School principals in Victoria will soon receive increased authority to ban aggressive parents from school grounds, as incidents of violence and hostility towards staff continue to escalate. Since the introduction of the school community safety orders scheme in 2022, authorities have issued 35 orders, including incidents involving a parent who assaulted a child and another who threatened to bring a weapon onto school premises.
The Victorian government is responding to these growing concerns by strengthening the community safety orders, which permit principals to issue bans for up to one year. These orders keep abusive parents away from school grounds and online interactions related to the school. Currently, principals can also issue verbal bans lasting up to 14 days in urgent situations without needing prior approval.
Current Challenges Faced by School Leaders
Despite the existing framework, school leaders have expressed frustration over the complexity of the process. Many feel that problematic parents enjoy excessive protection and that enforcement of the orders can be ineffective. Principals often rely on the threat of a ban to deter negative behavior and to manage tense situations more effectively.
According to Education Minister Ben Carroll, the safety of educators is paramount. He emphasized that while many parents collaborate positively with schools, harmful behavior can jeopardize students’ well-being and education. Carroll has committed to making necessary changes to the existing system, pending final consultations.
Recent data from the Australian Catholic University reveals alarming trends: over half of school leaders reported threats of violence, with parents and caregivers implicated in 87.6 percent of cyberbullying incidents and 63.7 percent of reported threats. Additionally, WorkSafe documented 7,246 injury claims in the school education sector over the past four years, with a significant proportion linked to occupational violence and aggression.
Proposed Improvements to Safety Orders
A statutory review conducted by the government, expected to be published shortly, has recommended simplifying paperwork for ongoing orders and clarifying protections for staff targeted on social media. It also suggests defining the role of law enforcement in making sure these orders are enforced effectively.
Among the troubling incidents that spurred these changes was a case where a parent verbally abused staff and threatened property damage, resulting in a nine-month ban from school activities. Another parent received a 12-month order after assaulting a schoolmate. Such behaviors have prompted calls for more robust measures to ensure the safety of teachers and staff.
The Independent Education Union Victoria Tasmania has indicated that these bans are not widely utilized in the Catholic and independent sectors, despite safety being a critical concern for staff. Union representatives noted that principals often hesitate to act without the approval of higher authorities, which can hinder their response to aggressive behavior.
Additionally, Tina King, president of the Australian Principals Federation, indicated that safety orders should be part of a broader suite of options available to school leaders, including trespass orders and personal safety intervention orders.
The Australian Education Union has advocated for extending safety orders to encompass all forms of conduct on social media that could jeopardize school staff, not just those related to school-run platforms.
As the Victorian government moves forward with these initiatives, it is also conducting an online survey to gather feedback from principals, teachers, parents, and caregivers on how to enhance the program further.
In conclusion, the proposed measures aim to reinforce the safety of school environments, enabling educators to perform their duties without fear of aggression or hostility. The changes reflect a growing recognition of the need for effective strategies to address violence in educational settings, ensuring that all students can learn in a secure and supportive atmosphere.
