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New WA Registration Standards Released: New Child Protection Standard

29/06/16
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The Western Australia Minister for Education has released new ‘Standards for Non-Government Schools’ (“Standards”) which will take effect 1 January 2017. There are now 14, rather than 11, Standards for non-government schools and the WA Government has significantly revised the current 11 Standards.

The Standards provide a guide for the prevention of child abuse in schools and for responding to abuse should it occur, as well as specific staffing requirements for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes.

The Minister has announced that an updated guide to the Standards and requirements for non-government schools will be available to schools on the Department of Education Services website in September 2016.

What are the key changes?

The new Standards implement important changes in relation to child protection and pre-kindergarten and kindergarten learning. Also, current Standards, such as Standard 1 – Governance and Accountability and Standard 4 - Levels of Care, are no longer present as separate and distinct Standards.

Child protection

The new Standard 12 – ‘The arrangements for preventing child abuse at schools and for responding to any such abuse that may occur’, is the most significant addition to the new Standards. This is the first introduction of a child protection specific Standard in WA. Standard 12 is extensive and comprehensive and its requirements closely follow those of other states and territories who have implemented similar registration requirements, for example Victoria and the Child Safe Standards.

From 1 January 2017 non-government schools in WA, as a requirement of registration, must:

  • introduce child safe recruitment practices, including the implementation of a child abuse induction program to new staff members;
  • provide annual professional learning for all staff on school child protection policies and implementation practices and strategies;
  • deliver developmentally appropriate protective behaviours curriculum to students developed by experts in child abuse prevention;
  • introduce clear procedures for detecting and reporting to breaches in school policies, grooming and child abuse; and
  • introduce clear procedures to be followed by school governing bodies and principals in relation to child abuse or grooming allegations by staff.

Staff to student supervision

A key addition to the Standards is the inclusion of prescribed staff to student ratios in WA schools. Previously there has been no requirements regarding such ratios, however the newly released Standards require supervision ratios in line with the Early Education National Quality Framework (NQF) to be observed in schools. This includes a maximum 1:10 supervision ratio in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes, with staff permitted to take up to 30 minutes per day ‘off the floor’ but must remain on school premises and be available to immediately assist if necessary, and a 1:30 maximum ratio for early childhood education with one early learning teacher present at all times (Standard 2.2b).

Standard 2 indicates a link to requirements to reflect compliance with the NQF relating to:

  • qualifications and/or at least 7 experience for early childhood teachers;
  • record-keeping;
  • first-aid training;
  • anaphylaxis management training;
  • emergency asthma management training; and
  • building and premises requirements.

Boarding school arrangements

Standard 10 in the newly released Standards relates to ‘the arrangements (if any) for board and lodging for students on school premises or premises associated with schools’. While the previous Standards included requirements relating to boarding schools, the new Standards now require all staff employed to supervise boarders to be ‘competent, fit and proper persons and compliant with the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (Standard 10.5). There is also a new requirement for schools to maintain open and effective communication with parents and guardians of boarders (Standard 10.6).

In summary

The changes to the Standards generally aim to ensure the safety and protection of all students in a school, from early learning to Year 12. The changes also reflect Western Australia’s commitment to ensuring child safe environments in all non-government schools and follows the child protection and safety trend across Australia. In order to be registered, WA schools will be required to develop a culture of child safety and awareness, as well as ensure child safe practices and procedures are communicated to the school community and all members of the school’s governing body.

Schools should be sure to keep an eye out for the updated Guide to the Registration Standards and Other Requirements for Non-government Schools that is due to be released in September this year as compliance with the new Standards will be required from 1 January 2017.

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Cara Novakovic

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