Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to explain to our college community the non-delegable duty of care obligations that all staff at Leongatha Secondary College owe to our students and members of the college community who visit and use the college 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 college may decide to take in response to a potential risk or hazard will depend on the circumstances of the risk.
Our college 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
- Child Safe Standards
- Visitors
- 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 college 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 college also understands that it is responsible for ensuring that the college 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.
College 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 college 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 college 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 college 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://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/curriculum/pages/workplace.aspx
Communication
This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:
- Provided to staff at induction and included in staff handbook/manual
- Discussed at staff meetings/briefings as required
- Made available publicly on our school website
- Included in transition and enrolment packs
- Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request
Further information and resources
- School Policy and Advisory Guide: Duty of Care
- School Policy and Advisory Guide: Workplace Learning