Have your say: Proposed changes to the Safe and Supportive Schools Policy

The ACT Education Directorate has released a draft refresh of the Safe and Supportive Schools Policy Suite, which sets out how student wellbeing, behaviour, bullying, and safety are supported in ACT public schools.

Because these policies directly affect students, families, and school communities, we are sharing a summary of the proposed changes with our members and inviting your feedback. Parent and carer perspectives are essential to ensuring the policies are practical, inclusive, and genuinely support student wellbeing and learning.

We encourage members to review the summary supplied by the Education Directorate below and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can reflect parent voices in our advocacy and engagement.

 

Safe and Supportive Schools Policy Suite: Summary of Proposed Changes

Student wellbeing and safety are fundamental to student engagement and positive learning outcomes.

Why the change?

  • The current Safe and Supportive Schools Policy was developed in 2016 and is now due for review.
  • The refresh ensures alignment with current legislative requirements, polices, and best practice.
  • It streamlines existing procedures for ease of use, including transferring supporting information from current procedures into new guidelines.
  • Supports implementation through new procedures, informed by stakeholder consultation and identified areas of need.

Current Policy Suite

  • The current Safe and Supportive Schools Policy has one procedure divided into two parts:

- Procedure A – Preventing and Addressing Bullying, Harassment and Violence in ACT Public Schools.

- Procedure B – Safely Responding to Complex and Challenging Behaviour in ACT Public Schools.

Key Changes

  • The Draft Safe and Supportive Schools Policy now has four procedures:

- Strengthening Wellbeing Culture in ACT Public Schools

- Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response in ACT Public Schools

- Student Behaviour: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for ACT Public Schools

- Restrictive Practice in ACT Public Schools

  • These additional procedures allow greater accessibility for staff and school communities to find the information they need.
  • There is now alignment with current legislation and best practice, including the addition of new content in the procedures.
  • Further supporting collateral is planned to support the use of templates and checklists by school staff.
Strengthening Wellbeing Culture in ACT Public Schools Procedure
  • This procedure is new to the Safe and Supportive Schools Policy suite.
  • This procedure includes the following new content:

o establishing a wellbeing culture;

o effective partnerships with students, families and community;

o student voice and agency;

o restorative school communities; and

o physical and online environments.

  • This procedure also strengthens and expands on promoting positive behaviour; Social and Emotional Learning (SEL); and equity, inclusion and diversity.
Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response in ACT Public Schools Procedure
  • This procedure is a refresh of the current Procedure A – Preventing and Addressing Bullying, Harassment and Violence in Canberra Public Schools.
  • This procedure also strengthens and expands on the following topics:

o primary prevention including anti-racism, LGBTIQA+ inclusion, gender-based violence, and prevention of harassment and victimisation of students with disability;

o the role of Safe and Supportive School Contact Officers;

o responding to incidents; and

o reporting incidents, data collection and analysis.

Student Behaviour: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for ACT Public Schools Procedure
  • This Procedure was split from the current Procedure B – Safely Responding to Complex and Challenging Behaviour in ACT Public Schools to become its own procedure.
  • This procedure includes the following new content:

o explicit references to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Universal, Selected, Targeted; and

o Student Support Plans.

  • This procedure also strengthens and expands on promoting positive behaviour; supporting successful student transitions; and data collection and analysis.
Restrictive Practice in ACT Public Schools Procedure
  • This procedure was split from the current Procedure B – Safely Responding to Complex and Challenging Behaviour in ACT Public Schools to become its own procedure.
  • This procedure now includes more detailed guidance for schools on restrictive practice processes and responsibilities.
  • This procedure has been updated to align with current legislation, school contexts, and best practice.

For any further questions please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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