The
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (the Act) gives powers to principals and governing bodies of non-state schools to deal with parents or visitors who disrupt the good order and management of schools or who threaten the safety of staff or students in schools.
As principals' supervisors, governing bodies of non-state schools have a general responsibility to ensure that principals act within their powers and exercise appropriate judgment in the management of non-state schools under their control.
Section 359 of the Act provides for the mandatory reporting of the number of directions, and applications for review issued during the previous financial year by non-state school principals and governing bodies.
Please note however that, under section 343 of the Act, a student of the school or an employee of the school's governing body engaged to perform work at the school's premises is an exempt person and
cannot be issued with directions under sections 346, 348, 349, 349A and 350.
The Safety in Schools data collection is conducted annually from 1 July to 31 July each year. Non-state school principals and governing bodies will be contacted by the Office of Non-State Education when the data collection has commenced.