Safe and supportive environment - welfare of students undertaking distance education
A registered non-government school must have policies and procedures that are appropriate to ensure the personal and social development of students who are undertaking all or a significant part of their courses of study by means of distance education.
The Education Act 1990 makes provision for students to undertake all or a significant part of their courses of study by means of distance education where the school has in place policies and procedures that are appropriate to ensure the personal and social development of its students.
Evidence of compliance
A registered non-government school must have in place and implement policies and procedures that are appropriate to ensure the personal and social development of students undertaking all or a significant part of their courses of study by means of distance education. The school must maintain documentation for each calendar year of the current registration period that includes:
- evidence that it has made available to stakeholders in a student's education and welfare the school's guiding principles and general organisation including statements about
- school aims
- enrolment policies
- student welfare policies
- staff roles and responsibilities
- communication mechanisms and processes for handling complaints
- learning and social support services provided for students
- assessment policies and procedures
- procedures to monitor students' personal and social development
- policies and procedures that are appropriate to ensure the safety and welfare of students undertaking 'residential school' sessions. Where accommodation for a 'residential school' is provided by the school itself or by contractual arrangement (excluding brief school excursions and 'home stay' accommodation), such policies and procedures must meet the standards for the safety and welfare of boarders
- details of the school's programs that focus on personal and social development
- structured experiences that focus on personal and social development at the 'residential school' sessions
- details of school support personnel, such as a counsellor, who assist with issues related to personal and social development as needed.
The use of distance education as a mode of delivery by a school does not abrogate the school's obligation to ensure that all of the registration requirements that are relevant to that mode of delivery are met.