Care and Use of Animals in ACT Schools Policy

This policy and associated Care and Use of Animals in ACT Public Schools Procedures (the Procedures) establish the responsibilities and requirements of ACT public schools in care and use of animals for educational purposes.
Policy | Policy Identifier: 00002 | last updated (29 Jan 2024)

Implementation Documents:

• The Care and Use of Animals in Schools for Education Purposes Procedure  (635kb)
• ACT Schools Animal Ethics Committee Complaints Process for Institutions  (288kb)

Directing Unwelcome Visitors from Schools Guide ( 815.8 KB)
A guide to assist principals and authorised persons in understanding and exercising the powers outlined in section 147 of the Education Act 2004 in managing unwelcome visitors on school premises.
Guide | Policy Identifier: PD00112 | last updated (09 Jun 2022)

Complaints Management Policy

This policy provides guidance on the Directorate’s approach to managing complaints in relation to, or about incidents that occur at, ACT public schools.
Policy | Policy Identifier: 00042 | last updated (10 Aug 2023)

Implementation documents:

• Complaints Management Framework   (172 kb)
• Complaints Management Procedure (387 kb)
• Complaints Recording Template (63 kb)

Related Policies and Information:

• Talking With Your School brochure (146 kb)
• Working Together With Your School brochure  (127 kb)
• Talking With Your School poster – to satisfy the requirements of the Human Rights Commission Act 2005, this poster must be displayed in a prominent position at the school (e.g. school reception area). (627 kb)

ACT Public School Food and Drink Policy

This policy promotes a consistent, whole school approach to the provision and sale of healthy food and drinks in ACT public schools.
Policy | Policy Identifier: 00064 | last updated (31 Jan 2025)

Implementation Documents:

• Australian Dietary Guidelines 2013
• The National Healthy School Canteen Guidelines
• Healthy Canberra AT Preventative Health Plan 2020-2025

Directing Unwelcome Visitors from Schools Guide ( 815.8 KB)
A guide to assist principals and authorised persons in understanding and exercising the powers outlined in section 147 of the Education Act 2004 in managing unwelcome visitors on school premises.
Guide | Policy Identifier: PD00112 | last updated (09 Jun 2022)

Access Student Records Policy

This policy supports the Education Directorate (the Directorate) in meeting legislative requirements and community expectations in relation to the sensitive management of academic, personal and other records relating to current and past students of ACT public schools and of those who access Directorate programs and services including home education and Australian School-Based Apprenticeships.
Policy | Policy Identifier: ASR201705 | last updated (26 Mar 2020)

Implementation Documents:

• Access to Student Records Guidelines for Staff  (207kb)
• Accessing Student Records Procedure ( 68.5 KB)

School Administration System User Access Procedure ( 844.4 KB)
These procedures set out the responsibilities of the ACT Education Directorate (the Directorate), its staff and School Administration System (SAS) administrators to regularly review the system to ensure that access is only available to staff with a business need. These procedures must be read in conjunction with the ACT Government Acceptable Use of ICT Resources Policy and ACT Government Cyber Security Policy.
Procedure | | last updated (17 Feb 2026)

Child Protection and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Policy

This policy supports reporting by school staff of child abuse and neglect.
Policy | Policy Identifier: CPRCAN201007 | last updated (17 Apr 2019)

Implementation Documents:

• Child Protection and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Procedures ( 70.7 KB)

Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy

This policy explains the requirements of schools regarding the possession, consumption or selling of alcohol and/or illegal drugs in schools and during school related activities.
Policy | Policy Identifier: 00026 | last updated (08 Nov 2024)

• Chief Executive’s Financial Instructions - Accounting Procedures 2.5 Official Hospitality
• Facility Hiring Agreement
• HR Advice End of Year Activities
• Liquor Practice Manual and the Guide to the Liquor Act 2010
• Code of Conduct – Teachers School Leaders and Principals
• Code of Conduct – School Based Staff

These Code of Conducts outline expectations of professional and ethical conduct for staff members in schools and provide a guide for professional practice.

• Administration of Student Medication and Complex Health Care Procedures
• Critical/Non-Critical Incident Management and Reporting Policy and Procedures
• Student Accident and Incident Policy
• First Aid Policy
• ACT Public Services Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy

Class Size Policy

This policy sets out the class size requirements across all school sectors within the ACT Public School system.
Policy | Policy Identifier: 00038 | last updated (28 Aug 2020)

Implementation Documents:

• EDU Class Sizes Procedures (1.4Mb)

Family Law Policy

Dealing with Family Law Related Issues in Schools
Policy | Policy Identifier: FL201410 | last updated (17 Apr 2019)

Implementation Documents:

• Family Law Guidelines: Dealing with Family Law Related Issues in Schools - Guidelines for School Staff (Internal access only)

Reportable Conduct Scheme Policy

The ACT Reportable Conduct Scheme (Scheme) is an employment-based child protections measure designed to ensure allegations and convictions against employees, related to abuse and misconduct against children, are identified and acted on appropriately.
Policy | Policy Identifier: 00039 | last updated (02 Mar 2026)

Implementation Documents

• Reportable Conduct Scheme Procedures (847kb)
• Annexe A to the Reportable Conduct Scheme Procedure (364kb)

Suspension, Transfer or Exclusion of a Student: ACT Public Schools Policy

The purpose of this policy is to outline how the ACT Education Directorate (the Directorate), including ACT public schools, complies with the Education Act 2004 (the Act) when suspending, transferring or excluding a student from an ACT public school.
Policy | Policy Identifier: 00044 | last updated (10 Sep 2025)

Implementation Documents:

• Suspension of a Student Procedure  (619kb)
• Transfer or Exclusion of a Student Procedure  (319kb)
• Suspension Data and Reducing Suspension  ( 242kb)
• Suspension Data  Frequently  Asked Questions (125kb)

Corporate Sponsorship Policy

This policy outlines the requirements and expectations of ACT Public Schools and Education Support Office (ESO) business areas when engaging in sponsorship arrangements.
Policy | Policy Identifier: 00069 | last updated (27 Mar 2026)

Implementation Documents:

• Corporate-Sponsorship-Procedure ( 523.7 kb)
• Sponsorship-Application-Form ( 72.3 kb)
• Incoming-Sponsorship-Assessment-Form ( 71.4 kb)
• Sponsorship Agreement Template ( 73.8 kb)

Directing Unwelcome Visitors from Schools Guide ( 815.8 KB)
A guide to assist principals and authorised persons in understanding and exercising the powers outlined in section 147 of the Education Act 2004 in managing unwelcome visitors on school premises.
Guide | Policy Identifier: PD00112 | last updated (09 Jun 2022)

Directing Unwelcome Visitors from Schools Guide ( 815.8 KB)
A guide to assist principals and authorised persons in understanding and exercising the powers outlined in section 147 of the Education Act 2004 in managing unwelcome visitors on school premises.
Guide | Policy Identifier: PD00112 | last updated (09 Jun 2022)

Infectious Diseases - Outbreak Procedures and Exclusion Periods Policy

This policy outlines outbreak procedures and exclusion periods for infectious diseases in ACT public schools.
Policy | Policy Identifier: IDOE201603 | last updated (27 Jun 2023)

Implementation Documents:

• Infectious Diseases - Outbreak Procedures and Exclusions Period Procedures ( 315.2 KB)

Risk Management in ACT Government Secondary Science Programs (Internal access only)

This document is based on the Department of Education Queensland’s Manual Health and Safety HS-10 Workplace Health and Safety using Core modules 10/47 to 10/54.
Policy and Guidelines | | last updated (04 Oct 2018)