School Policies

ATTENDANCE

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to

· ensure all children of compulsory school age are enrolled in a registered school and attend school every day the school is open for instruction

· ensure students, staff and parents/carers have a shared understanding of the importance of attending school

· explain to school staff and parents the key practices and procedures Heathmont College has in place to

o support, monitor and maintain student attendance

o record, monitor and follow up student absences.

Scope

This policy applies to all students at Heathmont College.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the Department of Education and Training’s School Attendance Guidelines. It does not replace or change the obligations of Heathmont College, parents and School Attendance Officers under legislation or the School Attendance Guidelines.

Definition

Parent – includes a guardian and every person who has parental responsibility for the child, including parental responsibility under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and any person with whom a child normally or regularly resides.

Policy

Schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6 to 17 years (unless an exemption from attendance or enrolment has been granted).

Daily attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they do not fall behind both socially and developmentally. School participation maximises life opportunities for children and young people by providing them with education and support networks. School helps people to develop important skills, knowledge and values that set them up for further learning and participation in their community.

Students are expected to attend Heathmont College during normal school hours every day of each term unless:

· there is an approved exemption from school attendance for the student

· the student has a dual enrolment with another school and has only a partial enrolment in Heathmont College, or

· the student is registered for home schooling and has only a partial enrolment in Heathmont College for particular activities.

Both schools and parents have an important role to play in supporting students to attend school every day.

Heathmont College believes all students should attend school all day, every day when the school is open for instruction and is committed to working with its school community to encourage and support full school attendance.

Our school will identify individual students or cohorts who are vulnerable and whose attendance is at risk and/or declining and will work with these students and their parents to improve their attendance through a range of interventions and supports.

Students are committed to attending school every day, arriving on time and are prepared to learn. Our students are encouraged approach a teacher and seek assistance if there are any issues that are affecting their attendance.

Heathmont College parents are committed to ensuring their child/children attend school on time every day when instruction is offered, to communicating openly with the school and providing valid explanations for any absence.

Parents will communicate with the relevant staff at Heathmont College about any issues affecting their child’s attendance and work in partnership with the school to address any concerns.

Parents will provide a reasonable explanation for their child’s absence from school and endeavour to schedule family holidays, appointments and other activities outside of school hours.

Supporting and promoting attendance

Heathmont College’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy supports student attendance.

Our school also promotes student attendance by: mentor groups, breakfast clubs, student wellbeing programs and other school programs designed to support attendance.

Recording attendance

Heathmont College must record attendance in every class. This is necessary to:

· meet legislative requirements

· discharge Heathmont College’s duty of care for all students

· meet Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority requirements for VCE students

Attendance will be recorded by the classroom teacher at the start of each lesson/period using Compass.

If students are in attendance at a school approved activity, the teacher in charge of the activity will record them as being present.

Recording absences

For absences where there is no exemption in place, a parent must provide an explanation on each occasion to the school.

Parents should notify Heathmont College of absences by:

· Contacting the Attendance Officer on 9871 4888

· Recording the absence on Compass Learning Management System, or

· Emailing the College

If a student is absent on a particular day and the school has not been previously notified by a parent, or the absence is otherwise unexplained, Heathmont College will notify parents by SMS/push notification message. The attendance officer will also attempt to make contact by phone. Heathmont College will attempt to contact parents as soon as practicable on the same day of the unexplained absence, allowing time for the parent to respond.

If contact cannot be made with the parent (due to incorrect contact details), the school will attempt to make contact with any emergency contact/s nominated on the student's file held by the school, where possible, on the day of the unexplained absence.

Heathmont College will keep a record of the reason given for each absence. The Principal will determine if the explanation provided is a reasonable excuse for the purposes of the parent meeting their responsibilities under the Education Training Reform Act 2006 and the School Attendance Guidelines.

If Heathmont College considers that the parent has provided a reasonable excuse for their child’s absence the absence will be marked as ‘excused absence’.

If the school determines that no reasonable excuse has been provided, the absence will be marked as ‘unexcused absence’.

The Principal has the discretion to accept a reason given by a parent for a student’s absence. The Principal will generally excuse:

· medical and dental appointments, where out of hours appointments are not possible or appropriate

· bereavement or attendance at the funeral of a relative or friend of the student, including a student required to attend Sorry Business

· school refusal, if a plan is in place with the parent to address causes and support the student’s return to school

· cultural observance if the parent/carer notifies the school in advance

· family holidays where the parent notifies the school in advance

If no explanation is provided by the parent within 10 school days of an absence, it will be recorded as an ‘unexplained absence’ and recorded on the student’s file.

Parents will be notified if an absence has not been excused.

Managing non-attendance and supporting student engagement

Where absences are of concern due to their nature or frequency, or where a student has been absent for more than five days, Heathmont College will work collaboratively with parents, the student, and other professionals, where appropriate, to develop strategies to improve attendance, including:

· establishing an Attendance Student Support Group

· implementing a Return to School Plan

· implementing an Individual Education Plan

· implementing a Student Absence Learning Plan for students who will be absent for an extended period

· arranging for assistance from relevant school resources such as Wellbeing or House Leaders.

We understand from time to time that some students will need additional supports and assistance, and in collaboration with the student and their family, will endeavour to provide this support when it is required,

Referral to School Attendance Officer

If Heathmont College decides that it has exhausted strategies for addressing a student’s unsatisfactory attendance, we may, in accordance with the School Attendance Guidelines refer the non-attendance to a School Attendance Officer in the North East Victorian Regional Office for further action.

If, from multiple attempts to contact with a parent, it becomes apparent that a student will not be returning to the school, the Principal may make a referral to a School Attendance Officer if:

· the student has been absent from school on at least five full days in the previous 12 months where:

o the parent has not provided a reasonable excuse for these absences; and

o measures to improve the student's attendance have been undertaken and have been unsuccessful

· the student’s whereabouts are unknown and:

o the student has been absent for 10 consecutive school days; or

o no alternative education destination can be found for the student.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff induction processes

· Included in staff information portal

· Discussed at annual staff briefings/meetings

· Included in transition and enrolment packs

· Discussed at parent information nights/sessions

· Hard copy available from school administration upon request

More information and resources

· The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL): Attendance

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

November 2021

Consultation

Leadership team and School Council

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2025

COMPLAINTS POLICY

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

• provide an outline of the complaints process at Heathmont College so that parents and members of the community are informed of how they can raise complaints or concerns about issues arising at our school

• ensure that all complaints regarding Heathmont College are managed in a timely, effective, fair and respectful manner.

Scope

This policy relates to complaints brought by parents, carers, students or members of our school community and applies to all matters relating to our school. In some limited instances, we may need to refer the complainant to another Department of Education and Training process where there are different mechanisms in place to review certain decisions, for example, expulsion appeals.

Policy

Heathmont College welcomes feedback, both positive and negative, and is committed to continuous improvement. We value open communication with our families and are committed to understanding complaints and addressing them appropriately. We recognise that the complaints process provides an important opportunity for reflection and learning.

We value and encourage open and positive relationships with our school community. We understand that it is in the best interests of students for there to be a trusting relationship between families and our school.

When addressing a complaint, it is expected that all parties will:

• be considerate of each other’s views and respect each other’s role

• be focused on resolution of the complaint, with the interests of the student involved at the centre

• act in good faith and cooperation

• behave with respect and courtesy

• respect the privacy and confidentiality of those involved, as appropriate

• operate within and seek reasonable resolutions that comply with any applicable legislation and Department policy.

• recognise that schools and the Department may be subject to legal constraints on their ability to act or disclose information in some circumstances.

Preparation for raising a concern or complaint

Heathmont College encourages parents, carers or members of the community who may wish to submit a complaint to:

• carefully consider the issues you would like to discuss

• remember you may not have all the facts relating to the issues that you want to raise

• think about how the matter could be resolved

• be informed by checking the policies and guidelines set by the Department and Heathmont College (see “Further Information and Resources” section below).

Support person

You are welcome to have a support person to assist you in raising a complaint with our school. Please advise us if you wish to have a support person to assist you, and provide their name, contact details, and their relationship to you.

Complaints process

Heathmont College is always happy to discuss with parents/carers and community members any concerns that they may have. Concerns in the first instance should be directed to your child’s teacher and Mentor Group teacher. Where possible, school staff will work with you to ensure that your concerns are appropriately addressed.

Where concerns cannot be resolved in this way, parents or community members may wish to make a formal complaint to the Principal or one of the Assistant Principals.

If you would like to make a formal complaint, in most cases, depending on the nature of the complaint raised, our school will first seek to understand the issues and will then convene a resolution meeting with the aim of resolving the complaint together. The following process will apply:

1. Complaint received: Please either email, telephone or arrange a meeting through the front office with the Assistant Principal or Principal to outline your complaint so that we can fully understand what the issues are. We can discuss your complaint in a way that is convenient for you, whether in writing, in person or over the phone.

2. Information gathering: Depending on the issues raised in the complaint, the Principal, Assistant Principal or nominee may need to gather further information to properly understand the situation. This process may also involve speaking to others to obtain details about the situation or the concerns raised.

3. Response: Where possible, a resolution meeting will be arranged with the Assistant Principal/Principal to discuss the complaint with the objective of reaching a resolution satisfactory to all parties. If after the resolution meeting we are unable to resolve the complaint together, we will work with you to produce a written summary of the complaint in the event you would like to take further action about it. In some circumstances, the Principal may determine that a resolution meeting would not appropriate. In this situation, a response to the complaint will be provided in writing.

4. Timelines: Heathmont College will acknowledge receipt of your complaint as soon as possible (usually within two school days) and will seek to resolve complaints in a timely manner. Depending on the complexity of the complaint, Heathmont College may need some time to gather enough information to fully understand the circumstances of your complaint. We will endeavour to complete any necessary information gathering and hold a resolution meeting where appropriate within 10 working days of the complaint being raised. In situations where further time is required, Heathmont College will consult with you and discuss any interim solutions to the dispute that can be put in place.

Please note that unreasonable conduct (e.g. vexatious complaints) may need to be managed differently to the procedures in this policy.

Resolution

Where appropriate, Heathmont College may seek to resolve a complaint by:

• an apology or expression of regret

• a change of decision

• a change of policy, procedure or practice

• offering the opportunity for student counselling or other support

• other actions consistent with school values that are intended to support the student, parent and school relationship, engagement, and participation in the school community.

In some circumstances, Heathmont College may also ask you to attend a meeting with an independent third party, or participate in a mediation with an accredited mediator to assist in the resolution of the dispute.

Escalation

If you are not satisfied that your complaint has been resolved by the school, or if your complaint is about the Principal and you do not want to raise it directly with them, then the complaint should be referred to the North Eastern Victorian Region by contacting nevr@education.vic.gov.au

Heathmont College may also refer a complaint to North Eastern Victorian Region if we believe that we have done all we can to address the complaint.

For more information about the Department’s parent complaints process, including the role of the Regional Office, please see: Raise a complaint or concern about your school .

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Available publicly on school website

• Included in staff induction processes

• Included in our staff Information Portal

• Hard copy available from school administration upon request

FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

Complaints - Parents

The Department’s parents website:

Raise a complaint or concern about your school

Statement of Values

Communication with School Staff

Policy review and approval Policy last reviewed

23 October 2021

Approved by Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2024

DIGITAL LEARNING

(Internet, social media and digital devices)

Purpose

To ensure that all students and members of our school community understand:

(a) our commitment to providing students with the opportunity to benefit from digital technologies to support and enhance learning and development at school including [our 1-to-1 personal device program or insert other appropriate programs as relevant to your school]

(b) expected student behaviour when using digital technologies including the internet, social media, and digital devices (including computers, laptops, tablets)

(c) the school’s commitment to promoting safe, responsible and discerning use of digital technologies, and educating students on appropriate responses to any dangers or threats to wellbeing that they may encounter when using the internet and digital technologies

(d) our school’s policies and procedures for responding to inappropriate student behaviour on digital technologies and the internet

(e) the various Department policies on digital learning, including social media, that our school follows and implements

Scope

This policy applies to all students and staff at Heathmont College.

Staff use of technology is also governed by the following Department policies:

· Acceptable Use Policy for ICT Resources

· Cybersafety and Responsible Use of Digital Technologies

· Digital Learning in Schools and

· Social Media Use to Support Student Learning.

Staff, volunteers, and school councillors also need to adhere to codes of conduct relevant to their respective roles. These codes include:

· Heathmont College’s Child Safety Code of Conduct

· The Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct (teaching staff)

· Code of Conduct for Victorian Sector Employees (staff)

· Code of Conduct for Directors of Victorian Public Entities (school councillors)

Definitions

For the purpose of this policy, “digital technologies” are defined as digital devices, tools, applications and systems that students and teachers use for learning and teaching; this includes Department-provided software and locally sourced devices, tools and systems.

Policy

Vision for digital learning at our school

The use of digital technologies is a mandated component of the Victorian Curriculum F-10.

Safe and appropriate use of digital technologies, including the internet, apps, computers and tablets, can provide students with rich opportunities to support learning and development in a range of ways.

Through increased access to digital technologies, students can benefit from learning that is interactive, collaborative, personalised, engaging and transformative. Digital technologies enable our students to interact with and create high quality content, resources and tools. It also enables personalised learning tailored to students’ particular needs and interests and transforms assessment, reporting and feedback, driving new forms of collaboration and communication.

Heathmont College believes that the use of digital technologies at school allows the development of valuable skills and knowledge and prepares students to thrive in our globalised and inter-connected world. Our school’s vision is to empower students to use digital technologies safely and appropriately to reach their personal best and fully equip them to contribute positively to society as happy, healthy young adults.

Personal Devices at Heathmont College

Classes at our school are delivered with the use of notebook computers. Heathmont College operates a Notebook program that offers the choice to purchase a Recommended Notebook or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Heathmont College can refer parents to government or community support programs that may assist in purchasing a device, rather than what is recommended through the school or BYOD.

Our recommended laptops are procured through our partnered laptop provider Learning with Technologies (LWT) who handle the purchasing, leasing, insurance, warranties and repairs of all recommended notebook devices to be sure they are always operational for students to learn with.

IT assistance from Heathmont College IT is provided for both the Recommend and BYOD notebook programs, however damage and warranty issues are not covered for BYOD devices as they are not purchased through our partnered provider (LWT).

Students should bring their laptops to school each day, fully charged and preferably in a protective case

Students opting for BYOD devices are invited to bring their selected device provided it adheres to the following specifications:

· Is a notebook running either Windows 10 or Mac OS X natively.

• at least 10 hours of recommended battery life

• Minimum 4GB of RAM (IT Highly recommends at least 8GB of RAM)

• Supporting a working 802.11AC wireless adapter.

• Has at least a 120 GB hard drive

· No iPads - No Chromebooks - No Linux devices

Please note that our school does not have insurance to cover accidental damage to students’ devices, and parents/carers are encouraged to consider obtaining their own insurance for their child’s device.

Students, parents and carers who would like more information or assistance regarding our Notebook Program are encouraged to consult our website for more information or by contacting our IT technician on 9871 4888.

Safe and appropriate use of digital technologies

Digital technologies, if not used appropriately, may present risks to users’ safety or wellbeing. At Heathmont College, we are committed to educating all students to use digital technologies in ways that respect the dignity of ourselves and others and promote full flourishing for all, equipping students with the skills and knowledge to navigate the digital world.

At Heathmont College, we:

· use online sites and digital tools that support students’ learning, and focus our use of digital technologies on being learning-centred

· use digital technologies in the classroom for specific purpose with targeted educational or developmental aims

· supervise and support students using digital technologies for their schoolwork

· effectively and responsively address any issues or incidents that have the potential to impact on the wellbeing of our students

· have programs in place to educate our students to be safe, responsible and discerning users of digital technologies, including [insert details of specific programs]

· educate our students about digital issues such as privacy, intellectual property and copyright, and the importance of maintaining their own privacy and security online

· actively educate and remind students of our Student Engagement policy that outlines our School’s values and expected student behaviour, including online behaviours

· have an Acceptable Use Agreement outlining the expectations of students when using digital technologies for their schoolwork

· use clear protocols and procedures to protect students working in online spaces, which includes reviewing the safety and appropriateness of online tools and communities and removing offensive content at the earliest opportunity

· educate our students on appropriate responses to any dangers or threats to wellbeing that they may encounter when using the internet and other digital technologies

· provide a filtered internet service at school to block access to inappropriate content

· refer suspected illegal online acts to the relevant law enforcement authority for investigation

· support parents and carers to understand the safe and responsible use of digital technologies and the strategies that can be implemented at home through regular updates in our newsletter, information sheets, website/school portal and information sessions.

Distribution of school owned devices to students and personal student use of digital technologies at school will only be permitted where students and their parents/carers have completed a signed Acceptable Use Agreement.

It is the responsibility of all students to protect their own password and not divulge it to another person. If a student or staff member knows or suspects an account has been used by another person, the account holder must notify [insert relevant role/s, i.e. classroom teacher, the administration], immediately.

All messages created, sent or retrieved on the school’s network are the property of the school. The school reserves the right to access and monitor all messages and files on the computer system, as necessary and appropriate. Communications including text and images may be required to be disclosed to law enforcement and other third parties without the consent of the sender.

Social media use

Our school follows the Department’s policy on Social Media Use to Support Learning to ensure social media is used safely and appropriately in student learning and to ensure appropriate parent notification occurs or, where required, consent is sought. Where the student activity is visible to the public, it requires consent.

In accordance with the Department’s policy on social media, staff will not ‘friend’ or ‘follow’ a student on a personal social media account, or accept a ‘friend’ request from a student using a personal social media account unless it is objectively appropriate, for example where the student is also a family member of the staff.

If a staff member of our school becomes aware that a student at the school is ‘following’ them on a personal social media account, Department policy requires the staff member to ask the student to ‘unfollow’ them, and to notify the school and/or parent or carer if the student does not do so.

Student behavioural expectations

When using digital technologies, students are expected to behave in a way that is consistent with Heathmont College’s Statement of Values, Student Wellbeing and Engagement policy, and Bullying Prevention policy.

When a student acts in breach of the behaviour standards of our school community (including cyberbullying, using digital technologies to harass, threaten or intimidate, or viewing/posting/sharing of inappropriate or unlawful content), Heathmont College will institute a staged response, consistent with our student engagement and behaviour policies.

Breaches of this policy by students can result in a number of consequences which will depend on the severity of the breach and the context of the situation. This includes:

· removal of network access privileges

· removal of email privileges

· removal of internet access privileges

· removal of printing privileges

· other consequences as outlined in the school’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement and Bullying Prevention policies.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff induction processes

· Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required

· Included in our staff information portal

· Included in transition and enrolment packs

· Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

23 October 2021

Consultation

Leadership team and School Council

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal and School Council

Next scheduled review date

October 2022

ANNEXURE A: Acceptable Use Agreement

Acceptable Use Agreement

(A copy of our Acceptable Usage agreement comes paired with both Laptop Program options found on our website via the Notebook Program page )

ICT Acceptable Usage Policy

School Rules for Use of Hardware and Software

• Students are responsible for taking full care of their device.

• Students are responsible for backing up all data including work saved on any loan, shared, or personally owned computers. This involves any combination of the school-based OneDrive, external hard drive or USB.

• Students using shared computers (Library etc.) must log in under their own username and password and correctly log out at the end of each session. Students are responsible for information sent or accessed through their login details.

• Students must not attempt to discover, disclose, or use another person’s password nor must they reveal their own password to others.

• At school, the internet is to be used for schoolwork only and the students must not send unnecessary or inappropriate emails.

• Only devices highlighted on the ‘Student Owned Devices’ document can be used at the school.

• Games are not permitted to be played during school hours or at school.

Internet Usage and Conduct

• All students must abide by generally accepted rules of etiquette. They must be polite when communication with other people. This includes not swearing, using inappropriate language or vulgarities.

• All students must respect and not disclose any private, confidential, or personal school or student information they may view or have access to.

• Students are not to attempt or deliberately access, download, upload, send (including forwarding) or view any unacceptable or illegal material. This includes any content that could be considered racist, sexist, violent, antisocial, pornographic, explicit, vulgar, or obscene.

• Students must observe copyright laws when copying or redistributing another student’s work. Students must always correctly acknowledge the use of another person’s work.

• While the school encourages debate, students are not permitted to engage in libellous criticism of peers, teachers, the school, staff, other individuals or organisations. Students who are both directly and indirectly involved (through encouragement) of defamatory, libellous criticism and harassment via an electronic medium maybe subject to disciplinary and/or legal (both civil and criminal) action. This extends to all content posted/submitted on social media websites, blogs, wikis, instant messaging, and other publicly accessible and restricted access websites.

• Students must understand that actions on the internet are subject to both state and commonwealth laws, in addition to school discipline policies and procedures. Students’ online misconduct may also result in criminal and/or civil legal charges and/or penalties.

• If students read or see something on the internet which they think is not acceptable, they must tell their teacher, learning group teacher or year level coordinator immediately.

• Students must check the internet rules of different external groups/services and always observe these rules.

• Students must not use the internet for any commercial purposes such as buying/selling of goods.

• Students must not use any means including anonymous proxies, VPNs, Personal hotspots, online tools, or software to bypass internet security to access blocked sites.

• Whilst on school grounds, students may only use the notebook’s camera to take photographs with the permission of a supervising teacher.

• Students will only access the internet via the school’s network. Wireless hotspots, phones and other devices must not be used.

• Students must not access or attempt to access any non-authorised part of the school’s network.

• Responsible cyber citizenship is promoted, and all forms of cyber bullying are prohibited.

• Students may not upload to any website or distribute electronically any material relating to Heathmont College without permission from the principal.

DOGS IN SCHOOL

Purpose

To explain to our school community the rules and procedures we have in place in relation to dogs attending our school grounds. To explain to our school community how we use dogs as animal assisted therapy at the school.

Policy

Assistance dogs

Heathmont College understands its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) and will make reasonable adjustments for members of our school community with a disability who require an ‘assistance animal’ to help alleviate the effects of their disability. Assistance animals are permitted to attend our school with their handler. Our school principal can lawfully ask a person to produce evidence that an animal:

• is trained specifically to assist a person alleviate the effects of a disability (eg seeing eye dogs)

• meets standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a school environment.

We understand that in some circumstances, students may require an assistance animal to attend school to help them to participate in their educational program. Heathmont College will consider a request by a student with a disability to allow an assistance animal to attend school with them on a case-by-case basis.

Therapy or Wellbeing dogs

Heathmont College has a wellbeing dog, Frances, who attends school on a daily basis. Frances works in three spaces across the school and has regular rest breaks and locations built into the daily routine.

Protocols for working with Frances:

• The aim of this project is to improve wellbeing for students. This will be achieved through improving socialising skills and self-awareness skills that are a part of the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies.

• These competencies are linked to Victorian Curriculum standards and it is expected that all teachers cover these learning outcomes and are able to assess them, as per expectations related to the entire Victorian Curriculum.

• Three areas will be the target group for this project to begin with, and as the action progresses it will be implemented more broadly across the school.

  • • Well-being, Integration and Study Areas

• The objectives of this project are to improve teaching and learning practices related to SEL competencies, and to gather evidence to show improvement in student outcomes within a particular cohort of the school. If this project is successful we expect to see student knowledge and understanding to be clearly reflected in the data.

Risks in having a dog in a school environment:

This policy covers all aspects of having a dog in a school environment; careful management abiding by this policy ensures there is a very low risk of harm.

Context:

• Dog is owned by the staff member

• Vet costs and general expenses are paid by the owner

• Dog is a labradoodle, she has been chosen for her temperament, intelligence and hypoallergenic low-moulting coat

• Dog will be based in the staff member's classroom/office

• Students in the classroom will be educated on dog management, having a gradual release of responsibilities

• Visitors to school will be informed of Dog at the school reception, they will receive a small leaflet explaining Frances’ role and requirements

About Frances:

Frances is a standard labradoodle. She will grow to approximately 30kgs and stand 40-50cm high. Her fur will be a woolly/wavy coat and she is a minimal shedder. She will shed some of her fur. She is completing obedience training with Eastern Companion Dogs and wellbeing training with Dogs Connect. The ultimate goal is to integrate into the community and help people achieve mental health success.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact the College on 9871 4888.

Pet dogs

Heathmont College is not a public place, and our Principal has the authority to permit or decline entry to school grounds and impose conditions of entry.

Dogs permitted with conditions

Whilst Heathmont College understands that many families in our school community keep dogs as pets, to ensure that our school remains a safe and inclusive place for everyone, we have in place a number of rules that we expect all families to follow if they wish to bring their pet dog onto school grounds:

• pet dogs must be leashed at all times and in the control of a responsible adult

• pet dogs must not be tied up on school grounds or left unaccompanied

• families that bring dogs to school that exhibit signs of aggressive behaviour, bark, or jump may be asked to leave.

The principal has the authority to prohibit certain dogs from school grounds or modify this policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff, students and members of our school community at any time.

Stray dogs

Unaccompanied or stray dogs sighted at our school should be reported immediately to the College General Office. School staff will contact municipal authorities and/or Victoria police for assistance in managing and removing a stray dog from school grounds, and ensure staff and students remain safe at school.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Available publicly on our school’s website

• Included in staff induction processes and staff training

• Included in staff Information Portal

• Included in transition and enrolment packs

• Discussed at parent information nights/sessions

• Reminders in our school newsletter

• Discussed at student forums

• Hard copy available from school administration upon request

RELATED POLICIES AND RESOURCES

Duty of Care Policy

Visitors Policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed: 23 October 2022

Consultation: This Policy has been developed in consultation with School Council and Dogs Connect.

Approved by: Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2024

Purpose

To explain to our school community the Department’s and Heathmont College’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones and other personal wearable devices (i.e. smartwatches) during school hours.

Scope

This policy applies to:

1. All students at Heathmont College and,

2. Students’ personal mobile phones and other personal wearable devices brought onto school premises during school hours, including recess and lunchtime.

Definitions

A mobile phone is a telephone and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watch with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network. This includes devices with a Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone or other device.

Policy

Heathmont College understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.

At Heathmont College:

Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored in their locker during school hours. Alternatively, if required students can store their phone securely in the front office.

Exceptions to this policy may be applied if certain conditions are met (see below for further information). In this instance, a formal request in writing must be made to the Principal.

When emergencies occur, parents or carers should contact the school’s front office on 98714888 to reach their child.

Personal mobile phone use

In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at Heathmont College during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted. Where a student has been granted an exception, the student must use their mobile phone for the purpose for which the exception was granted, and in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.

Secure storage

Mobile phones owned by students at Heathmont College are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the owner’s (student’s or parent/carer’s) risk. Students are encouraged not to bring a mobile phone to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Please note that Heathmont College does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft. Students and their parents/carers are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for valuable items.

Where students bring a mobile phone to school, Heathmont College will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At Heathmont College students are required to store their phones in their locker. Students must ensure that their lockers are made secure with the use of the College issued padlock and they are not to share their combination with other students. Students are not allowed to use any locker other that the one that they have been issued by the College.

Enforcement

Students who use their personal mobile phones inappropriately at Heathmont College may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing Student Engagement and Wellbeing Policy.

At Heathmont College inappropriate use of mobile phones is any use during school hours, unless an exception has been granted, and particularly use of a mobile phone:

· in any way that disrupts the learning of others

· to send inappropriate, harassing or threatening messages or phone calls

· to engage in inappropriate social media use including cyber bullying

· to capture video or images of people, including students, teachers and members of the school community without their permission

· to capture video or images in the school toilets, changing rooms, swimming pools and gyms

· during exams and assessments

Exceptions

Exceptions to the policy:

· may be applied during school hours if certain conditions are met and following written approval by the Principal, specifically,

o Health and wellbeing-related exceptions; and

o Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite.

· can be granted by the Principal in accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones Policy.

The three categories of exceptions allowed under the Department’s Mobile Phones Policy are:

1. Learning-related exceptions

Specific exception

Documentation

For specific learning activities (class-based exception)

Unit of work, learning sequence. Documentation placed by the teacher and authorised by the Principal team.

For students for whom a reasonable adjustment to a learning program is needed because of a disability or learning difficulty

Individual Learning Plan, Individual Education Plan

2. Health and wellbeing-related exceptions

Specific exception

Documentation

Students with a health condition

Student Health Support Plan

Students who are Young Carers

A localised student record

3. Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite

Specific exception

Documentation

Travelling to and from excursions

Risk assessment planning documentation

Students on excursions and camps

Risk assessment planning documentation

When students are offsite (not on school grounds) and unsupervised with parental permission

Risk assessment planning documentation

Students with a dual enrolment or who need to undertake intercampus travel

Risk assessment planning documentation

Where an exception is granted, the student can only use the mobile phone for the purpose for which it was granted.

Camps, excursions and extracurricular activities

Heathmont College will provide students and their parents and carers with information about items that can or cannot be brought to camps, excursions, special activities and events, including personal mobile phones.

Exclusions

This policy does not apply to

· Out-of-school-hours events

· Travelling to and from school

· Wearable devices which are not cellular or have their Bluetooth function disabled

· iPads and all other personal devices

· Students undertaking workplace learning activities, e.g. work experience

· Students who are undertaking VET

Related policies and resources

· Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

· Mobile Phones – Department Policy

· Ban, Search and Seize Harmful Items

· Personal Goods – Department policy

Review period

This policy was last updated on 29 November 2020 and is scheduled for review in November 2022.

RESPECT FOR SCHOOL STAFF POLICY

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand the information in this policy please contact the college on 9871 4888.

Purpose

To ensure that members of our community understand Heathmont College’s expectations for appropriate interactions with school staff.

Policy

Staff at Heathmont College, including teachers, education support staff, office staff, the assistant Principal/s and Principal are committed to providing a supportive learning environment for all our students. Our staff take their work very seriously and feel privileged to be able to play an important role in each child’s education.

All staff at Heathmont College have a right to a safe and supportive work environment.

Heathmont College expects that all parents/carers and visitors to our school behave in an appropriate and respectful manner to school staff at all times.

There will be a zero tolerance approach to any aggression, intimidation, threats or harassment of school staff, by any means (e.g. in person, by phone, by email, on social media etc). These behaviours may lead to exclusion from school grounds and school activities.

The Principal may report aggressive, intimidating, threatening or otherwise inappropriate conduct to Victoria Police. The Department of Education and Training may also take legal or other appropriate action against community members or parents/carers who pose a threat to the safety and wellbeing of school staff.

Heathmont College expects all members of our community to act consistently with our Statement of Values. We are committed to ensuring that staff, parents/carers and students are able to work together in an appropriate and respectful way.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website (or insert other online parent/carer/student communication method)

· Reminders in our school newsletter

· Included in staff Information Portal

· Signage will be displayed at the front office

· Hard copy available from school administration upon request

RELATED POLICIES AND RESOURCES

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

Occupational Violence and Aggression in Schools

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

October 2021

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2024

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION POLICY

Purpose

To explain to parents/carers, students and staff the processes Heathmont College will follow to safely manage the provision of medication to students while at school or school activities, including camps and excursions.

Scope

This policy applies to the administration of medication to all students. It does not apply to:

· the provision of medication for anaphylaxis which is provided for in our school’s Anaphylaxis Policy

· the provision of medication for asthma which is provided for in our school’s Asthma Policy

· specialised procedures which may be required for complex medical care needs.

Policy

If a student requires medication, Heathmont College encourages parents to arrange for the medication to be taken outside of school hours. However, Heathmont College understands that students may need to take medication at school or school activities. To support students to do so safely, Heathmont College will follow the procedures set out in this policy.

Authority to administer

If a student needs to take medication while at school or at a school activity:

· Parents/carers will need to arrange for the student’s treating medical/health practitioner to provide written advice to the school which details:

o the name of the medication required

o the dosage amount

o the time the medication is to be taken

o how the medication is to be taken

o the dates the medication is required, or whether it is an ongoing medication

o how the medication should be stored.

· In most cases, parents/carers should arrange for written advice to be provided in a Medication Authority Form which a student’s treating medical/health practitioner should complete.

· If advice cannot be provided by a student’s medical/health practitioner, the Principal (or their nominee) may agree that written authority can be provided by, or the Medication Authority Form can be completed by a student’s parents/carers.

· The Principal may need to consult with parents/carers to clarify written advice and consider student’s individual preferences regarding medication administration (which may also be provided for in a student’s Student Health Support Plan).

Parents/carers can contact the Office Manager, for a Medication Authority Form.

Administering medication

Any medication brought to school by a student needs to be clearly labelled with:

· the student’s name

· the dosage required

· the time the medication needs to be administered.

Parents/carers need to ensure that the medication a student has at school is within its expiry date. If school staff become aware that the medication a student has at school has expired, they will promptly contact the student’s parents/carers who will need to arrange for medication within the expiry date to be provided.

If a student needs to take medication at school or a school activity, the Principal (or their nominee) will ensure that:

1. Medication is administered to the student in accordance with the Medication Authority Form so that:

· the student receives their correct medication

· in the proper dose

· via the correct method (for example, inhaled or orally)

· at the correct time of day.

2. A log is kept of medicine administered to a student.

3. Where possible, two staff members will supervise the administration of medication.

4. The teacher in charge of a student at the time their medication is required:

· is informed that the student needs to receive their medication

· if necessary, release the student from class to obtain their medication.

Self-administration

In some cases it may be appropriate for students to self-administer their medication. The Principal may consult with parents/carers and consider advice from the student’s medical/health practitioner to determine whether to allow a student to self-administer their medication.

If the Principal decides to allow a student to self-administer their medication, the Principal may require written acknowledgement from the student’s medical/health practitioner, or the student’s parents/carers that the student will self-administer their medication.

Storing medication

The Principal (or their nominee) will put in place arrangements so that medication is stored:

· securely to minimise risk to others

· in a place only accessible by staff who are responsible for administering the medication

· away from a classroom (unless quick access is required)

· away from first aid kits

· according to packet instructions, particularly in relation to temperature.

For most students, Heathmont College will store student medication at in the school sick bay.

The Principal may decide, in consultation with parents/carers and/or on the advice of a student’s treating medical/health practitioner:

· that the student’s medication should be stored securely in the student’s classroom if quick access might be required

· to allow the student to carry their own medication with them, preferably in the original packaging if:

o the medication does not have special storage requirements, such as refrigeration

o doing so does not create potentially unsafe access to the medication by other students.

Warning

Heathmont College will not:

· in accordance with Department of Education and Training policy, store or administer analgesics such as aspirin and paracetamol as a standard first aid strategy as they can mask signs and symptoms of serious illness or injury

· allow a student to take their first dose of a new medication at school in case of an allergic reaction. This should be done under the supervision of the student’s parents, carers or health practitioner

· allow use of medication by anyone other than the prescribed student except in a life-threatening emergency, for example if a student is having an asthma attack and their own puffer is not readily available.

Medication error

If a student takes medication incorrectly, staff will endeavour to:

Step Action

1. If required, follow first aid procedures outlined in the student’s Health Support Plan or other medical management plan.

2. Ring the Poisons Information Line, 13 11 26 and give details of the incident and the student.

3. Act immediately upon their advice, such as calling Triple Zero “000” if advised to do so.

4. Contact the student’s parents/carers or emergency contact person to notify them of the medication error and action taken.

5. Review medication management procedures at the school in light of the incident.

In the case of an emergency, school staff may call Triple Zero “000” for an ambulance at any time.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Included in staff induction processes

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in our staff Information Portal

· Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required

· Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Further information and resources

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

· Medication Policy

· First Aid for Students and Staff Policy

Our School policies and documents:

· First Aid, Health Care Needs, Medication Authority Form, Medication Administration Log

Policy review and approval

Policy last reviewed

23 October 2021

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2025

ANAPHYLAXIS POLICY

Purpose

To explain to Heathmont College parents, carers, staff and students the processes and procedures in place to support students diagnosed as being at risk of suffering from anaphylaxis. This policy also ensures that Heathmont College is compliant with Ministerial Order 706 and the Department’s guidelines for anaphylaxis management.

Scope

This policy applies to:

· all staff, including casual relief staff and volunteers

· all students who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis, or who may require emergency treatment for an anaphylactic reaction, and their parents and carers.

Policy

School Statement

Heathmont College will fully comply with Ministerial Order 706 and the associated guidelines published by the Department of Education and Training.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs after exposure to an allergen. The most common allergens for school-aged children are nuts, eggs, cow’s milk, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame, latex, certain insect stings and medication.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a mild to moderate allergic reaction can include:

· swelling of the lips, face and eyes

· hives or welts

· tingling in the mouth.

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, can include:

· difficult/noisy breathing

· swelling of tongue

· difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice

· wheeze or persistent cough

· persistent dizziness or collapse

· student appears pale or floppy

· abdominal pain and/or vomiting.

Symptoms usually develop within ten minutes and up to two hours after exposure to an allergen but can appear within a few minutes.

Treatment

Adrenaline given as an injection into the muscle of the outer mid-thigh is the first aid treatment for anaphylaxis.

Individuals diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis are prescribed an adrenaline autoinjector for use in an emergency. These adrenaline autoinjectors are designed so that anyone can use them in an emergency.

Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plans

All students at Heathmont College who are diagnosed by a medical practitioner as being at risk of suffering from an anaphylactic reaction must have an Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan. When notified of an anaphylaxis diagnosis, the Principal of Heathmont College is responsible for developing a plan in consultation with the student’s parents/carers.

Where necessary, an Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan will be in place as soon as practicable after a student enrols at Heathmont College and where possible, before the student’s first day.

Parents and carers must:

· obtain an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis from the student’s medical practitioner and provide a copy to the school as soon as practicable

· immediately inform the school in writing if there is a relevant change in the student’s medical condition and obtain an updated ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis

· provide an up-to-date photo of the student for the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis when that Plan is provided to the school and each time it is reviewed

· provide the school with a current adrenaline autoinjector for the student that has not expired;

· participate in annual reviews of the student’s Plan.

Each student’s Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan must include:

· information about the student’s medical condition that relates to allergies and the potential for anaphylactic reaction, including the type of allergies the student has

· information about the signs or symptoms the student might exhibit in the event of an allergic reaction based on a written diagnosis from a medical practitioner

· strategies to minimise the risk of exposure to known allergens while the student is under the care or supervision of school staff, including in the school yard, at camps and excursions, or at special events conducted, organised or attended by the school

· the name of the person(s) responsible for implementing the risk minimisation strategies, which have been identified in the Plan

· information about where the student's medication will be stored

· the student's emergency contact details

· an up-to-date ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis completed by the student’s medical practitioner.

Review and updates to Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plans

A student’s Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis in consultation with the student’s parents/carers. The plan will also be reviewed and, where necessary, updated in the following circumstances:

· as soon as practicable after the student has an anaphylactic reaction at school

· if the student’s medical condition, insofar as it relates to allergy and the potential for anaphylactic reaction, changes

· when the student is participating in an off-site activity, including camps and excursions, or at special events including fetes and concerts.

Our school may also consider updating a student’s Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan if there is an identified and significant increase in the student’s potential risk of exposure to allergens at school.

Location of plans and adrenaline autoinjectors

When students and/or staff will keep their adrenaline auto-injectors in Sick Bay:

A copy of each student’s Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan will be stored with their ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis at Heathmont College Sick Bay together with the student’s adrenaline auto-injector. Adrenaline auto-injectors must be labelled with the student’s name.

When students and/or staff will keep their adrenaline auto-injectors on their person:

A copy of each student’s Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan will be stored with their ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis at Sick Bay. Students are encouraged to keep their adrenaline auto-injectors on their person. Adrenaline auto-injectors for general use are available at Heathmont College Sick Bay and are labelled “Heathmont College”.

Risk Minimisation Strategies

To reduce the risk of a student suffering from an anaphylactic reaction at Example School, we have put in place the following strategies:

· staff and students are regularly reminded to wash their hands after eating;

· students are discouraged from sharing food

· garbage bins at school are to remain covered with lids to reduce the risk of attracting insects

· gloves must be worn when picking up papers or rubbish in the yard;

· school canteen staff are trained in appropriate food handling to reduce the risk of cross-contamination

· year groups will be informed of allergens that must be avoided in advance of class parties, events or birthdays

· a general use adrenaline autoinjector will be stored in the sick bay at the front office, science area first aid resources in the science prep room, and in the new sports stadium in the first aid cupboard which is located in the sports store room.

· Planning for off-site activities will include risk minimisation strategies for students at risk of anaphylaxis including supervision requirements, appropriate number of trained staff, emergency response procedures and other risk controls appropriate to the activity and students attending.

Adrenaline autoinjectors for general use

Heathmont College will maintain a supply of adrenaline autoinjectors for general use, as a back-up to those provided by parents and carers for specific students, and also for students who may suffer from a first-time reaction at school.

Adrenaline autoinjectors for general use will be stored at Sick Bay and labelled “Heathmont College”.

The Principal is responsible for arranging for the Office Manger to purchase adrenaline autoinjectors for general use, and will consider:

· the number of students enrolled at Heathmont College at risk of anaphylaxis

· the accessibility of adrenaline autoinjectors supplied by parents

· the availability of a sufficient supply of autoinjectors for general use in different locations at the school, as well as at camps, excursions and events

· the limited life span of adrenaline autoinjectors, and the need for general use adrenaline autoinjectors to be replaced when used or prior to expiry

· the weight of the students at risk of anaphylaxis to determine the correct dosage of adrenaline autoinjector/s to purchase.

Currently, Heathmont College holds an additional 4 adrenaline autoinjectors on site for the purposes outlined above.

Emergency Response

In the event of an anaphylactic reaction, the emergency response procedures in this policy must be followed, together with the school’s general first aid procedures, emergency response procedures and the student’s Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan.

A complete and up to date list of students identified as being at risk of anaphylaxis is maintained by the Office Manager and stored at Sick Bay. For camps, excursions and special events, a designated staff member will be responsible for maintaining a list of students at risk of anaphylaxis attending the special event, together with their Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plans and adrenaline auto-injectors, where appropriate.

If a student experiences an anaphylactic reaction at school or during a school activity, school staff must:

Step

Action

· Lay the person flat

· Do not allow them to stand or walk

· If breathing is difficult, allow them to sit

• Be calm and reassuring

• Do not leave them alone

• Seek assistance from another staff member or reliable student to locate the student’s adrenaline autoinjector or the school’s general use autoinjector, and the student’s Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan, stored at Sick Bay.

• If the student’s plan is not immediately available, or they appear to be experiencing a first-time reaction, follow steps 2 to 5

Administer an EpiPen or EpiPen Jr (if student weighs less than 20kg)

· Remove from plastic container

· Form a fist around the EpiPen and pull off the blue safety release (cap)

· Place orange end against the student’s outer mid-thigh (with or without clothing)

· Push down hard until a click is heard or felt and hold in place for 3 seconds

· Remove EpiPen

· Note the time the EpiPen is administered

· Retain the used EpiPen to be handed to ambulance paramedics along with the time of administration

Call an ambulance (000) – it is best to seek support with this step if possible as Office Staff can direct the Ambulance crew as to how to access the student in a timely fashion.

Do not leave the patient to seek support, if you can, call the duress line (9871 4898) or send a student or staff member directly to the front office to inform them of the situation.

If there is no improvement or severe symptoms progress (as described in the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis), further adrenaline doses may be administered every five minutes, if other adrenaline autoinjectors are available. The ambulance call takers can support you with this, make sure to pay close attention to the time of administration of medication and student responses.

Contact the student’s emergency contacts – if notified, Office Staff will assist with this process.

If a student appears to be having a severe allergic reaction but has not been previously diagnosed with an allergy or being at risk of anaphylaxis, school staff should follow steps 2 – 5 as above.

Where possible, schools should consider using the correct dose of adrenaline autoinjector depending on the weight of the student. However, in an emergency if there is no other option available, any device should be administered to the student.

[Note: If in doubt, it is better to use an adrenaline autoinjector than not use it, even if in hindsight the reaction is not anaphylaxis. Under-treatment of anaphylaxis is more harmful and potentially life threatening than over-treatment of a mild to moderate allergic reaction. Refer to ‘Frequently asked questions’ on the Resources tab of the Department’s Anaphylaxis Policy.]

Communication Plan

This policy will be available on Heathmont College’s website so that parents and other members of the school community can easily access information about Heathmont College’s anaphylaxis management procedures. The parents and carers of students who are enrolled at Heathmont College and are identified as being at risk of anaphylaxis will also be provided with a copy of this policy.

The Principal is responsible for ensuring that all relevant staff, including casual relief staff, canteen staff and volunteers are aware of this policy and Heathmont College’s procedures for anaphylaxis management. Casual relief staff and volunteers who are responsible for the care and/or supervision of students who are identified as being at risk of anaphylaxis will also receive a verbal briefing on this policy, their role in responding to an anaphylactic reaction and where required, the identity of students at risk.

The Principal is also responsible for ensuring relevant staff are trained and briefed in anaphylaxis management, consistent with the Department’s Anaphylaxis Guidelines.

Staff training

The Principal will ensure that the following school staff are appropriately trained in anaphylaxis management:

· School staff who conduct classes attended by students who are at risk of anaphylaxis

· School staff who conduct specialist classes, all canteen staff, admin staff, first aiders and any other member of school staff as required by the Principal based on a risk assessment.

· All school staff where possible.

All teachers and ES staff are trained in HLTAID003 Provide First Aid. Heathmont College uses the training provider, ‘Australian Institute of Leadership and Safety’ to verify staff competencies with correct use of Epipen autoinjectors.

Staff who are required to undertake training must have completed:

· an approved face-to-face anaphylaxis management training course in the last three years, or

· an approved online anaphylaxis management training course in the last two years.

Staff are also required to attend a briefing on anaphylaxis management and this policy at least twice per year (with the first briefing to be held at the beginning of the school year), facilitated by a staff member who has successfully completed an anaphylaxis management course within the last 2 years. Each briefing will address:

· this policy

· the causes, symptoms and treatment of anaphylaxis

· the identities of students with a medical condition that relates to allergies and the potential for anaphylactic reaction, and where their medication is located

· how to use an adrenaline autoinjector, including hands on practice with a trainer adrenaline autoinjector

· the school’s general first aid and emergency response procedures

· the location of, and access to, adrenaline autoinjectors that have been provided by parents or purchased by the school for general use.

When a new student enrols at Heathmont College who is at risk of anaphylaxis, the Assistant Principal will develop an interim plan in consultation with the student’s parents and ensure that appropriate staff are trained and briefed as soon as possible.

A record of staff training courses and briefings will be maintained. Records of staff training is maintained in the schools U:Drive / Winfiles / P&D Staff Training Planner as well as through the school’s Emergency Management Plan.

The Principal will ensure that while students at risk of anaphylaxis are under the care or supervision of the school outside of normal class activities, including in the school yard, at camps and excursions, or at special event days, there is a sufficient number of school staff present who have been trained in anaphylaxis management.

Further information and resources

· The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

o Anaphylaxis

· Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia

· ASCIA Guidelines: Schooling and childcare

· Royal Children’s Hospital: Allergy and immunology

· Health Care Needs Policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

October 2021

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2022

The First Aid Manager and Principal will complete the Department’s Annual Risk Management Checklist for anaphylaxis management to assist with the evaluation and review of this policy and the support provided to students at risk of anaphylaxis.

ASTHMA POLICY

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand the information in this policy please contact Heathmont College on 9871 4888.

Purpose

To ensure that Heathmont College appropriately supports students diagnosed with asthma.

Objective

To explain to Heathmont College parents/carers, staff and students the processes and procedures in place to support students diagnosed with asthma.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• all staff, including casual relief staff, contractors and volunteers

• all students who have been diagnosed with asthma or who may require emergency treatment for asthma and their parents/carers.

Policy

Asthma

Asthma is a long term lung condition. People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs which react to triggers, causing a ‘flare-up’. In a flare-up, the muscles around the airway squeeze tight, the airways swell and become narrow and there is more mucus. This makes it hard to breathe. An asthma flare-up can come on slowly (over hours, days or even weeks) or very quickly (over minutes). A sudden or severe asthma flare-up is sometimes called an asthma attack.

Symptoms

Symptoms of asthma can vary over time and often vary from person to person. The most common asthma symptoms are:

· breathlessness

· wheezing (a whistling noise from the chest)

· tight feeling in the chest

· persistent cough

Symptoms often occur at night, early in the morning or during/just after physical activity. If asthma is well controlled, a person should only have occasional asthma symptoms.

Triggers

A trigger is something that sets off or starts asthma symptoms. Everyone with asthma has different triggers. For most people with asthma, triggers are only a problem when asthma is not well controlled with medication. Common asthma triggers include:

· exercise

· colds/flu

· smoke (cigarette smoke, wood smoke from open fires, burn-offs or bushfires)

· weather changes such as thunderstorms and cold, dry air

· house dust mites

· moulds

· pollens

· animals such as cats and dogs

· chemicals such as household cleaning products

· deodorants (including perfumes, after-shaves, hair spray and aerosol deodorant sprays)

· food chemicals/additives

· certain medications (including aspirin and anti-inflammatories)

· laughter or emotions, such as stress

Asthma management

If a student diagnosed with asthma enrols at Heathmont College:

1. Parents/carers must provide the school with an Asthma Action Plan which has been completed by the student’s medical practitioner. The plan must outline:

· the prescribed medication taken by the student and when it is to be administered, for example as a pre-medication to exercise or on a regular basis

· emergency contact details

· the contact details of the student’s medical practitioner

· the student’s known triggers

· the emergency procedures to be taken in the event of an asthma flare-up or attack.

2. Parents/carers should also provide a photo of the student to be included as part of the student’s Asthma Action Plan.

3. Heathmont College will keep all Asthma Action Plans:

· Staff room

· Sick bay

4. School staff may also work with parents/carers to develop a Student Health Support Plan which will include details on:

· how the school will provide support for the student

· identify specific strategies

· allocate staff to assist the student

Any Student Health Support Plan will be developed in accordance with Heathmont College’s Healthcare Needs Policy.

5. If a student diagnosed with asthma is going to attend a school camp or excursion, Heathmont College parents/carers are required to provide any updated medical information.

6. If a student’s asthma condition or treatment requirements change, parent/carers must notify the school and provide an updated Asthma Action Plan.

7. School staff will work with parents/carers to review Asthma Action Plans (and Student Health Support Plans) once a year.

Student asthma kit

All students diagnosed with asthma are required to have a student asthma kit at school which contains:

· their own prescribed reliever medication labelled with the student’s name

· their spacer (if they use one)

Students will be required to keep their asthma kits with them while they are at school.

Asthma emergency response plan

If a student is:

· having an asthma attack

· difficulty breathing for an unknown cause, even if they are not known to have asthma

School staff will endeavour to follow the Asthma First Aid procedures outlined in the table below. School staff may contact Triple Zero “000” at any time.

Step Action

1. Sit the person upright

• Be calm and reassuring

• Do not leave them alone

• Seek assistance from another staff member or reliable student to locate the student’s reliever, the Asthma Emergency Kit and the student’s Asthma Action Plan (if available).

• If the student’s action plan is not immediately available, use the Asthma First Aid as described in Steps 2 to 5.

2. Give 4 separate puffs of blue or blue/grey reliever puffer:

• Shake the puffer

• Use a spacer if you have one

• Put 1 puff into the spacer

• Take 4 breaths from the spacer

Remember – Shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths

3. Wait 4 minutes

• If there is no improvement, give 4 more separate puffs of blue/grey reliever as above

• (or give 1 more dose of Bricanyl or Symbiocort inhaler)

4. If there is still no improvement call Triple Zero “000” and ask for an ambulance.

• Tell the operator the student is having an asthma attack

• Keep giving 4 separate puffs every 4 minutes until emergency assistance arrives

• (or 1 dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort every 4 minutes – up to 3 doses of Symbicort)

5. If asthma is relieved after administering Asthma First Aid, stop the treatment and observe the student. Notify the student’s emergency contact person and record the incident

Staff will call Triple Zero “000” immediately if:

· the person is not breathing

· if the person’s asthma suddenly becomes worse or is not improving

· if the person is having an asthma attack and a reliever is not available

· if they are not sure if it is asthma

· if the person is known to have anaphylaxis

Training for staff

Heathmont College will arrange asthma management training for staff: this is detailed in the Policy document which can be located on the school website at https://www.heathmont.vic.edu.au/our-college/our-policies/

Asthma Emergency Kit

Heathmont College will provide and maintain at least two Asthma Emergency Kits. One kit will be kept on school premises at the Sick Bay and one will be a mobile kit for activities such as:

· yard duty

· camps and excursions.

· Sport and PE activities

As Heathmont College has over 300 students enrolled, additional Asthma kits will also be found in the Science area and PE sports stadiums.

The Asthma Emergency Kit will contain:

· at least 1 blue or blue/grey reliever medication such as Airomir, Admol or Ventolin

· at least 2 spacer devices (for single person use only) to assist with effective inhalation of the blue or blue/grey reliever medication (Heathmont College will ensure spare spacers are available as replacements). Spacers will be stored in a dust proof container.

· clear written instructions on Asthma First Aid, including:

o how to use the medication and spacer devices

o steps to be taken in treating an asthma attack

· A record sheet/log for recording the details of an asthma first aid incident, such as the number of puffs administered.

The Office Manger (first aid officer) will monitor and maintain the Asthma Emergency Kits. They will:

· ensure all contents are maintained and replaced where necessary

· regularly check the expiry date on the canisters of the blue or blue/grey reliever puffers and place them if they have expired or a low on doses

· replace spacers in the Kits after each use (spacers are single-person use only)

· dispose of any previously used spaces.

The blue or blue/grey reliever medication in the Asthma Emergency Kits may be used by more than one student as long as they are used with a spacer. If the devices come into contact with someone’s mouth, they will not be used again and will be replaced.

After each use of a blue or blue/grey reliever (with a spacer):

· remove the metal canister from the puffer (do not wash the canister)

· wash the plastic casing

· rinse the mouthpiece through the top and bottom under running water for at least 30 seconds

· wash the mouthpiece cover

· air dry then reassemble

· test the puffer to make sure no water remains in it, then return to the Asthma Emergency Kit.

Management of confidential medical information

Confidential medical information provided to Heathmont College to support a student diagnosed with asthma will be:

· recorded on the student’s file

· shared with all relevant staff so that they are able to properly support students diagnosed with asthma and respond appropriately if necessary.

Communication plan

This policy will be available on Heathmont College’s website so that parents and other members of the school community can easily access information about Heathmont College’s asthma management procedures.

Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma

Heathmont College will be prepared to act on the warnings and advice from the Department of Education and Training when the risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma is forecast as high.

Communication

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff Information Portal and staff training

· Discussed at annual staff briefings/meetings

· Included in transition and enrolment packs

· Reminders in our school newsletter

· Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Further information and resources

· Asthma Australia: Resources for schools

· Policy and Advisory Library:

o Asthma

o Treating an asthma attack

· Health Care Needs policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

October 2021

Approved by

Principal: Kerryn Sandford, principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2022

Bullying and Harrassment Prevention Policy

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand the information in this policy please contact Heathmont College on 9871 4888.

Purpose

Heathmont College is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment where bullying will not be tolerated.

The purpose of this policy is to:

· explain the definition of bullying so that there is shared understanding amongst all members of the Heathmont College community

· make clear that no form of bullying at Heathmont College will be tolerated

· outline the strategies and programs in place at Heathmont College to build a positive school culture and prevent bullying behaviour

· ask that everyone in our school community be alert to signs and evidence of bullying behaviour, and accept responsibility to report bullying behaviour to school staff

· ensure that all reported incidents of bullying are appropriately investigated and addressed

· ensure that support is provided to students who may be affected by bullying behaviour (including targets, bystanders and students engaging in bullying behaviour)

· seek parental and peer group support in addressing and preventing bullying behaviour at Heathmont College.

When responding to bullying behaviour, Heathmont College aims to:

· be proportionate, consistent and responsive

· find a constructive solution for everyone

· stop the bullying from happening again

· restore the relationships between the students involved.

Heathmont College acknowledges that school staff owe a duty of care to students to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of reasonably foreseeable harm, which can include harm that may be caused by bullying behaviour.

Scope

This policy addresses how Heathmont College aims to prevent, address and respond to student bullying behaviour. Heathmont College recognises that there are many other types of inappropriate student behaviours that do not meet the definition of bullying which are also unacceptable at our school. These other inappropriate behaviours will be managed in accordance with our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy and Inclusion and Diversity Policy.

This policy applies to all school activities, including camps and excursions.

Policy

Definitions

Bullying

In 2018 the Education Council of the Council of Australian Governments endorsed the following definition of bullying for use by all Australian schools:

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records)

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Bullying has three main features:

· It involves a misuse of power in a relationship

· It is ongoing and repeated, and

· It involves behaviours that can cause harm.

Bullying can be:

1. direct physical bullying ­­– e.g. hitting, tripping, and pushing or damaging property.

2. direct verbal bullying – e.g. name calling, insults, homophobic or racist remarks, verbal abuse.

3. indirect bullying – e.g. spreading rumours, playing nasty jokes to embarrass and humiliate, mimicking, encouraging others to socially exclude a person and/or damaging a person’s social reputation or social acceptance.

Cyberbullying is direct or indirect bullying behaviours using digital technology. For example via a mobile device, computers, chat rooms, email, social media, etc. It can be verbal, written and include images, video and/or audio.

Other distressing and inappropriate behaviours

Many distressing and inappropriate behaviours may not constitute bullying even though they are unpleasant. Students who are involved in or who witness any distressing and inappropriate behaviours should report their concerns to school staff and our school will follow the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy.

Mutual conflict involves an argument or disagreement between people with no imbalance of power. In incidents of mutual conflict, generally, both parties are upset and usually both want a resolution to the issue. Unresolved mutual conflict can develop into bullying if one of the parties targets the other repeatedly in retaliation.

Social rejection or dislike is not bullying unless it involves deliberate and repeated attempts to cause distress, exclude or create dislike by others.

Single-episode acts of nastiness or physical aggression are not the same as bullying. However, single episodes of nastiness or physical aggression are not acceptable behaviours at our school and may have serious consequences for students engaging in this behaviour. Heathmont College will use its Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy to guide a response to single episodes of nastiness or physical aggression.

Harassment is language or actions that are demeaning, offensive or intimidating to a person. It can take many forms, including sexual harassment and disability harassment. Further information about these two forms of harassment, including definitions, is set out in our Inclusion and Diversity Policy Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated at Heathmont College and may have serious consequences for students engaging in this behaviour. Heathmont College will use its Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy to guide a response to students demonstrating harassing behaviour, unless the behaviour also constitutes bullying, in which case the behaviour will be managed in accordance with this Bullying Prevention Policy.

Bullying Prevention

Heathmont College has a number of programs and strategies in place to build a positive and inclusive school culture. We strive to foster a school culture that prevents bullying behaviour by modelling and encouraging behaviour that demonstrates acceptance, kindness and respect.

Bullying prevention at Heathmont College is proactive and is supported by research that indicates that a whole school, multifaceted approach is the most effect way to prevent and address bullying. At our school:

· We have a positive school environment that provides safety, security and support for students and promotes positive relationships and wellbeing.

· We strive to build strong partnerships between the school, families and the broader community that means all members work together to ensure the safety of students.

· Teachers are encouraged to incorporate classroom management strategies that discourage bullying and promote positive behaviour.

· A range of year level incursions and programs are planned for each year to raise awareness about bullying and its impacts.

· In the classroom, our social and emotional learning curriculum teaches students what constitutes bullying and how to respond to bullying behaviour assertively. This promotes resilience, assertiveness, conflict resolution and problem solving.

· The Flourish program encourage positive relationships between students in different year levels. We seek to empower students to be confident communicators and to resolve conflict in a non-aggressive and constructive way.

· Students are encouraged to look out for each other and to talk to teachers and older peers about any bullying they have experienced or witnessed.

· We participate in awareness days against Bullying and Violence.

For further information about our engagement and wellbeing initiatives, please see our Student Wellbeing and Engagement policy.

Incident Response

Reporting concerns to Heathmont College

Bullying complaints will be taken seriously and responded to sensitively at our school.

Students who may be experiencing bullying behaviour, or students who have witnessed bullying behaviour, are encouraged to report their concerns to school staff as soon as possible.

Our ability to effectively reduce and eliminate bullying behaviour is greatly affected by students and/or parents and carers reporting concerning behaviour as soon as possible, so that the responses implemented by Heathmont College are timely and appropriate in the circumstances.

We encourage students to speak to their classroom teacher, Mentor Group Leader, House Leader or Year Level Coordinator. However, students are welcome to discuss their concerns with any trusted member of staff including teachers, wellbeing staff, education support staff and the principal team.

Parents or carers who develop concerns that their child is involved in, or has witnessed bullying behaviour at Heathmont College should contact their child’s Mentor Group Teacher, Year Level Coordinator or the Assistant Principal of Wellbeing and Student Management by phone on 9871 4888 or through the Compass Learning Management system. Email is also an acceptable method of communication if this has been established. If parents wish to email the school account on heathmont.co@education.vic.gov.au, the administration staff will also direct the communication to a relevant staff member.

Investigations

When notified of alleged bullying behaviour, school staff are required to:

1. record the details of the allegations in Compass; and

2. inform the relevant House Leader and Year Level Coordinator.

The House Leader is responsible for supporting the wellbeing of students involved in bullying claims and incidents (including alleged perpetrators) and Year Level Coordinators will investigate allegations of bullying in a timely and sensitive manner. To appropriately investigate an allegation of bullying, the Year Level Coordinator may:

· speak to the those involved in the allegations, including the target/s, the students allegedly engaging in bullying behaviour/s and any witnesses to the incidents

· speak to the parents of the students involved

· speak to the teachers of the students involved

· take detailed notes of all discussions for future reference

· obtain written statements from all or any of the above.

All communications in the course of investigating an allegation of bullying will be managed sensitively. Investigations will be completed as quickly as possible to allow for the behaviours to be addressed in a timely manner.

The objective of completing a thorough investigation into the circumstances of alleged bullying behaviour is to determine the nature of the conduct and the students involved. A thorough understanding of the alleged bullying will inform staff about how to most effectively implement an appropriate response to that behaviour.

Serious bullying, including serious cyberbullying, is a criminal offence and may be referred to Victoria Police. For more information, see: Brodie’s Law.

Responses to bullying behaviours

When the Year Level Coordinator or House Leader has sufficient information to understand the circumstances of the alleged bullying and the students involved, a number of strategies may be implemented to address the behaviour and support affected students in consultation with the Wellbeing Team, teachers, Assistant Principal, Principal, Department of Education and Training specialist staff.

There are a number of factors that will be considered when determining the most appropriate response to the behaviour. When making a decision about how to respond to bullying behaviour, Heathmont College will consider:

· the age and maturity of the students involved

· the severity and frequency of the bullying, and the impact it has had on the target student

· whether the student/s engaging in bullying behaviour have displayed similar behaviour before

· whether the bullying took place in a group or one-to-one context

· whether the students engaging in bullying behaviour demonstrates insight or remorse for their behaviour

· the alleged motive of the behaviour, including any element of provocation.

A staged response to bullying is employed at the college as bullying, by definition, is a repeated action and our intent as a school is to prevent unwanted or inappropriate behaviour to be repeated and, hence, classes as bullying.

The first instance of behaviour that meets the criteria of bullying outlined above will result in clear warning and counselling of all students involved with formal consequences being issued ass appropriate to the nature of the behaviour expressed. For example, an act of physical violence would warrant a consequence however, behaviour such as name calling or social exclusion may not.

Any subsequent acts of bullying by the same student will result in escalated consequences consistent with the severity of the behaviour expressed.

or all students involved in such incidents, both counselling or education strategies will be combined with formal consequences to support behavioural change and to prevent further acts occurring.

Support and Educative Strategies may include:

· offer of counselling support to students involved through a referral to the Wellbeing Team.

· Restorative meetings between the parties involved aimed at developing empathy and understanding between students and preventing future incidents.

· Students may also be referred to behavioral change courses or workshops as relevant or available. Often these are facilitated by external providers and are organised by the Wellbeing Team.

· Students may be referred for 'Respectful Relationships' activities or education sessions which will be facilitated by internal staff.

· Students may be referred for the school mentoring or Learning Support Program, as appropriate.

· Student Support Group meeting where a support plan is developed to ensure behaviour is not repeated and all parties are informed of expectations.

· Safety plans are often used as a strategy to support students where mutual conflict is an issue or where one or more parties feels unsafe in the school environment. Where a safety plan is developed, all parties will have their own plan developed and will be expected to comply with this. Failure to comply with a safety plan will result in formal consequences being applied as appropriate.

Formal Consequences that may be applied as appropriate to the nature of the behaviour expressed, if behaviour is repeated or if a student fails to comply with supportive conditions may include:

· removal of yard access privileges,

· after school or lunch time detentions,

· suspension and/or

· expulsion

consistent with our Student Wellbeing and Engagement policy, the Ministerial Order on Suspensions and Expulsions and any other relevant Department policy.

Please note that any act of violence or perceived threat of violence will result in a minimum of exclusion from class / yard. Physical violence, in particular poses such as significant risk to student safety that it will not be tolerated in any form.

Heathmont College understands the importance of monitoring and following up on the progress of students who have been involved in or affected by bullying behaviour. Where appropriate and in line with Privacy Law, school staff will also endeavour to provide parents and carers with updates on the management of bullying incidents.

Year Level Coordinators are responsible for maintaining up to date records of the investigation of and responses to bullying behaviour.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff induction processes

· Included in our Staff Information Portal

· Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required

· Discussed at parent information nights/sessions as required

· Included in student and staff diaries so that it is easily accessible to parents, carers and students

· Included in transition and enrolment packs

· Included as annual reference in school newsletter

· Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Further information and resources

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following school policies:

· Statement of Values and School Philosophy

· Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

· Parent Complaints policy

· Duty of Care Policy

· Child Safety Policy

· Inclusion and Diversity Policy

The following websites and resources provide useful information on prevention and responding to bullying, as well as supporting students who have been the target of bullying behaviours:

· Bully Stoppers

· Kids Helpline

· Lifeline

· Bullying. No way!

· Student Wellbeing Hub

· Office of the eSafety Commissioner

· Australian Student Wellbeing Framework

Evaluation

This policy will be reviewed every 3 years, or earlier as required following an incident or analysis of new research or school data relating to bullying, to ensure that the policy remains up to date, practical and effective.

Data will be collected through:

· discussion and consultation with students and parent/carers

· staff surveys

· assessment of other school-based data, including the number of reported incidents of bullying in each year group and the effectiveness of the responses implemented

· Attitudes to School Survey

· Parent Opinion Survey

Proposed amendments to this policy will be discussed with student representative groups, parent groups and school council.

POLICY Review and approval

Policy last reviewed

October 2021

Consultation

In consultation with House Leaders, Leadership Team, School Council, Student Representative Council

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2024

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand the information in this policy please contact Heathmont College on 9871 4888.

Purpose

To explain to our school community the processes and procedures Heathmont College will use when planning and conducting camps, excursions and adventure activities for students.

Scope

This policy applies to all camps and excursions organised by Heathmont College. This policy also applies to adventure activities organised by Heathmont College, regardless of whether or not they take place on or off school grounds.

This policy is intended to complement the Department’s policy and guidelines on excursions, camps and adventure activities which all Victorian government schools are required to follow. Heathmont College will follow both this policy, as well as the Department’s policy and guidelines when planning for and conducting camps and excursions.

This policy does not apply to student workplace learning or intercampus travel.

Definitions

Excursions:

For the purpose of this policy, excursions are activities organised by the school where the students:

· are taken out of the school grounds (for example, a camp, day excursion, school sports);

· undertake adventure activities, regardless of whether or not they occur outside the school grounds;

· Attend school ‘sleep-overs’ on school grounds.

Camps are excursions involving at least one night’s accommodation (including school sleep-overs).

Local excursions are excursions to locations within walking distance of the school and do not involve ‘Adventure Activities’.

Adventure activities are activities that involve a greater than normal risk. Further information and examples of adventure activities are available on the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library, at the following link:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/excursions/guidance/adventure-activities

Note: workplace learning activities (such as work experience) and intercampus travel are not considered school excursions.

Policy

Camps and excursions can provide a valuable educational experience for our students which are complementary to their learning, as they provide access to resources, environments and expertise that may not be available in the classroom.

For all camps and excursions, including adventure activities, our school will follow the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library: Excursions.

Planning process for camps and excursions

All camps and excursions will comply with Department planning requirements.

Part of this planning process includes conducting risk assessments, to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to minimise the risks associated with each proposed camp or excursion. Heathmont College’s risk assessment will include consideration of arrangements for supervision of students and consideration of the risk of bushfire activity in the excursion location. In the event of a Code Red Day being announced, excursions or camp activities in effected locations will be cancelled or rescheduled. Planning will also cover arrangements for cancelling, recalling or altering the camp or excursion for any other reason.

Heathmont College is committed to ensuring students with additional needs are provided with an inclusive camps and excursions program and will work with families during the planning stage, as needed, to support all students’ attendance and participation in camp and excursion activities.

In cases where a camp or excursion involves a particular class or year level group, the Organising Teacher will ensure that there is an alternative educational program available and appropriate supervision for those students not attending the camp or excursion.

Supervision

Heathmont College follows the Department’s guidelines in relation to supervision of students during excursions and camps.

All excursion staff (including parent volunteers) will be familiar with supervision requirements and the specific procedures for dealing with emergencies on each camp and excursion.

All school staff will be aware that they retain overall responsibility for the supervision and care of students throughout all camps and excursions (including adventure activities), regardless of whether or not external providers are managing the activity.

Parent volunteers

Parents may be invited to assist with camps and excursions. School staff will notify parents/carers of any costs associated with attending. School staff are in charge of camps and excursions and parent/carer volunteers are expected to follow teachers' instructions. When deciding which parents/carers will attend, the Organising Teacher will take into account: any valuable skills the parents/carers have to offer (e.g. bus licence, first aid etc.) and the special needs of particular students.

Volunteer and external provider checks

Heathmont College requires all parent or carer camp or excursion volunteers and all external providers working directly with our students to have a current Working with Children Check card.

All volunteers must provide vaccination information (Vaccination Certificate).

Parent/carer consent

For all camps and excursions, other than local excursions, Heathmont College will provide parents/carers with a specific consent form outlining the details of the proposed activity. Heathmont College uses Compass to inform parents about camps and excursions and to seek their consent. Parents/carers are encouraged to contact the school to discuss any questions or concerns that they or their child may have with a proposed camp or excursion.

Cost of camps and excursions, refunds and support

The cost of all camps and excursions are to be paid by parents/carers unless alternative arrangements have been agreed to by the Principal prior to the excursion. All families will be given sufficient time to make payments for all activities. Consent forms will have clearly stated payment amounts and payment finalisation dates.

Students who have not finalised payment by the required date will not be allowed to attend unless the Principal determines exceptional circumstances apply.

Heathmont College will make all efforts to ensure that students are not excluded for financial reasons. Families experiencing financial difficulty are invited to discuss alternative payment arrangements with the Business Manager/Principal/Organising Teacher. The Business Manager/Principal/Organising Teacher can also discuss family eligibility for the Department’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF), which provides payments for eligible students to attend school activities, including camps and excursions. Applications for the CSEF are open to families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents and are facilitated by the school. Further information about the CSEF and the application form are available at Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund.

If a camp or excursion is cancelled or altered by the school, or a student is no longer able to attend part or all of the camp or excursion, our school will consider requests for partial or full refunds of payments made by parents/carers on a case-by-case basis taking into account the individual circumstances. Generally we will not be able to refund payments made for costs that have already been paid where those funds have already been transferred or committed to a third party and no refund is available to the school. Where possible, we will provide information about refunds to parents/carers at the time of payment.

Student health

Parents and carers need to ensure the school has up-to-date student health information prior to camps and excursions. A member of staff will be appointed with responsibility for the health needs of the students for each camp/excursion. Teachers will administer any medication provided according to our Medication policy and the student’s signed Medication Authority Form. To meet the school’s obligations relating to safety, a first aid kit and mobile phone will be taken by teachers on all camps and excursions.

It is the responsibility of parents and carers to ensure their child/children are in good health when attending excursions and camps. If a student becomes ill during a camp and is not able to continue at camp it is the parent/carer’s responsibility to collect them and cover any associated costs. If the Principal approves a student joining a camp late, transport to the camp is the parent/carer’s responsibility.

Behaviour expectations

Students participating in camps and excursions are required to cooperate and display appropriate behaviour to ensure the camp or excursion is a safe, positive and educational experience for all students involved.

Parents/carers will be notified if their child is in danger of losing the privilege to participate in an excursion or camp due to behaviour that does not meet the standards of behaviour set out in the school’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy [INSERT other policies relevant to behaviour such as the Student Code of Conduct or Bullying Prevention Policy). The decision to exclude a student will be made by the Principal or Assistant Principal, in consultation with the Organising Teacher. Both the parent/carer and the student will be informed of this decision prior to the camp or excursion.

If on a camp or excursion the Teacher in Charge considers an individual student's behaviour does not meet required standards, then the Principal or their nominee may determine that a student should return home during the camp or excursion. In these circumstances the parent/carer is responsible for the collection of the student and any costs associated with this.

Disciplinary measures apply to students on camps and excursions consistent with our school’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy, Student Code of Conduct and Bullying Prevention Policy.

Electronic Devices

Students will be permitted to bring electronic devices but these may only be used during times set by the Teacher in Charge. Students are responsible for the care of any personal electronic device brought to a camp or excursions and the school will not be responsible for lost or damaged devices.

Food

Students are not permitted to bring their own supply of food items to camps and excursions unless the item is medically indicated and discussed with the Organising Teacher, or included as an item on the clothing and equipment list for that camp or excursion.

Accident and Ambulance Cover

Any costs associated with student injury rest with parents/carers unless the Department is liable in negligence (liability is not automatic).

Unless otherwise indicated, Heathmont College and the Department do not provide student accident or ambulance cover. Parents/carers may wish to obtain student accident insurance cover and/or ambulance cover, depending on their health insurance arrangements and any other personal considerations.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following way:

· Included in staff induction processes and staff training

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff information portal

· Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required

· Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Further information and resources

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following Department polices and guidelines:

· Excursions

· Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund

The following school policies are also relevant to this Camps and Excursions Policy:

· Statement of Values and School Philosophy

· Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

· Volunteer Policy

· Duty of Care Policy

· Inclusion and Diversity Policy

· Parent Payment Policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

November 2021

Consultation

School Council, Leadership Team, Administration team

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2025

Child Safe Standard 3: code of conduct

Child Safety

Code of Conduct

October 2021

Heathmont College is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Our school community recognises the importance of, and a responsibility for, ensuring our school is a safe, supportive and enriching environment which respects and fosters the dignity and self-esteem of children and young people, and enables them to thrive in their learning and development.

This Code of Conduct aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for child abuse or harm to occur. It also assists in understanding how to avoid or better manage risky behaviours and situations. It is intended to complement child protection legislation, Department policy, school policies and procedures and professional standards, codes or ethics as these apply to staff and other personnel.

The Principal and school leaders of [Insert School Name] will support implementation and monitoring of the Code of Conduct, and will plan, implement and monitor arrangements to provide inclusive, safe and orderly schools and other learning environments. The Principal and school leaders of [Insert School Name] will also provide information and support to enable the Code of Conduct to operate effectively.

All staff, contractors, volunteers and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work are required to comply with the Code of Conduct by observing expectations for appropriate behaviour below. The Code of Conduct applies in all school situations, including school camps and in the use of digital technology and social media.

Acceptable behaviours

As staff, volunteers, contractors, and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work individually, we are responsible for supporting and promoting the safety of children by:

· upholding the school’s statement of commitment to child safety at all times [Include <and adhering to the school’s child safe policy> when the school has a policy in place]

· treating students and families in the school community with respect both within the school environment and outside the school environment as part of normal social and community activities.

· listening and responding to the views and concerns of students, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused or that they are worried about their safety/the safety of another child

· promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

· promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of students with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds

· promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of students with a disability

· reporting any allegations of child abuse or other child safety concerns to the school’s leadership [Include <or child safety officer’s> if school has assigned someone to this role]

· understanding and complying with all reporting or disclosure obligations (including mandatory reporting) as they relate to protecting children from harm or abuse.

· if child abuse is suspected, ensuring as quickly as possible that the student(s) are safe and protected from harm.

Unacceptable behaviours

As staff, volunteers, contractors, and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work we must not:

· ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse

· develop a relationship with any student that could be seen as favouritism or amount to ‘grooming’ behaviour (for example, offering gifts)

· exhibit behaviours or engage in activities with students which may be interpreted as abusive and not justified by the educational, therapeutic, or service delivery context

· ignore behaviours by other adults towards students when they appear to be overly familiar or inappropriate

· discuss content of an intimate nature or use sexual innuendo with students, except where it occurs relevantly in the context of parental guidance, delivering the education curriculum or a therapeutic setting

· treat a child unfavourably because of their disability, age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability, sexuality or ethnicity.

· communicate directly with a student through personal or private contact channels (including by social media, email, instant messaging, texting etc) except where that communication is reasonable in all the circumstances, related to school work or extra-curricular activities or where there is a safety concern or other urgent matter

· photograph or video a child in a school environment except in accordance with school policy or where required for duty of care purposes[1]

· in the school environment or at other school events where students are present, consume alcohol contrary to school policy [2] or take illicit drugs under any circumstances.

This Code of Conduct was approved by the Heathmont College School Council on November 2021 for review if legislative or other changes require in the interim or no later than December 2025.

[1] Policy and Advisory Library (PAL): http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/safety/pages/photoandfilm.aspx . The policy says the school should get consent before taking and publishing photos of a student. This applies every time a photo is taken. The same policy applies for excursions and school activities.

[2]Policy and Advisory Library (PAL): http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/safety/pages/alcohol.aspx. The policy says the school must obtain school council approval before alcohol can be consumed on school grounds or at a school activity. The policy says staff members should not consume alcohol during camps and excursions. It is silent on whether they can consume alcohol at other school events where students are present, this is a matter that the school needs to decide upon – draft text is provided in the guidance fact sheet

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all staff and members of our school community understand the various legal and other reporting obligations related to child safety that apply to Heathmont College. The specific procedures that are applicable at our school are contained at Appendix A.

Scope

This policy applies to all school staff, volunteers and school community members. It also applies to all staff and students engaged in any school and school council-run events, activities and services.

Policy

All children and young people have the right to protection in their best interests.

Heathmont College understands the important role our school plays in protecting children from abuse including:

• Physical abuse

• Sexual abuse (including sexual exploitation)

• Family violence

• Emotional abuse

• Neglect (including medical neglect)

• Grooming

The staff at Heathmont College are required by law to comply with various child safety reporting obligations. For detailed information about each obligation, please refer to Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools.

At Heathmont College we also recognise the diversity of the children and young people at our school and take account of their individual needs and backgrounds when considering child safety.

Mandatory Reporting

Principals, registered teachers, registered medical practitioners, nurses and all members of the police force are mandatory reporters under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic).

All mandatory reporters must make a report to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Child Protection as soon as practicable if, during the course of carrying out their professional roles and responsibilities, they form a belief on reasonable grounds that:

• a child has suffered, or is likely to suffer, significant harm as a result of physical abuse and/ or sexual abuse, and

• the child’s parents have not protected, or are unlikely to protect, the child from harm of that type.

A mandatory reporter who fails to comply with this legal obligation may be committing a criminal offence. It is important for all staff at Heathmont College to be aware that they are legally obliged to make a mandatory report on each occasion that they form a reasonable belief that a child is in need of protection and they must make a mandatory report even if the principal does not share their belief that a report is necessary.

At our school, all mandated school staff must undertake the Mandatory Reporting and Other Obligations eLearning Module annually. We also require/encourage all other staff to undertake this module, even where they are not mandatory reporters.

For more information about Mandatory Reporting see the Department’s Policy and Advisory LIbrary: Protecting Children — Reporting and Other Legal Obligations.

Child in need of protection

Any person can make a report to DHHS Child Protection (131 278 – 24 hour service) if they believe on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection.

The policy of the Department of Education and Training (DET) requires all staff who form a reasonable belief that a child is in need of protection to report their concerns to DHHS or Victoria Police, and discuss their concerns with the school leadership team.

For more information about making a report to DHHS Child Protection, see the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library: Protecting Children — Reporting and Other Legal Obligations and Four Critical Actions for Schools: Responding to Incidents, Disclosures and Suspicions of Child Abuse.

At Heathmont College we also encourage all staff to make a referral to Child FIRST when they have significant concern for a child’s wellbeing. For more information about making a referral to Child FIRST see the School Policy and Advisory Guide: Child Protection – Reporting Obligations.

Reportable Conduct

Our school must notify the Department’s Employee Conduct Branch (9637 2594) if we become aware of an allegation of ‘reportable conduct’.

There is an allegation of reportable conduct where a person has formed a reasonable belief that there has been:

• a sexual offence (even prior to criminal proceedings commencing), sexual misconduct or physical violence committed against, with or in the presence of a child;

• behaviour causing significant emotional or physical harm to a child;

• significant neglect of a child; or

• misconduct involving any of the above.

The Department, through the Employee Conduct Branch, has a legal obligation to inform the Commission for Children and Young People when an allegation of reportable conduct is made.

Our principal must notify the Department’s Employee Conduct Branch of any reportable conduct allegations involving current or former teachers, contractors, volunteers (including parents), allied health staff and school council employees.

If school staff become aware of reportable conduct by any person in the above positions, they should notify the school principal immediately. If the allegation relates to the principal, they should notify the Regional Director.

For more information about Reportable Conduct see the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library: Reportable Conduct.

Failure to disclose offence

Reporting child sexual abuse is a community-wide responsibility. All adults (ie persons aged 18 years and over), not just professionals who work with children, have a legal obligation to report to Victoria Police, as soon as practicable, where they form a ‘reasonable belief’ that a sexual offence has been committed by an adult against a child under the age of 16 by another person aged 18 years or over.

Failure to disclose information to Victoria Police (by calling 000 or local police station) as soon as practicable may amount to a criminal offence unless a person has a ‘reasonable excuse’ or exemption from doing so.

“Reasonable belief” is not the same as having proof. A ‘reasonable belief’ is formed if a reasonable person in the same position would have formed the belief on the same grounds.

For example, a ‘reasonable belief’ might be formed when:

• a child states that they have been sexually abused

• a child states that they know someone who has been sexually abused (sometimes the child may be talking about themselves)

• someone who knows a child states that the child has been sexually abused

• professional observations of the child’s behaviour or development leads a mandated professional to form a belief that the child has been sexually abused

• signs of sexual abuse leads to a belief that the child has been sexually abused.

“Reasonable excuse” is defined by law and includes:

• fear for the safety of any person including yourself or the potential victim (but not including the alleged perpetrator or an organisation)

• where the information has already been disclosed, for example, through a mandatory report to DHHS Child Protection.

For more information about this reporting obligation, see the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library: Failure to disclose offence.

Failure to protect offence

This reporting obligation applies to school staff in a position of authority. This can include principals, assistant principals and campus principals. Any staff member in a position of authority who becomes aware that an adult associated with their school (such as an employee, contractor, volunteer or visitor) poses a risk of sexual abuse to a child under the age of 16 under their care, authority or supervision, must take all reasonable steps to remove or reduce that risk.

This may include removing the adult (ie persons aged 18 years and over) from working with children pending an investigation and reporting your concerns to Victoria Police.

If a school staff member in a position of authority fails to take reasonable steps in these circumstances, this may amount to a criminal offence.

For more information about this reporting obligation, see the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library: Failure to protect offence.

Grooming

Grooming is a criminal offence under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). This offence targets predatory conduct undertaken by an adult to prepare a child, under the age of 16, to engage in sexual activity at a later time. Grooming can include communicating and/or attempting to befriend or establish a relationship or other emotional connection with the child or their parent/carer.

For more information about this offence and reporting obligations see: Protecting Children — Reporting and Other Legal Obligations.

RELATED POLICIES AND FURTHER INFORMATION

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Child Safety Policy

Child Safety Code of Conduct

Review Cycle

Policy last reviewed: 23 October 2021

Approved by Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2024

APPENDIX A

CHILD SAFETY Responding and REPORTING PROCEDURES AT HEATHTMONT COLLEGE

For students

· All students should feel safe to speak to any staff member to raise any concerns about their safety or any other concerns that they have.

· If a student does not know who to approach at Heathmont College they should start with their Mentor Group Teacher or House Leader.

· Students can also self-refer to the school’s Wellbeing Team.

Managing disclosures made by students

When managing a disclosure you should:

· listen to the student and allow them to speak

· stay calm and use a neutral tone with no urgency and where possible use the child’s language and vocabulary (you do not want to frighten the child or interrupt the child)

· be gentle, patient and non-judgmental throughout

· highlight to the student it was important for them to tell you about what has happened

· assure them that they are not to blame for what has occurred

· do not ask leading questions, for example gently ask, “What happened next?” rather than “Why?”

· be patient and allow the child to talk at their own pace and in their own words

· do not pressure the child into telling you more than they want to, they will be asked a lot of questions by other professionals and it is important not to force them to retell what has occurred multiple times

· reassure the child that you believe them and that disclosing the matter was important for them to do

· use verbal facilitators such as, “I see”, restate the child’s previous statement, and use non-suggestive words of encouragement, designed to keep the child talking in an open-ended way (“what happened next?”)

· tell the child in age appropriate language you are required to report to the relevant authority to help stop the abuse, and explain the role of these authorities if appropriate (for a young child this may be as simple as saying “I will need to talk to people to work out what to do next to help you”).

When managing a disclosure you should AVOID:

· displaying expressions of panic or shock

· asking questions that are investigative and potentially invasive (this may make the child feel uncomfortable and may cause the child to withdraw)

· going over the information repeatedly (you are only gathering information to help you form a belief on reasonable grounds that you need to make a report to the relevant authority)

· making any comments that would lead the student to believe that what has happened is their fault

· making promises to the child about what will occur next or that things will be different given the process can be unpredictable and different for each child depending on their circumstances (instead reassure them that you and others will do your best to help).

General procedures

Our school will follow the Four Critical Actions for Schools: Responding to Incidents, Disclosures and Suspicions of Child Abuse (Four Critical Actions) when responding to incidents, disclosures and suspicions of child abuse.

All staff at our school who believe that a child is in need of protection, even if it doesn’t meet the threshold required for mandatory reporting or the staff member is not a mandatory reporter, should in the first instance, speak to a member of the principal team or the wellbeing leader or should make the required reports to DHHS Child Protection and/or Victoria Police as necessary.

At our school The principal will be responsible for monitoring overall school compliance with this procedure.

Nothing in this procedure prevents a staff member or any other person from reporting to the relevant authorities if they form a reasonable belief that a child is at risk of abuse.

Reporting suspicions, disclosures or incidents of child abuse

Responsibilities of all school staff

If a school staff member reasonably suspects or witnesses an incident of child abuse or receives a disclosure of child abuse, they must:

· If a child is at immediate risk of harm, separate alleged victims and others involved, administer first aid and call the college distress line on 98714898. If emergency services are required the administration team will indicate this and ask you to remain on the line as they do so.

· Speak to a member of the principal or wellbeing teams as soon as possible, who will follow the Four Critical Actions.

· Make detailed notes of the incident or disclosure using the Responding to Suspected Child Abuse: Template and ensure that those notes are kept and stored securely in the student’s locked file.

· If the staff member is a mandatory reporter and reasonably believes that a student has suffered physical and/or sexual abuse from which the child’s parents have not protected the child, they must make a report to DHHS Child Protection. A member of the principal class or the wellbeing must also be notified, preferably in time to support the report being made.

· If the staff member has formed a ‘reasonable belief’ that a sexual offence has been against a child, they must make a report to Victoria Police. A member of the principal class or the wellbeing leader must also be notified, preferably in time to support the report being made.

In circumstances where a member of the leadership team disagrees that a report needs to be made, but the staff member has formed a ‘reasonable belief’ that the child is in need of protection and/or has been the victim of sexual abuse, the staff member must still contact DHHS Child Protection and/or Victoria Police to make the report.

Responsibilities of the principal team

The principal team is responsible for promptly managing the school’s response to an incident, suspicion or disclosure of child abuse, and ensuring that the incident, suspicion or disclosure is taken seriously. The principal team is also responsible for responding appropriately to a child who makes or is affected by an allegation of child abuse.

If the principal team receives a report from a school staff member or member of the school community of a suspicion, disclosure or incident of child abuse, they must:

· Follow the Four Critical Actions as soon as possible, including:

o Responding to an emergency

o Reporting to authorities/referring to services

o Contacting parents/carers and

o Providing ongoing support.

· Make detailed notes of the incident or disclosure, including actions taken using the Responding to Suspected Child Abuse: Template and ensure that those notes are kept and stored securely in the student’s locked file. They are also responsible for ensuring that any staff member who reported the incident, disclosure or suspicion to them also makes and keeps notes of the incident.

· At Heathmont College, the principal team will be responsible for ensuring that there is a prompt response to the disclosure and that the child is appropriately supported.

If the principal/other nominated staff member responsible above is unavailable, any member of the principal team or the wellbeing coordinator will take on the role and responsibilities described in this section.

Duty of care and ongoing support for students

Fulfilling the requirements in this procedure does not displace or discharge any other obligations that arise if a person reasonably believes that a child is at risk of abuse.

All staff have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to prevent reasonably foreseeable harm to students. All staff must ensure that the principal team and / or wellbeing leader is aware of any incidents, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse as soon as possible after they occur. This will allow appropriate supports to be put in place for the student affected.

For school visitors, volunteers and school community members

All community members aged 18 years or over should be aware of their legal obligations – see Failure to disclose offence above, in this Policy.

Any person can make a report to DHHS Child Protection if they believe on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection. For contact details see the Four Critical Actions - https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/health/protect/FourCriticalActions_ChildAbuse.pdf

There is no requirement for community members to inform the school if they are making a disclosure to DHHS Child Protection or the Victoria Police. However, where a community member is concerned about the safety of a child or children at the school, and where disclosure of that concern will not compromise any potential police investigation, the community member should report this concern to the principal so that appropriate steps to support the student can be taken.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Available publicly on our school’s website

• Included in staff induction processes and staff training

• Included in staff Information Portal

• Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Related policies AND RESOURCES

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Child Safety Policy

Child Safety Code of Conduct

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed: 23 October 2021

Approved by Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2024

Purpose

Heathmont College’s Child Safety Policy sets out the school’s commitment and approach to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and provides the policy framework for the school’s approach to the Child Safe Standards.

Scope

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and contractors in the school environment, whether or not they work in direct contact with children or young people. This policy also applies to school council members where indicated.

The policy will apply to the school environment (see Definitions section). The policy covers both school hours and outside of school hours.

Definitions

Child abuse

Child abuse includes:

· any act committed against a child involving:

o a sexual offence; or

o grooming; and

· the infliction, on a child, of:

o physical violence; or

o serious emotional or psychological harm; and

· serious neglect of a child.

Child-connected work

Child-connected work means work authorised by the school, school council, or Secretary of the Department of Education and Training and performed by an adult in a school environment while children are present or reasonably expected to be present.

Child safety

Child safety encompasses matters related to protecting all children from child abuse, managing the risk of child abuse, providing support to a child at risk of child abuse, and responding to incidents or allegations of child abuse.

School environment

School environment means any physical or virtual place made available or authorised by the school for use by a child during or outside school hours, including:

· a campus of the school;

· online school environments (including email and intranet systems); and

· other locations provided by the school for a child’s use (including, without limitation, locations used for school camps, sporting events, excursions, competitions, homestays, and other school activities or events)

School staff

School staff means an individual working in a school environment who is:

· employed by the Department of Education and Training;

· directly engaged or employed by a school council; or

· a volunteer or a contracted service provider (whether or not a body corporate or any other person is an intermediary).

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT TO CHILD SAFETY AND CHILD SAFETY PRINCIPLES

Heathmont College is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making.

Heathmont College is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early and removing and reducing these risks. Heathmont College has zero tolerance for all forms of child abuse. We actively work towards protecting children, responding to allegations and empowering children and staff to deal with the issues. We are committed to promoting safety for all children by engendering an atmosphere of respect, trust and care. Heathmont College’s commitment to child safety and wellbeing includes all students whilst participating in school activities both during and outside school hours. This includes activities conducted outside of the school environment such as excursions, camps and sporting events, as well as within online school environments including video conferencing platforms such as WebEx and Microsoft Teams, email and other web-based communication programs. Heathmont College recognises that the wellbeing of students is the responsibility of all staff and that staff must report and respond to any concerns regarding possible sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse or neglect of a child in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures.

We are committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Our child safe policies, procedures, strategies and practices will be inclusive of the needs of all children, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, LGBTI students, international students and children who are vulnerable.

Every person involved in Heathmont College has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.

Child safety principles

In its planning, decision-making and operations, Heathmont College will:

1. Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;

2. Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;

3. Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children;

4. Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;

5. Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;

6. Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;

7. Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such concerns;

8. Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;

9. Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and

10. Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers

POLICY

Strategies to embed a child safe culture

Heathmont College’s culture encourages staff, students, parents and the school community to raise, discuss and scrutinise child safety concerns. This makes it more difficult for abuse to occur and remain hidden.

All child safety documents, including this policy, the Child Safety Code of Conduct, the school’s Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures, Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools and the Four Critical Actions for Schools are readily available online and in hard copy from the front office for all staff and students to read at any time.

Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. All school staff are required to:

· Act in accordance with the school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct, which clearly sets out the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour

· Act in accordance with the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures at all times, including following the Four Critical Actions for Schools where necessary

· Undertake annual guidance and training on child safety

· Act in accordance with their legal obligations, including:

o Failure to disclose offence (applies to all adults)

o Duty of care (applies to all school staff)

o Mandatory reporting obligations (applies to all mandatory reporters, including teachers, principals, registered psychologists, and registered doctors and nurses)

o Failure to protect offence (applies to a person in a position of authority within the school)

o Reportable conduct obligations (applies to all school staff in reporting conduct to the principal, and applies to the principal in reporting to Employee Conduct Branch)

o Organisational duty of care (applies to the school as an organisation)

o For more information on these obligations, see Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools.

As part of Heathmont College’s child safe culture, school leadership (including the principal and assistant principals) will:

· Consider the diversity of all children, including (but not limited to) the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children who are vulnerable, when implementing the Child Safe Standards

· Ensure that child safety is a regular agenda item at school leadership meetings and staff meetings

· Encourage and enable staff professional learning and training to build deeper understandings of child safety and prevention of abuse

· Ensure that no one is prohibited or discouraged from reporting an allegation of child abuse to a person external to the school or from making records of any allegation.

As part of Heathmont College’s child safe culture, school mandatory reporting staff are required to:

· Complete the Protecting Children – Mandatory reporting and other obligations online module every year

· Read the school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct on induction, and maintain familiarity with that document

· Read the school’s Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures on induction, and maintain familiarity with that document

· Read the school’s Child Safety Policy (this document) on induction and maintain familiarity with that document.

As part of Heathmont College’s child safe culture, in performing the functions and powers given to them under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, school councils and school council members will:

· Ensure that child safety is a regular agenda item at school council meetings

· Consider the diversity of all children, including (but not limited to) the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children who are vulnerable, when making decisions regarding the Child Safe Standards

· Undertake annual guidance and training on child safety, such as the Child Safe Standards School Council Training PowerPoint.

· Approve the Child Safety Code of Conduct to the extent that it applies to school council employees and members, and if updated, note the new document in its school council meeting minutes

School leadership will maintain records of the above processes.

Roles and responsibilities

School leaders will ensure that each person understands their role, responsibilities and behaviour expected in protecting children and young people from abuse and neglect. Staff will comply with the school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct, which sets out clearly the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.

Specific child safety responsibilities:

· Assistant Principals is responsible for reviewing and updating the Child Safety Policy every year.

· The Principal is responsible for monitoring the school’s compliance with the Child Safety Policy. The school community should approach a member of the principal team (Principal or Assistant Principals) if they have any concerns about the school’s compliance with the Child Safety Policy.

· The Principal is responsible for informing the school community about this policy, and making it publicly available.

· Other specific roles and responsibilities are named in Heathmont College’s other child safety policies and procedures, including the Child Safety Code of Conduct, Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures, and risk assessment register.

Recruitment

Heathmont College follows the Department’s Recruitment in Schools guide to ensure child safe recruitment practices, available on the Department’s website.

All prospective volunteers are required to comply with our school’s Volunteers Policy, including in relation to assessing the suitability of prospective volunteers and obtaining checks required under this policy.

Training and supervision

Training and education is important to ensure that everyone in the school understands that child safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Our school culture aims for all staff and volunteers (in addition to parents/carers and children) to feel confident and comfortable in coming forward with any allegations or suspicions of child abuse or child safety concerns. We train our staff and volunteers to identify, assess, and minimise risks of child abuse and to detect potential signs of child abuse. This training occurs annually or more often as required.

We also support our staff and volunteers through ongoing supervision to develop their skills to protect children from abuse, to promote the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children from linguistically and/or diverse backgrounds, and the safety of children with a disability and vulnerable children.

New employees and volunteers will be inducted into the school, including by being referred to the Child Safety Policy (this document), the Child Safety Code of Conduct, and the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures on the school website and the Staff Information Portal. They will also be supervised regularly to ensure they understand our school’s commitment to child safety, and that their behaviour towards children is safe and appropriate. All employees of our school will be monitored and assessed via regular performance review to ensure their continuing suitability for child-connected work. Any inappropriate behaviour will be reported by school staff to the Principal or Assistant Principal and will be managed in accordance with Heathmont College’s Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures where required.

Reporting a child safety concern or complaint

The school has clear expectations for all staff and volunteers (including homestay providers) in making a report about a child or young person who may be in need of protection. All staff (including school council employees) must follow the school’s Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures, including following the Four Critical Actions for Schools if there is an incident, disclosure or suspicion of child abuse. Immediate actions should include reporting their concerns to DHHS Child Protection, Victoria Police and/or another appropriate agency and notifying the principal or a member of the school leadership team of their concerns and the reasons for those concerns.

Heathmont College will never prohibit or discourage school staff from reporting an allegation of child abuse. The school will always take action to respond to a complaint in accordance with the school’s Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures. In accordance with Action 4 of the Four Critical Actions for Schools, Heathmont College will provide ongoing support for students affected by child abuse.

The Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures can be found at https://www.heathmont.vic.edu.au/

Risk reduction and management

Heathmont College believes the wellbeing of children and young people is paramount, and is vigilant in ensuring proper risk management processes, found in the school’s risk assessment register. The school recognises there are potential risks to children and young people and will take a risk management approach by undertaking preventative measures.

We will identify and mitigate the risks of child abuse in school environments by taking into account the nature of each school environment, the activities expected to be conducted in that environment and the characteristics and needs of all children expected to be present in that environment.

Heathmont College monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of the actions it takes to reduce or remove risks to child safety, more information can be found in the school’s risk assessment register.

Listening to, communicating with and empowering children

Heathmont College has developed a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that involves and communicates with children, young people and their parents/carers. We encourage child and parent/carer involvement and engagement that informs safe school operations and builds the capability of children and parents/carers to understand their rights and their responsibilities. Our school is committed to supporting and encouraging students to use their voice to raise and share their concerns with a trusted adult at any time of need. Students can access information on how to report abuse via Compass School Documents or the College website https://www.heathmont.vic.edu.au/.

When the school is gathering information in relation to a complaint about alleged misconduct with or abuse of a child, the school will listen to the complainant’s account and take them seriously, check understanding and keep the child (and/or their parents/carers, as appropriate) informed about progress.

The school will promote the Child Safe Standards in ways that are readily accessible, easy to understand, and user-friendly to children, including:

· All of our child safety policies and procedures will be available for the students and parents at Heathmont College to read at the front office or school reception and on our college website https://www.heathmont.vic.edu.au/

· PROTECT Child Safety posters will be displayed across the school

· School newsletters will inform students and the school community about the school’s commitment to child safety, and strategies or initiatives that the school is taking to ensure student safety.

· Age appropriate discussions of child safety with students.

· Translation of Child safety policy and procedures into languages other than English as required,

· The Four Critical Actions are actively taught to mandatory reporters and other school staff, the whole school is encouraged to contribute to risk assessment and mitigation.

The school will use its health and wellbeing programs to deliver appropriate education to its students about:

· standards of behaviour for students attending the school;

· healthy and respectful relationships (including sexuality);

· resilience; and

· child abuse awareness and prevention.

Heathmont College engages in the Respectful Relationships program, e-smart education, and cyberbullying programs. Our unique 9Life program also covers many topics around keeping safe and healthy. Consent education is explicitly covered at all year levels in age appropriate ways.

Communications

This school is committed to communicating our child safety strategies to the school community through:

· Ensuring that the Child Safety Policy (this document), Code of Conduct, and the Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedure are available on the school website.

· Once per term reminders in the school newsletter of our school’s commitment to child safety

· Ensuring that child safety is a regular agenda item at school leadership meetings and staff meetings for discussion

· Explicit coverage of the policy through all induction processes

· Posters throughout the school

· On our Staff Information Portal

Confidentiality and privacy

This school collects, uses and discloses information about particular children and their families in accordance with Victorian privacy law and other relevant laws. The principles regulating the collection, use and storage of information is included in the Department of Education and Training’s Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Related policies and documents

Related policies and documents include:

· Child Safety Code of Conduct

· Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations (including Mandatory Reporting) Policy and Procedures

· Risk assessment register

· Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools

· Four Critical Actions for Schools

· Recording your actions: Responding to suspected child abuse – A template for Victorian schools

· Identifying and Responding to Student Sexual Offending

· Four Critical Actions for Schools: Responding to Student Sexual Offending

· Policy and Advisory Library – Duty of Care

· Policy and Advisory Library – Child Protection Reporting Obligations

· Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Policy evaluation and review

To ensure ongoing relevance and continuous improvement, this policy will be reviewed every year. The review will include input from students, parents/carers and the school community.

Approval

School Principal: Kerryn Sandford

Date of last review: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to explain to our school community the non-delegable duty of care obligations that all staff at Heathmont College owe to our students and members of the school community who visit and use the school premises.

Policy

“Duty of care” is a legal obligation that requires schools to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of reasonably foreseeable harm, which can include personal injury (physical or psychological) or damage to property. The reasonable steps that our school may decide to take in response to a potential risk or hazard will depend on the circumstances of the risk.

Our school has developed policies and procedures to manage common risks in the school environment, including:

· Yard duty and Supervision

· Bullying Prevention

· Camps and Excursions

· First Aid

· Tree Maintenance

· Grounds Maintenance

· Student Private Property

· Child Safe Standards

· External Providers (including RTOS delivering VET/VCAL)

· Emergency Management

· Volunteers

· Visitors

· Working with Children and Suitability Checks

· Mandatory Reporting

· Occupational Health and Safety

Our school acknowledges we are required to take reasonable precautions to prevent the abuse of a child by an individual associated with the organisation while the child is under the care, supervision or authority of the organisation.

Staff at our school understand that school activities involve different levels of risk and that particular care may need to be taken to support younger students or students with additional needs. Our school also understands that it is responsible for ensuring that the school premises are kept in good repair and will take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of members of our community suffering injury or damage because of the state of the premises.

School staff, parents, carers and students are encouraged to speak to the principal to raise any concerns about risks or hazards at our school, or our duty of care obligations.

External Providers

Staff at our school acknowledge that, as our duty of care is non-delegable, we are also required to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of reasonably foreseeable harm when external providers have been engaged to plan for or conduct an activity involving our students. Our Visitors Policy and Camps and Excursions Policy include information on the safety and care of our students when engaged with external providers.

Our school also takes steps to ensure student safety when they are engaging in off-site workplace learning programs with external providers, such as when students are participating in work experience, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, structured workplace learning and any other workplace learning program involving external providers. Our School will follow all applicable Department of Education and Training policy and guidelines in relation to off-site learning and will ensure that the safety and welfare of the students engaging in these activities is paramount. The Department’s guidelines in relation to Workplace Learning are available at the following link:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/structured-workplace-learning/policy

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Provided to staff at induction and included in staff information portal

· Discussed at staff meetings/briefings as required

· Made available publicly on our school website

· Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

FURTHER INFORMATION and resources

· the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL): Duty of Care

· the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL): Structured Workplace Learning

Policy REVIEW and Approval

Policy last reviewed

October 2021

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2025

Purpose

To ensure the school community understands our school’s approach to first aid for students.

Scope

First aid for anaphylaxis and asthma are provided for in our school’s:

· Anaphylaxis Policy

· Asthma Policy

Policy

From time to time Heathmont College staff might need to administer first aid to students at school or school activities.

Parents/carers should be aware that the goal of first aid is not to diagnose or treat a condition.

Staffing

The Principal will ensure that Heathmont College has sufficient staff with the appropriate levels of first aid training to meet the first aid needs of the school community.

Our school’s trained first aid officers are listed in our Emergency Management Plan (EMP). Our EMP includes the expiry dates of the training.

This list is reviewed on an annual basis as part of the annual review of our Emergency Management Plan.

First aid kits

Heathmont College will maintain:

· A major first aid kit which will be stored in the school sick bay, which is located in the front office area

· Heathmont College has 25 portable first aid kits which may be used for excursions, camps, or yard duty. The portable first aid kits will be stored in:

• • the HOPE Centre,

  • Arts,

  • Science,

  • Technology,

  • Sports Stadium,

  • Sports Centre,

  • Maintenance shed and

  • House areas.

Administration staff will be responsible for maintaining all first aid kits.

Care for ill students

Students who are unwell should not attend school.

If a student becomes unwell during the school day they may be directed to the sick bay located in the main administration building and monitored by staff. Depending on the nature of their symptoms, staff may contact parents/carers or an emergency contact person to ask them to collect the student.

First aid management

If there is a situation or incident which occurs at school or a school activity which requires first aid to be administered to a student:

· Staff who have been trained in first aid will administer first aid in accordance with their training. In an emergency situation, other staff may assist in the administration of first aid within their level of competence.

· In a medical emergency, staff may take emergency action and do not need to obtain parent/carer consent to do so. Staff may contact Triple Zero “000” for emergency medical services at any time.

· Staff may also contact NURSE-ON-CALL (on 1300 60 60 24) in an emergency. NURSE-ON-CALL provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

· If first aid is administered for a minor injury or condition, Heathmont College will notify parents/carers by phoning the parent

· If first aid is administered for a serious injury or condition, or in an emergency situation, school staff will attempt to contact parents/carers or emergency contacts as soon as reasonably practical.

· If staff providing first aid determine that an emergency response is not required but that medical advice is needed, school staff will ask parents/carers, or an emergency contact person, to collect the student and recommend that advice is sought from a medical practitioner.

· Whenever first aid treatment has been administered to a student Heathmont College will:

o record the incident on CASES21

o if first aid was administered in a medical emergency, follow the Department’s Reporting and Managing School Incidents Policy, including reporting the incident to the Department’s Incident Support and Operations Centre on 1800 126 126.

In accordance with guidance from the Department of Education and Training, analgesics, including paracetamol and aspirin, will not be stored at school or provided as a standard first aid treatments. This is because they can mask signs of serious illness or injury.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff induction processes and staff training

· Included in staff Information Portal

· Included in transition and enrolment packs

· Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Further information and resources

· Health Care Needs,

· Administration of Medication,

· Anaphylaxis,

· Asthma

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

November 2021

Approved by

Principal: Kerryn Sandford

Next scheduled review date

October 2025

Purpose

To ensure that Heathmont College provides appropriate support to students with health care needs.

Objective

To explain to Heathmont College parents, carers, staff and students the processes and procedures in place to support students with health care needs at school.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• all staff, including casual relief staff and volunteers

• all students who have been diagnosed with a health care need that may require support, monitoring or medication at school.

Policy

This policy should be read with Heathmont College’s First Aid, Administration of Medication, Anaphylaxis and Asthma policies.

Student health support planning

In order to provide appropriate support to students at Heathmont College who may need medical care or assistance, a Student Health Support Plan will be prepared by a House Leader, the Student Wellbeing Coordinator, Integration Coordinator, or principal nominee in consultation with the student, their parents, carers and treating medical practitioners.

Student Health Support plans help our school to assist students with:

· routine health care support needs, such as supervision or provision of medication

• personal care support needs, such as assistance with personal hygiene, continence care, eating and drinking, transfers and positioning, and use of health-related equipment

• emergency care needs, such as predictable emergency first aid associated with asthma, seizure or diabetes management.

Students with complex medical care needs, for example, tracheostomy care, seizure management or tube feeding, must have a Student Health Support Plan which provides for appropriate staff to undertake specific training to meet the student’s particular needs.

At enrolment or when a health care need is identified, parents/carers should provide accurate information about the student’s condition or health care needs, ideally documented by the student’s treating medical/health care practitioner on a Medical Advice Form (or relevant equivalent).

Heathmont College may invite parents and carers to attend a Student Support Group meeting to discuss the contents of a student’s Health Support Plan and assistance that the student may need at school or during school activities.

Where necessary, Heathmont College may also request consent from parents and carers to consult with a student’s medical practitioners, to assist in preparing the plan and ensure that appropriate staff understand the student’s needs. Consultation with the student’s medical practitioner will not occur without parent/carer consent unless required or authorised by law.

Student Health Support Plans will be reviewed:

· when updated information is received from the student’s medical practitioner

· when the school, student or parents and carers have concerns with the support being provided to the student

· if there are changes to the support being provided to the student, or

· on an annual basis.

Management of confidential medical information

Confidential medical information provided to Heathmont College to support a student will be:

· recorded on the student’s file

· shared with all relevant staff so that they are able to properly support students diagnosed with medical conditions and respond appropriately if necessary.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Included in staff induction processes and staff training

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff Information Portal

· Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Further information and resources

· the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

o Health Care Needs

o Health Support Planning Forms

o Complex Medical Care Supports

o Child and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes

o Privacy and Information Sharing

· Administration of Medication Policy.

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

October 2021

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to explain Heathmont College’s commitment to making sure every member of our school community, regardless of their background or personal attributes, is treated with respect and dignity. This policy should be read alongside the following Department of Education and Training policies:

· Equal Opportunity and Human Rights - Students

· For staff, the Respectful Workplaces policies (including Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Workplace Bullying) as these whole of Department policies apply to all staff at Heathmont College.

Policy

Definitions

Personal attribute: a personal characteristic that is protected by State or Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation. These include: race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious belief or activity, political belief or activity, age, intersex status, physical features, pregnancy, carer and parental status, breastfeeding, marital or relationship status, lawful sexual activity, employment activity, industrial activity, expunged homosexual conviction or personal association with anyone who is identified with reference to any protected attribute.

Direct discrimination: unfavourable treatment because of a person’s protected attribute.

Indirect discrimination: imposing an unreasonable requirement, condition or practice that disadvantages a person or group of people with a protected attribute.

Sexual harassment: unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature towards another person which could reasonably be expected to make that other person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. It may be physical, verbal, visual or written.

Disability harassment: an action taken in relation to the person’s disability that is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to humiliate, offend, intimidate or distress the person.

Vilification: conduct that incites hatred towards or revulsion or severe ridicule of a person or group of people on the basis of their race or religion.

Victimisation: subjecting a person or threatening to subject them to detrimental treatment because they (or their associate) has made an allegation of discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected attribute (or asserted their rights under relevant policies or law).

Inclusion and diversity

Heathmont College strives to provide a safe, inclusive and supportive school environment which values the human rights of all students and staff.

Heathmont College is committed to creating a school community where all members of our school community are welcomed, accepted and treated equitably and with respect regardless of their backgrounds or personal attributes such as race, language, religious beliefs, gender identity, disability or sexual orientation so that they can participate, achieve and thrive at school.

Heathmont College acknowledges and celebrates the diversity of backgrounds and experiences in our school community and we will not tolerate behaviours, language or practices that label, stereotype or demean others. At Heathmont College we value the human rights of every student and we take our obligations under anti-discrimination laws and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities seriously.

Heathmont College will:

· Actively nurture and promote a culture where everyone is treated with respect and dignity

· ensure that students are not discriminated against (directly or indirectly) and where necessary, are reasonably accommodated to participate in their education and school activities (eg schools sports, concerts, excursions, incursions, productions, formals and camps) on the same basis as their peers

· acknowledge and respond to the diverse needs, identities and strengths of all students

· encourage empathy and fairness towards others

· challenge stereotypes that promote prejudicial and biased behaviours and practices

· contribute to positive learning, engagement and wellbeing outcomes for students

· actively engage in Inclusion and Diversity awareness days

· respond to complaints and allegations appropriately and ensure that students are not victimised.

Bullying, unlawful discrimination, harassment, vilification and other forms of inappropriate behaviour targeting individuals or groups because of their personal attributes will not be tolerated at Heathmont College. We will take appropriate measures, consistent with our Student Wellbeing and Engagement and Bullying policies to respond to students who demonstrate these behaviours at our school.

Students who may have experienced or witnessed this type of behaviour are encouraged to speak up and to let their teachers, parents or carers know about those behaviours to ensure that inappropriate behaviour can be addressed.

Reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities

Heathmont College also understands that it has a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate students with disabilities. A reasonable adjustment is a measure or action taken to assist students with disabilities to participate in their education on the same basis as their peers. Reasonable adjustments will be made for students with disabilities in consultation with the student, their parents or carers, their teachers and if appropriate, their treating practitioners. Our school may consult through Student Support Group processes and in other less formal ways. For more information about support available for students with disabilities, and communicating with us in relation to a student’s disability, please refer to our school’s Student Engagement and Wellbeing policy or contact our Diversity and Inclusion Leader at the college on 9871 4888 for further information.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff induction processes and staff training

· Included in staff information portal

· Discussed at annual staff briefings/meetings as required

· Discussed at student forums

· Reminders in our school newsletter

· Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Related policies AND RESOURCES

· Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

· Bullying Prevention Policy

· School Statement of Values and Vision Statement

For staff, please see the Department’s Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination Policy, Sexual Harassment Policy and Workplace Bullying Policy which apply to all staff working at our school.

Other relevant Department policies and resources on the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library are:

o Equal Opportunity and Human Rights - Students

o Students with Disability

o Koorie Education

o Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture

o Safe Schools

o Supports and Services

o Program for Students with Disabilities

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

November 2021

Consultation

Leadership team, School Council

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all students and members of our school community understand:

(a) our commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students

(b) expectations for positive student behaviour

(c) support available to students and families

(d) our school’s policies and procedures for responding to inappropriate student behaviour.

Heathmont College is committed to providing a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment for all students. We understand that students reach their full potential only when they are happy, healthy and safe, and that a positive school culture helps to engage students and support them in their learning. Our school acknowledges that student wellbeing and student learning outcomes are closely linked.

The objective of this policy is to support our school to create and maintain a safe, supportive and inclusive school environment consistent with our school’s values.

Scope

This policy applies to all school activities, including camps and excursions.

Contents

1. School profile

2. School values, philosophy and vision

3. Engagement strategies

4. Identifying students in need of support

5. Student rights and responsibilities

6. Student behavioural expectations

7. Engaging with families

8. Evaluation

Policy

1. School profile

At Heathmont College students feel safe, while at the same time challenged and supported by a positive school culture.

We believe that wellbeing provides an essential foundation for successful teaching and learning. Our common language of wellbeing, when developed and used intentionally, builds agency in staff, students and parents; creating a flourishing community.

Relationships are central to our leading wellbeing programs that feature a 4 House model. These smaller “family” communities boast vertical student mentor groups to look after the wellbeing, engagement and academic needs of all students. We value collaboration and seek to partner with families and community as an integral part of our student’s learning journey.

We provide many opportunities for students to be the best they can be, celebrating our students’ successes with pride. Our tailored support for students is generated through using data to differentiate instruction, empowering our students to discover their passions, build resilience and explore becoming global citizens who seek to make a difference in the world. In addition, our strong student leadership program, sporting teams, outstanding language programs and vibrant performing arts all support the dynamic curriculum taught at every year level.

The College offers a comprehensive senior secondary curriculum, including academic and vocational learning streams and acceleration is a strategy implemented in all year levels to enhance student academic engagement.

Students in Year 9 engage with our 9LiFE Program elective program, which is designed to challenge and engage students in personal and community development.

A variety of enrichment and excellence programs are offered across the College. We offer specialist programs such as our Sports Academy, Instrumental Music and various extra curriculum programs in the Performing Arts. The college has recently completed Stage 1 of a new rebuilding program that has seen the addition of a competition grade sports stadium added to our extensive sports fields and facilities. Stage 2 is due for completion in 2023 and will include a Performing Arts centre and facility to enhance the school's offering in this area.

In 2020, Heathmont College launched its HOPE Centre (Home for Positive Education), a facility for delivering transformational wellbeing education within Maroondah schools and the wider community. We seek to put wellbeing at the heart of education in partnership with the Maroondah City Council, the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Positive Psychology and The Institute of Positive Education.

As a college we are currently revisiting our school values, vision and mission and aim to launch these early in 2022.

2. School values, philosophy and vision

Heathmont College’s Statement of Values and School Philosophy is integral to the work that we do and is the foundation of our school community. Students, staff and members of our school community are encouraged to live and demonstrate our core values of community, curiosity, and compassion at every opportunity.

Our school’s vision is to empower students to reach their personal best, and fully equip them to contribute positively to society as happy, healthy young adults.

Our Statement of Values is available online on our website at www.heathmont.vic.edu.au

Engagement strategies

Heathmont College has developed a range of strategies to promote engagement, positive behaviour and respectful relationships for all students in our school. We acknowledge that some students may need extra social, emotional or educational support at school, and that the needs of students will change over time as they grow and learn.

A summary of the whole of school, year level and individual engagement strategies used by our school is included below:

Whole School

· high and consistent expectations of all staff, students and parents and carers

· prioritise positive relationships between staff and students, recognising the fundamental role this plays in building and sustaining student wellbeing

· creating a culture that is inclusive, engaging and supportive

· welcoming all parents/carers and being responsive to them as partners in learning

· analysing and being responsive to a range of school data such as attendance, Attitudes to School Survey, parent survey data, student management data and school level assessment data

· deliver a broad curriculum including VET programs, VCE and VCAL to ensure that students are able to choose subjects and programs that are tailored to their interests, strengths and aspirations

· teachers at Heathmont College use an [NAME] instructional framework to ensure an explicit, common and shared model of instruction to ensure that evidenced-based, high yield teaching practices are incorporated into all lessons

· teachers at Heathmont College adopt a broad range of teaching and assessment approaches to effectively respond to the diverse learning styles, strengths and needs of our students and follow the standards set by the Victorian Institute of Teaching

· our school’s Statement of Values are incorporated into our curriculum and promoted to students, staff and parents so that they are shared and celebrated as the foundation of our school community

· carefully planned transition programs to support students moving into different stages of their schooling

· positive behaviour and student achievement is acknowledged in the classroom, and formally in school assemblies and communication to parents

· monitor student attendance and implement attendance improvement strategies at a whole-school, cohort and individual level

· students have the opportunity to contribute to and provide feedback on decisions about school operations through the Student Representative Council and other forums including Year Level meetings, House meetings, Peer Support Groups and the Principal Advisory Group. Students are also encouraged to speak with their teachers, Mentor Group Teachers, House Leaders, Year Level Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Principal whenever they have any questions or concerns.

· opportunities for cross—age connections amongst students through mentor group, curriculum programs and peer support programs

· All students are welcome to self-refer to the Student Wellbeing Coordinator, School Nurse, Year Level Coordinators, Assistant Principal and Principal if they would like to discuss a particular issue or feel as though they may need support of any kind. We are proud to have an ‘open door’ policy where students and staff are partners in learning

· The college is also the lead school in the Maroondah Positive Education Network (MPEN) and consistently works to engender positive education principles in teacher practice as well as to build student understanding, knowledge and enactment of positive education strategies and principles to build resilience and wellbeing.

· we engage in school wide positive behaviour support with our staff and students, which includes programs such as:

o Respectful Relationships

o Bully Stoppers

o Safe Schools

o School-wide Positive Behaviour Support

· programs, incursions and excursions developed to address issue specific behaviour (i.e. anger management programs)

· opportunities for student inclusion (i.e. sports teams, clubs, recess and lunchtime activities)

· implementation of High Impact Engagement Strategies

· mentor programs, peers support programs

Year Level

· each year level has a Year level Coordinator, who monitor the health and wellbeing of students in their year, and act as a point of contact for students who may need additional support

· all students are allocated to one of our four house groups on entry to the college and remain in this group throughout their time at the college. The house leaders and mentor group teacher from the house will oversee the student’s wellbeing and engagement across the years and will get to know the family and student well as a result. The House leaders, in particular, play a crucial role in monitoring student engagement through attendance rates and will work with individual students and their families to develop and implement strategies to improve engagement where needed.

· all students from Year 9 and above will be assisted to develop a Career Action Plan, with targeted goals and support to plan for their future

· connect all Koorie students with the Murrang Coordinator

· all students in Out of Home Care will be appointed a Learning Mentor, have an Individual Learning Plan and a Student Support Group (SSG) and will be referred to Student Support Services for an Educational Needs Assessment

· Heathmont College assists students to plan their Year 10 work experience, supported by their Career Action Plan

· wellbeing and health staff will undertake health promotion and social skills development in response to needs identified by student wellbeing data, classroom teachers or other school staff each year

· staff will apply a trauma-informed approach to working with students who have experienced trauma

· Mentors assigned to each year 12 student to support the progression of outcomes including academic, wellbeing and vocational.

· All students at Year 9 participate in the 9LiFE program which focuses on personal and community development

· All students also participate in the school’s Flourish program – a pastoral care program designed bases on Positive Education principles to support students to build resilience, self-awareness and strong self-concept.

Individual

Heathmont College implements a range of strategies that support and promote individual engagement. These can include:

· building constructive relationships with students at risk or students who are vulnerable due to complex individual circumstances

· meeting with student and their parent/carer to talk about how best to help the student engage with school

· developing an Individual Learning Plan and/or a Behaviour Support Plan

· considering if any environmental changes need to be made, for example changing the classroom set up

· referring the student to:

o school-based wellbeing supports

o Student Support Services

o Appropriate external supports such as council-based youth and family services, Headspace, Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) other allied health professionals, Child First or other specialised support services.

o Re-engagement programs such as Navigator

Where necessary the school will support the student’s family to engage by:

· being responsive and sensitive to changes in the student’s circumstances and health and wellbeing

· collaborating, where appropriate and with the support of the student and their family, with any external allied health professionals, services or agencies that are supporting the student

· monitoring individual student attendance and developing Attendance Improvement Plans in collaboration with the student and their family

· Monitor students' academic progress and where appropriate, set goals to support the students' outcomes.

· running regular Student Support Group meetings for all students:

o with a disability;

o in Out of Home Care ;

o with other complex needs that require ongoing support and monitoring.

3. Identifying students in need of support

Heathmont College is committed to providing the necessary support to ensure our students are supported intellectually, emotionally and socially. The Student Wellbeing team plays a significant role in developing and implementing strategies to help identify students in need of support and enhance student wellbeing. Heathmont College will utilise the following information and tools to identify students in need of extra emotional, social or educational support:

· personal, health and learning information gathered upon enrolment and while the student is enrolled

· attendance records

· academic performance

· observations by school staff such as changes in engagement, behaviour, self-care, social connectedness and motivation

· attendance, detention and suspension data

· engagement with families

· self-referrals or referrals from peers

· external support services, such as Integrated Family Services, contacting the college

4. Student rights and responsibilities

All members of our school community have a right to experience a safe and supportive school environment. We expect that all students, staff, parents and carers treat each other with respect and dignity. Our school’s Statement of Values highlights the rights and responsibilities of members of our community.

Students have the right to:

· participate fully in their education

· feel safe, secure and happy at school

· learn in an environment free from bullying, harassment, violence, discrimination or intimidation

· express their ideas, feelings and concerns.

Students have the responsibility to:

· participate fully in their educational program

· display positive behaviours that demonstrate respect for themselves, their peers, their teachers and members of the school community

· respect the right of others to learn.

Students who may have a complaint or concern about something that has happened at school are encouraged to speak to their parents or carers and approach a trusted teacher or a member of the school leadership team.

5. Student behavioural expectations and management

Behavioural expectations of students, staff and families are grounded in our school’s Statement of Values. Student bullying behaviour will be responded to consistently with Heathmont College’s Bullying policy.

When a student acts in breach of the behaviour standards of our school community, Heathmont College will institute a staged response, consistent with the Department’s policies on behaviour, discipline and student wellbeing and engagement. Where appropriate, parents will be informed about the inappropriate behaviour and the disciplinary action taken by teachers and other school staff.

There are several factors that will be considered when determining the most appropriate response to the behaviour. When making a decision about how to respond to a breach of the behaviour standards, Heathmont College will consider:

· the age and maturity of the students involved

· the severity and frequency of the bullying, and the impact it has had on the target student

· history of similar incidents and behaviours from the students involved

· the power dynamic of the behaviour

· the degree to which an intent to harm is evident

· any extenuating or provocative circumstances that may have influenced the behaviours of any involved.

Our school considers, explores and implement positive and non-punitive interventions to support student behaviour before considering disciplinary measures such as detention, withdrawal of privileges or withdrawal from class.

Disciplinary measures may be used as part of a staged response to inappropriate behaviour in combination with other engagement and support strategies to ensure that factors that may have contributed to the student’s behaviour are identified and addressed. Disciplinary measures at our school will be applied fairly and consistently. Students will always be provided with an opportunity to be heard.

Disciplinary measures that may be applied include:

· warning a student that their behaviour is inappropriate

· teacher controlled consequences such as moving a student in a classroom or other reasonable and proportionate responses to misbehaviour

· withdrawal of privileges

· removal from the yard

· referral to the Year Level Coordinator

· restorative practices

· detentions

· behaviour support and intervention meetings

· suspension

· expulsion

Suspension, expulsion and restrictive interventions are measures of last resort and may only be used in situations consistent with Department policy, available at:

· https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/suspensions/policy

· https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/expulsions/policy

· https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/restraint-seclusion/policy

In line with Ministerial Order 1125, no student aged 8 or younger will be expelled without the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training.

The Principal of Heathmont College is responsible for ensuring all suspensions and expulsions are recorded on CASES21.

Corporal punishment is prohibited in our school and will not be used in any circumstance.

6. Engaging with families

Heathmont College values the input of parents and carers, and we will strive to support families to engage in their child’s learning and build their capacity as active learners. We aim to be partners in learning with parents and carers in our school community.

We work hard to create successful partnerships with parents and carers by:

· ensuring that all parents have access to our school policies and procedures, available on our school website

· maintaining an open, respectful line of communication between parents and staff, supported by our Communicating with School Staff policy.

· providing parent volunteer opportunities so that families can contribute to school activities

· involving families with homework and other curriculum-related activities

· involving families in school decision making

· coordinating resources and services from the community to assist or link families with support

· including families in Student Support Groups and developing individual plans for students.

7. Evaluation

Heathmont College will collect data each year to understand the frequency and types of wellbeing issues that are experienced by our students so that we can measure the success or otherwise of our school-based strategies and identify emerging trends or needs.

Sources of data that will be assessed on an annual basis include:

· student survey data

· compass data

· staff PIVOT (classroom) data

· curriculum area survey data

· school reports

· parent survey

· case management

· CASES21, including attendance and absence data

· SOCS

Heathmont College will also regularly monitor available data dashboards to ensure any wellbeing or engagement issues are acted upon in a timely manner and any intervention occurs as soon as possible.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff induction processes

· Included in our Staff Information Portal

· Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required

· Discussed at parent information nights/sessions as required

· Included in student and staff diaries so that it is easily accessible to parents, carers and students

· Included in transition and enrolment packs

· Included as annual reference in school newsletter

· Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Our school will also ensure it follows the mandatory parent/carer notification requirements with respect to suspensions and expulsions outlined in the Department’s policies at:

· Suspension process

· Expulsions - Decision

Further information and resources

Statement of Values and School Philosophy, Bullying Prevention, Child Safe Standards, etc].

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

November 2021

Consultation

Consultation with School Council – November 2021

Consultation with Student leadership team to occur in 2022 as part of wider review work.

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

November 2022

Purpose

To ensure school staff understand their supervision and yard duty responsibilities.

Scope

This policy applies to all teaching and non-teaching staff at Heathmont College, including education support staff, casual relief teachers and visiting teachers.

Policy

Appropriate supervision is an important strategy to monitor student behaviour and enables staff to identify and respond to possible risks at school as they arise. It also plays a vital role in helping schools to discharge their duty of care to students.

The Principal is responsible for ensuring that there is a well organised and responsive system of supervision and yard duty in place during school hours, before and after school, and on school excursions and camps and other school activities.

School staff are responsible for following reasonable and lawful instructions from the Principal, including instructions to provide supervision to students at specific dates, times and places.

Before and after school

Heathmont College’s grounds are supervised by school staff from 8.30am until 3.25pm. Outside of these hours, school staff will not be available to supervise students except by prior arrangement.

Before school (8.30 – 8.55am), the front of the school and courtyards will be monitored by staff. After school (3.00 – 3.25pm) the bus stop on Waters Grove is supervised by staff.

Students who wish to attend school outside of these hours are encouraged to sign in and out on Compass at the front office, using their Compass card. The front office is staffed from 8.00am until 4.30pm.

Yard duty

All staff at Heathmont College are expected to assist with yard duty supervision and will be included in the fortnightly roster.

The Daily Organiser is responsible for preparing and communicating the yard duty roster at the start of each term and at any point that changes are made during the term. At Heathmont College, staff will be designated a specific yard duty area to supervise.

Yard duty zones

The designated yard duty areas for our school as at Term 4, 2021 are outlined here.

Yard duty equipment

School staff must:

· wear a provided safety/hi-vis vest whilst on yard duty. All teaching staff will be provided with a vest on employment at the college and are required to keep it at their desk to be used for yard duty.

· A school phone or personal phone that can be used to contact the duress line if required (9871 4898)

Yard duty responsibilities

Staff who are rostered for yard duty must remain in the designated area until they are replaced by a relieving staff member.

During yard duty, supervising school staff must:

· methodically move around the designated zone focusing on being closest to where students are evident and being mindful of any blind spot areas.

· ensure students remain in their designated year level zones where required

· be alert and vigilant

· intervene immediately if potentially dangerous or inappropriate behaviour is observed in the yard

· enforce behavioural standards and implement appropriate consequences for breaches of safety rules, in accordance with any relevant disciplinary measures set out in the school’s Student Engagement and Wellbeing policy

· ensure that students who require first aid assistance receive it as soon as practicable

· log any incidents or near misses as appropriate on Compass

· If being relieved of their yard duty shift by another staff member, the staff member must ensure that a brief but adequate verbal ‘handover’ is given to the relieving staff member in relation to any issues which may have arisen during the first shift.

If the supervising staff member is unable to conduct yard duty at the designated time, they should contact the Daily Organiser or Front Office staff with as much notice as possible prior to the relevant yard duty shift to ensure that alternative arrangements are made.

If the supervising staff member needs to leave yard duty during the allocated time, they should contact the Front Office staff or Duress line (9871 4898) but should not leave the designated area until the relieving staff member has arrived in the designated area.

If the relieving staff member does not arrive for yard duty, the staff member currently on duty should contact the Front Office and not leave the designated area until a relieving staff member has arrived.

Students will be encouraged to speak to the supervising yard duty staff member if they require assistance during recess or lunchtime.

Classroom

The classroom teacher is responsible for the supervision of all students in their care during class.

Students needing to leave the classroom for any reason must have a pass to do so that is signed and dated by the teacher. If a student leaves the classroom due to illness, another student will need to accompany them to the sick bay to ensure that they arrive safely. Where a student is directed to leave a classroom due to behavioural reasons, the Front Office must be notified immediately and acknowledgement of receipt of message must be received.

If a teacher needs to leave the classroom unattended at any time during a lesson, they should first contact a staff member in the House area for assistance or the Front Office. The teacher should then wait until a replacement staff member has arrived at the classroom before leaving.

School activities, camps and excursions

The Principal and leadership team are responsible for ensuring that students are appropriately supervised during all school activities, camps and excursions, including when external providers are engaged to conduct part or all of the activity. Appropriate supervision will be planned for school activities, camps and excursions on an individual basis, depending on the activities to be undertaken and the level of potential risk involved.

Digital devices and virtual classroom

Heathmont College follows the Department’s Cybersafety and Responsible Use of Technologies Policy with respect to supervision of students using digital devices.

Heathmont College will also ensure appropriate supervision of students participating in remote and flexible learning environments while on school site. In these cases, students will be supervised in the library or other classroom.

While parents are responsible for the appropriate supervision of students accessing virtual classrooms from home:

· student attendance will be monitored through their engagement in either virtual conferencing platforms or via the Microsoft Teams platform as instructed by the classroom teacher.

· any wellbeing or safety concerns for the student will be managed in accordance with our usual processes – refer to our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy and our Child Safety Responding and Reporting Policy and Procedures for further information.

Students requiring additional supervision support

Sometimes students will require additional supervision, such as students with disability or other additional needs. In these cases, the Principal or delegate will ensure arrangements are made to roster additional staff as required. This may include on yard duty, in the classroom or during school activities.

Workplace learning programs

When students are participating in workplace learning programs, such as work experience, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, and structured workplace learning, the safety and welfare of the student is paramount. Organising staff are required to follow all applicable Department of Education and Training policies and guidelines in relation to off-site learning, including policy and guidelines on the safety and wellbeing of students. Refer to:

· Structure Workplace Learning

· School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

· Work Experience

· School Community Work

Independent Study

Year 12 students only will have one study block of four sessions per week. If these periods fall on a Period 1 or Period 5 session, students may come late or leave early if consent has been provided by the parent. This information is captured through Compass at the beginning of the year. For all other times, students are to attend the Year 12 Study Centre, adjacent to the library for these periods.

Supervision of student in emergency operating environments

In emergency circumstances our school will follow our Emergency Management Plan, including with respect to supervision.

In the event of any mandatory period of remote or flexible learning our School will follow the operations guidance issued by the Department.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Included in staff induction processes

· Discussed at staff briefings or meetings, as required

· Included in our Staff Information Portal

· Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Information for parents and students on supervision before and after school is available on our school website.

Further Information and Resources

· the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

· Child Safe Standards

· Cybersafety and Responsible Use of Technologies

· Duty of Care

· Excursions

· School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

· School Community Work

· Structured Workplace Learning

· Supervision of Students

· Visitors in Schools

· Work Experience

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed

October 2021

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2022

This policy will also be updated if significant changes are made to school grounds that require a revision of Heathmont College’s yard duty and supervision arrangements.

Purpose

To provide a safe and secure learning and teaching environment for students and staff by establishing processes to monitor and manage visitors to Heathmont College.

Scope

This policy outlines our school’s arrangements for visitors who attend school grounds when the school is open for instruction between the hours of 8:30am to 4:00pm, and when the office is staffed to monitor/receive visitors at reception, including parents and contractors, outside of these times, our front office is not staffed, and this policy does not apply.

DEFINITIONs

Child-related work: As defined by the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic), child-related work is work that usually involves direct contact (including in person, over the phone, written and online communication) with a child that is a central part of that person’s duties. It does not include work that involves occasional direct contact with children that is incidental to the work.

Policy

Heathmont College strives to create an open and inclusive school community and encourages parents and carers to be actively involved in their child’s development and education. We also strive to foster strong partnerships with local community services, schools and other organisations.

Heathmont College is not a public place. The Principal has the authority to permit or deny entry to school grounds, and encourages all visitors to familiarise themselves with our school’s Statement of Values, Child Safe Policy, Child Safe Code of Conduct.

From time to time, different members of the public may visit our school. Visitors may include, but are not limited to:

· Parents

· Volunteers – see our school’s Volunteers Policy for more information

· Prospective parents, students and employees

· Invited speakers, sessional instructors and others addressing learning and development

· Public officials (e.g. Members of Parliament, local councillors)

· Persons conducting business e.g.: uniform suppliers, booksellers, official school photographers, commercial salespeople

· Tradespeople

· Children’s services agencies

· Department of Health and Human Services workers

· Victoria Police

· Persons authorised to enter school premises (e.g. Worksafe inspectors, health officers etc)

· Other Department of Education and Training staff (including allied health staff) or contractors

· NDIS therapists or other allied health or health practitioners

· Persons from external providers (such as AtEast) who work with our students to support them to complete their studies.

Sign in procedure

All visitors to Heathmont College are required to report to the school office on arrival (see exceptions below in relation to parents/carers). Visitors must:

· Record their name, signature, date and time of visit and purpose of visit in Compass, using the kiosk located at the front office

· Provide proof of identification to office staff upon request

· Produce evidence of their valid Working with Children Clearance where required by this policy (see below)

· Follow instruction from school staff and abide by all relevant school policies relating to appropriate conduct on school grounds including [insert relevant policies eg: Child Safety Code of Conduct, Respect for School Staff, Statement of Values etc] as well as Department policies such as the Sexual Harassment Policy and Workplace Bullying Policy

· Return to the office upon departure, sign out

Heathmont College will ensure that our school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct is available and visible to visitors when they sign in.

COVID-19 vaccination information

Under the directions issued by the Victorian Chief Health Officer, visitors attending school to work are required to be vaccinated or provide evidence that they are medically excepted. Our school is required to collect, record and hold vaccination information from relevant visitors to ensure they meet these requirements.

For further information on this process, refer to our school’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination – Information Collection and Storage Procedures.

For Department policy on COVID-19 mandatory vaccinations for visitors, including advice on the type of information that schools are required to collect, record and hold, refer to:

· COVID-19 Vaccinations – Visitors and Volunteers Working on School Sites

Working with Children Clearance

For Working with Children Check (WWCC) and other suitability check requirements relating to parents/carers and other volunteers working with students please see our Volunteers Policy.

All visitors who are engaged in child-related work (see definition above) must have a valid WWC Clearance and documentation to show that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

In some circumstances, visitors to Heathmont College who are not engaged in child-related work will also be required to produce a valid WWC Clearance depending on the particular circumstances of their visit.

· visitors (e.g., contractors), who will regularly be performing unsupervised work at the school during school hours or any other time where children are present. Further background checks, including references, may also be requested at the discretion of the principal.

· Visitors who will be working in areas away from students (e.g. a visiting auditor who will be located in the front office with administration staff) or who will be supervised and accompanied by a staff member during their visit (e.g. a Member of Parliament, a journalist, a prospective parent on a school tour) will not be required to have a WWC Clearance.

Sworn Victoria Police officers or sworn Australian Federal Police officers are exempt from requiring a WWC Check but may be asked to verify that they are sworn officers by providing proof of identification.

Invited speakers and presenters

On occasion, Heathmont College may invite external speakers or providers to deliver incursions, presentations, workshops and special programs for our students. Consistent with Department of Education and Training requirements, Heathmont College will:

· ensure that the content of presentations and programs by external providers contributes to the educational development of our students and is consistent with curriculum objectives

· ensure that any proposed visit, programs or content delivered by visitors complies with the requirement that education in Victorian government schools is secular and is consistent with the values of public education, Department policies and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic). In particular, programs delivered by visitors are to be delivered in a manner that supports and promotes the principles and practice of Australian democracy including a commitment to:

• • elected government

  • the rule of law

  • equal rights for all before the law

  • freedom of religion, speech and association

  • the values of openness and tolerance

  • respect the range of views held by students and their families.

Parent visitors

We understand that there may occasionally be a reason why a parent or carer may want to speak to or see their child at school, during school hours.

If there is a particularly pressing or unavoidable issue that cannot wait until the end of the school day, we ask that parents or carers call the school office to make the request to speak to or see their child during school hours.

We also ask that parents avoid arranging to visit their children at school wherever possible, as this can cause inappropriate disruptions to the school day.

All parents or carers who visit our school during school hours, other than for the purposes of school pickups and drop offs or for specific school events (e.g., parent teacher interviews, concerts, assemblies etc), are required to sign in as a visitor at the school office.

Parents or carers who are prohibited from entering the school under a court order or direction of the Principal are not permitted to visit the school. Heathmont College maintains and provides office staff with a list of restricted parents/carers which may include identifying photographs and any other information as required depending on the level of risk posed.

Other visitors

All business operators, tradespeople and other visitors attending the school to conduct work must report to the school office upon arrival for instruction and follow the sign in procedure outlined above.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in induction processes for relevant staff

· Included in our Staff Information Portal

· Discussed in an annual staff briefing/meeting

· Made available in hard copy from the school administration upon request

Related policies and resources

· Volunteers Policy

· Child Safety Code of Conduct

· Statement of Values

· Child Safety Policy

· Covid-19 Mandatory Vaccination – Information Collection and Storage Procedures

Department policies:

· Child Safe Standards

· Visitors in Schools

· Contractor OHS Management

Policy Review and approval

Policy last reviewed

20 October 2021

Consultation

26 October 2021

Approved by

Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2025

Purpose

To outline the processes that Heathmont College will follow to recruit, screen, supervise and manage volunteers to provide a child safe environment, and to explain the legal rights of volunteers.

Scope

This policy applies to the recruitment, screening, supervision and management of all people who volunteer at our school.

Definitions

Child-related work: work that usually involves direct contact (including in person, over the phone, written and online communication) with a child that is a central part of that person’s duties. It does not include work that involves occasional contact with children that is incidental to the work.

Closely related family member: parent, carer, parent/carer’s spouse or domestic partner, stepparent, parent/carer’s mother or father in-law, grandparent, uncle or aunt, brother or sister, including step or half siblings.

Volunteer worker: A volunteer school worker is a person who voluntarily engages in school work or approved community work without payment or reward.

School work: School work means:

· Carrying out the functions of a school council

· Any activity carried out for the welfare of a school, by the school council, any parents’ club or association or any other body organised to promote the welfare of the school

· Any activity carried out for the welfare of the school at the request of the principal or school council

· Providing assistance in the work of any school or kindergarten

· Attending meetings in relation to government schools convened by any organisation which receives government financial support

This is a broad definition and means that volunteers who participate in school community activities, such as fundraising and assisting with excursions, are legally protected (ie indemnified) from action by others in the event of an injury or accident whilst they are performing volunteer school work in good faith.

Policy

Heathmont is committed to implementing and following practices which protect the safety and wellbeing of children and our staff and volunteers. Heathmont College also recognises the valuable contribution that volunteers provide to our school community and the work that we do.

The procedures set out below are designed to ensure that Heathmont College volunteers are suitable to work with children and are well-placed to make a positive contribution to our school community.

Becoming a volunteer

Members of our school community who would like to volunteer are encouraged to contact the General Office on 03 9871 488 for information, please also check the newsletter as we may ask for volunteers, as well as for some excursions/events etc to be held on the school site.

COVID-19 vaccination information

Under the directions issued by the Victorian Chief Health Officer, volunteers attending school to work are required to be vaccinated or provide evidence that they are medically excepted. Our school is required to collect, record and hold vaccination information from relevant visitors and volunteers to ensure they meet these requirements.

For further information on this process, refer to our school’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination – Information Collection and Storage Procedures.

For Department policy on COVID-19 mandatory vaccinations for visitors, including advice on the type of information that schools are required to collect, record and hold, refer to:

· COVID-19 Vaccinations – Visitors and Volunteers Working on School Sites

Suitability checks including Working with Children Clearances

Working with students

Heathmont College values the many volunteers that assist in our classrooms/with sports events/camps/excursions/school concerts/other events and programs. To ensure that we are meeting our legal obligations under the Act and the Child Safe Standards, Heathmont College is required to undertake suitability checks which in most cases will involve asking for evidence of a Working With Children (WWC) Clearance and may also involve undertaking reference, proof of identity and work history involving children checks.

Considering our legal obligations, and our commitment to ensuring that Heathmont College is a child safe environment, we will require volunteers to obtain a WWC Clearance and produce their valid card to and or the staff member you are liaising with for verification in the following circumstances:

· Volunteers who are not parent/family members of any student at the school if they are engaged in child-related work regardless of whether they are being supervised.

· Parent/family volunteers who are assisting with any classroom or school activities involving direct contact with children in circumstances where the volunteer’s child is not participating, or does not ordinarily participate in, the activity.

· Parent/family volunteers who assist with excursions (including swimming), camps and similar events, regardless of whether their own child is participating or not.

· Parent/family volunteers who regularly assist in school activities, regardless of whether their own child is participating or not

· Parent/community School Council members sitting on School Council with student School Council members, regardless of whether their own child is a student member or not

In addition, depending on the nature of the volunteer work, our school may ask the volunteer to provide other suitability checks at its discretion (for example, references, work history involving children and/or qualifications). Proof of identity may also be required in some circumstances.

Non child-related work

On some occasions, parents and other members of the school community may volunteer to do work that is not child related. For example, volunteering on the weekend for gardening, maintenance, working bees, parents and friends club coordination, school council, participating in sub-committees of school council, fete coordination, other fundraising groups that meet in the evenings during which children will not be, or would not reasonably be expected to be, present.

Volunteers for this type of work are not required to have WWC Clearances or other suitability checks as they are not engaged in child-related work and children are not generally present during these activities. However, Heathmont College reserves the right to undertake suitability checks, including requiring proof of identity and WWC Clearance, at its discretion if considered necessary for any particular activities or circumstances.

Management and supervision

Volunteer workers will be expected to comply with any reasonable direction of the principal (or their nominee). This will include the requirement to follow our school’s policies, including, but not limited to our Child Safety Policy, our Child Safety Code of Conduct. Volunteer workers will also be expected to act consistently with Department of Education and Training policies, to the extent that they apply to volunteer workers, including the Department’s policies relating to Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Workplace Bullying.

The principal has the discretion to make a decision about the ongoing suitability of a volunteer worker and may determine at any time whether or not a person is suitable to volunteer at Heathmont College.

Heathmont will provide any appropriate induction and/or training for all volunteer workers. The principal (or their nominee) will determine what induction and/or training is necessary depending on what type of work the volunteer will be engaged in and will ensure a record is kept of the induction undertaken.

All volunteers will be provided induction in relation to Heathmont College child safety practices, including reporting obligations and procedures. Our school has a Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures which all staff and volunteers should be aware of.

The principal (or their nominee) will determine what supervision, if any, of volunteers is required for the type of work being performed.

Compensation

Personal injury

Volunteer workers are covered by the Department of Education and Training’s Workers’ Compensation Policy if they suffer personal injury in the course of engaging in schoolwork.

Property damage

If a volunteer worker suffers damage to their property in the course of carrying out schoolwork, the Minister (or delegate) may authorise such compensation as they consider reasonable in the circumstances. Claims of this nature should be directed to the principal who will direct them to the Department’s Legal Division.

Public liability insurance

The Department of Education and Training’s public liability insurance policy applies when a volunteer worker engaged in schoolwork is legally liable for:

· a claim for bodily injury to a third party

• damage to or the destruction of a third party’s property.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in induction processes for relevant staff

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Made available in hard copy from the school administration office upon request

Related policies and resources

https://www.heathmont.vic.edu.au/our-college/our-policies/

Department policies:

· Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination

· Child Safe Standards

· Sexual Harassment

· Volunteers in Schools

· Volunteer OHS Management

· Working with Children and Other Suitability Checks for School Volunteers and Visitors

· Workplace Bullying

· Suitability Check Flowchart for Schools and the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL) — Working with Children and other Suitability Checks for School Volunteers and Visitors.

policy review and approval

Policy last reviewed

20 October 2021

Consultation

26 October 2021

Approved by

Kerryn Sandford, Principal

Next scheduled review date

October 2025