Authorisation of teacher
A teacher can be authorised to conduct a search and/or seize in the following circumstances:
- when a teacher-supervised activity is taking place (either on or off school premises), and
- the principal or assistant principal is not or will not be present to undertake a search
A teacher can refuse to become an authorised teacher for the purposes of these provisions.
Information about the authorisation of teachers may be made available to parents or carers of students, although the absence of such a notification does not deem the authorisation of a teacher invalid.
Authorisation of a teacher or teachers by the principal can be made verbally or in writing, and can be made at any time.
Authorisation of a teacher — examples
Example 1
A principal decides to authorise all year-level coordinators, and home-room teachers to conduct searches and seizures of harmful items throughout the school year. The principal discusses this at the first staff meeting of the year, and all nominated teachers agree to this authorisation with one exception
Example 2
A teacher at a school athletics day becomes suspicious that a student is carrying a harmful item after overhearing a conversation. The teacher phones the principal, who immediately authorises the teacher to search for, and seize, a harmful item
Reviewed 11 June 2020