Student Welfare

Yes, under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) and the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 (Vic).

The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) have established minimum standards in relation to the care, safety and welfare of students. Schools must have policies and procedures in place to provide students with a safe and secure environment.

Student Welfare Policies should include strategies that address:

• the duty of care owed to students
• when schools may need to use restrictive interventions to protect the safety of the student and others in the school community
• anti-bullying and harassment
• on-site supervision of students
• supervision of students when engaged in off- site activities
• the welfare and safety of students learning with other providers
• arrangements for students who are ill
• accident and incident register
• first aid including a register of staff trained in first aid and records of student medical conditions and management
• distributing medicine
• internet use
• the management of complaints and grievances
• child safety including mandatory reporting, failure to disclose and failure to protect
• Child Safe Standards
• Reportable Conduct Scheme
• anaphylaxis management
• emergency bushfire management
• student behaviour monitoring
• attendance monitoring
• emergency management.

Where possible, student welfare policies should make reference to other school policies that cover the above aspects, and also include other areas such as equal opportunity, anti-discrimination, alcohol and drug policies.

Schools are also expected to inform staff of their legal responsibilities for the care, safety and welfare of students.

If the VRQA determines that a registered school does not comply with one or more of the minimum standards, it may:

• impose conditions on the school’s registration
• prohibit the school from enrolling any new students
• require the school to report its non-compliance to parents
• suspend, cancel or impose conditions on the school’s registration.

Elspeth Adamson
Manager, Student Services
Ph. 9825 7204
elspeth.adamson@is.vic.edu.au

• ISV: Accidents and Incident Register
• ISV: Alcohol (student consumption)
• ISV: Anaphylaxis Management Plans
• ISV: Anti-Bullying and Harassment
• ISV: Child Protection / Mandatory Reporting
• ISV: Complaints 
• ISV: Duty of Care
• ISV: Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination
• ISV: Emergency Management Plans
• ISV: First Aid Policies and Procedures
• ISV: Illicit Drugs in Schools
• ISV: Outside School Hours Care
• ISV: Student Attendance
• ISV: Students with Individual needs / disabilities
• ISV: Student Discipline
• Vic DET: Student Wellbeing