecting Australian made items or using local businesses
  • selecting manufacturers/suppliers that can provide evidence that they meet ethical manufacturing standards
  • sustainable production of items
  • how and where parents/carers can purchase items
  • cleaning requirements and costs
  • returns policy for faulty stock
  • re-use or recycling of items.

Standard agreements

Schools must formalise arrangements with their chosen supplier by using one of the department's approved agreement templates. It is important to have a written agreement as this enables the school council to enforce the terms of its agreement and ensures that both parties are clear about their rights and obligations.

The department has 3 agreement templates relating to school uniforms. These are:

Clauses from one agreement template should not be copied and added to other templates.

For further information on school procurement processes, refer to the Procurement – Schools policy.


Dress code legislation

Dress code legislation

The following information describes the legislative basis for student dress codes by Act, Regulation or Order.

Ministerial Order under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic)

Authorises the school council to develop a student dress code that covers any matters which a school council considers appropriate in relation to:

  • clothing and other items worn, carried or used
  • grooming
  • physical appearance and the general presentation of students.

Section 26(1)(c) – Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 (Vic)

States that the principal of a government school may determine the consequences to be imposed on a student for not wearing the school uniform in accordance with:

  • a determination on school uniforms made by the school council and
  • any Ministerial Order in relation to student discipline.

The principal must be satisfied that the:

  • student's failure to wear the uniform was because of the student's disobedience
  • consequences are reasonable
  • student dress code policy has been brought to the attention of the students and parents/carers.

Section 42 – Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)

States that an educational authority may set and enforce reasonable standards of dress and appearance for students:

  • where a standard of dress and appearance for students is considered reasonable
  • when the views of the school community have been taken into account in setting the standard.

Resources

Changes to the Student Dress Code policy to improve uniform affordability were announced on 2 April 2025. The resources on this page have been updated and expanded to support implementation of these changes. This includes an updated local student dress code policy template. Further information on implementing the uniform affordability changes is available in the Student dress code policy FAQs (DOCX)External Link .

Resources

Policy template and information to help school councils develop and review student dress code policies

Consultation information for parents/carers

Standard agreements

Three agreement templates relating to school uniforms:

Exemptions – good practice examples


Reviewed 27 March 2020