In January 2007 the implementation of Smart Choices - the Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools became mandatory in all Queensland state schools.
This strategy is all about offering healthy food and drink choices to students in Queensland state schools.
The Queensland Government is committed to developing initiatives to combat levels of overweight and obesity in children and young people. The school setting has been identified as a critical location to assist in addressing this issue.
Smart Choices applies to all situations where food and drinks are supplied in the school environment. This includes tuckshops, vending machines, school excursions, school camps, fundraising, rewards for students, school events, and food used in curriculum activities.
For the latest information on Smart choices visit the School Health and Wellbeing initiatives website.
The Queensland Government has developed Smart Moves - Physical Activity Programs in Queensland State Schools to increase the curriculum time during which students are engaged in physical activity at school and to improve the quality of that activity.
Schools are working to develop Physical Activity Action Plans, which will demonstrate how they are meeting the various components of Smart Moves. These components include required time for physical activity, improved access to resources, professional development for teachers and better community partnerships to enhance physical activity opportunities.
All state schools will be required to have their Physical Activity Action Plan in place by the beginning of February 2008 for full implementation of Smart Moves from July 2008.
For more information visit the Smart Moves website.
School-based youth health nurses are funded by Queensland Health and provide the opportunity for all state secondary students, their parents and members of the school community to access a health professional.
The role of school-based youth health nurses is to work collaboratively with their school communities and other services and agencies to promote health and wellbeing, and address contemporary health and social issues impacting on the health and wellbeing of young people. School-based youth health nurses also provide confidential consultations and student involvement is voluntary.
Religious instruction in state schools is conducted under the provisions of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006. Students are allocated to a program of religious instruction in accordance with information given by a parent or carer on enrolment.
A number of religions, denominations or societies (faith groups) deliver religious instruction in state schools. The faith groups that deliver religious instruction in a state school will refl ect the school community.
Faith groups can deliver religious instruction as a separate arrangement or join with others in a cooperative arrangement. Classes are taught by instructors from the faith groups using a curriculum authorised by relevant faith groups.
Parents can withdraw their children from religious instruction by informing the school in writing. The school provides an alternative program in another location for students who do not attend religious instruction.
Managing student absences
A parent of a child of compulsory school age is obliged to ensure that their child attends school on every school day for the educational program in which he/she is enrolled. A parent of a young person in the compulsory participation phase is obliged to ensure that the young person is participating full-time in an approved education or training option.
The duration and location of a student's educational program is determined by the school and may include sites other than the school site, for example, sporting grounds, museums or TAFE. Any time during which a student is not attending or participating in their educational program is considered an absence and requires explanation.
The Department is committed to providing safe and supportive learning environments, preventing incidents of harm to students and responding to reasonable suspicion of harm or risk of harm to students.
Consistent with this commitment the Department has a Code of Conduct for all employees and a Student Protection Policy for Education Queensland staff.
In keeping with the principles set out in the Child Protection Act 1999 the Student Protection Policy asserts that:
considers harm to students as being categorised in the following way:
The Department's Code of Conduct establishes clear standards of conduct for employees to follow. All staff receive training on the Code of Conduct.
Employees of state schools are required to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students at all times. The Code of Conduct sets clear expectations for employees' behaviour. In addition, if an employee suspects that a student has been harmed, or is at risk of harm, they must report their suspicion to the school principal.
The principal follows guidelines outlined in Education Queensland's Student Protection Policy to make reports as necessary to the Department's Ethical Standards Unit, the Department of Child Safety or the Queensland Police Service.
The Department of Education, Training and the Arts works in partnership with the Department of Child Safety to provide additional educational support to children and young people in the care of the state. This additional support aims to increase the educational participation, retention and attainment of students in care. School principals are responsible for developing an Education Support Plan for each student in care attending a state or nonstate school.
Education Support Plans are developed in consultation with students in care and other key people involved in their lives, such as their carer/s, teachers, guidance officer and child safety officer. Funding is made available to schools for strategies outlined in the Education Support Plans. For more information about how to access additional education support to students in care, please speak with your school principal.
Guidance and counselling services are provided directly to students and their families and are available at all Queensland state schools or education programs.
Guidance and counselling services focus on assisting students to achieve to their potential in the most appropriate educational setting. Guidance officers identify factors that can be barriers to learning and development, and plan or assist in planning interventions or programs that can help students achieve positive outcomes.
Guidance officers may work directly with the student or with the student's teachers, support personnel, family, other specialists, or professionals from other agencies depending on the issues to be resolved and the age of the student. Depending on the student's age, a range of issues may be supported by guidance officers including personal and social development, diverse learning styles and needs, and educational and career pathways.
Guidance officers, while respecting student privacy and confidentiality, work as members of a support team and are committed to providing quality education services for every young Queenslander regardless of their circumstances.
Chaplaincy services are optional programs that may form part of student welfare activities offered in state schools. They are designed to complement schools' guidance and counselling services. A chaplaincy program is provided as a local community initiative to cater for the spiritual, religious and/or ethical needs of students. Programs are inclusive of and show respect for all religious, spiritual and non-religious beliefs in the community. Student involvement in any activities offered as part of a school's chaplaincy program is voluntary.
Counsellors work closely with guidance officers and their local communities, and provide a significant service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. More than 100 community education counsellors are located generally in schools with signifi cant numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, as well as in clusters of schools throughout the state.
District community education counsellors advocate on behalf of students where a community education counsellor is not available. Parents can contact the school or local district office for further information.
This initiative aims to establish collaborative relationships between schools, TAFEs and community services to enable better responses to the needs of young people experiencing personal or family difficulties. The primary role of youth support coordinators is to assist young people at risk of disengaging prematurely from learning or training. The Queensland Government funds youth support coordinator positions throughout the state which are employed directly by community-based agencies. Student involvement is voluntary.
This program focuses on community involvement and preventive approaches to crime. The Queensland Police Service funds the School-based Policing Program. School-based police officers help to provide a safe and supportive learning environment and provide a service in a number of state secondary schools. These officers also visit local feeder primary schools to provide support and information to younger students in the school community.
In addition to the School-based Policing Program, some school communities have a relationship with volunteer police officers (e.g. through the Adopt A Cop) who work with the local school in fostering better relationships between the police service and the school community.
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and the Arts) 2007.