News Item
What's New - Changes to the Our Policies Website January - March 2008
[ 29.07.2008 ]
D08/0079028
WHAT’S NEW? CHANGES TO THE OUR POLICIES
WEBSITE JANUARY – MARCH 2008
NEW POLICIES
The following new policies have been added:
- National Education Access License for Schools (NEALS): Policy and Procedure for DET Publications and Websites
- Students Online
REVISED POLICIES
The following policies have been revised:
- Behaviour Management in Schools
- Community Service Program
- Community Use of School Facilities and Resources
- Healthy Food and Drink
- Motor Vehicles – Motor Cars and Buses Leased and Purchased by Schools
- Public Interest Disclosure
- Student Allowances 2008
- Student Drivers in Agricultural Education
- Vocational Education and Training for School Students
NEW GUIDELINES
The following Guidelines have been added:
- Nomenclature Guidelines
- Guidelines for Community Participation in Decision Making with the Department of Education and Training
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES – NEW POLICIES
National Education Access Licence for Schools (NEALS): Policy and Procedure for DET Publications and Websites
The National Education Access Licence for Schools (NEALS) is a cross-jurisdictional licence scheme that has been endorsed by the Australian Education Systems Officials Committee (AESOC) and the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA). It is essential that this policy is adhered to when publishing Department material, or placing material on any Department website. The purpose of NEALS is a reduction in fees payable to the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) for both print and electronic copying (and communication). The NEALS licence is not applicable to TAFEWA colleges at present.
The Students Online policy has been
developed to assist teachers to put in place school-based processes and
procedures that will both protect and inform students and parents in their use
of Departmental online services.
Students need to be protected from exposure to inappropriate online
material or activities, to be aware of the risks associated with some online
activities, and to adopt protective online behaviour. The Department makes every reasonable effort
to achieve this by educating and informing students and parents through this
policy, as well as by putting measures in place to monitor email traffic and
internet access.
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES – REVISED
POLICIES
Behaviour Management in Schools
The Behaviour Management in Schools policy has been significantly revised. The focus of the policy is on the prevention of behaviour management issues and the processes that schools put into place to ensure that this is effective. Key principles have been developed which underpin the policy and support schools to adopt best practice when dealing with student behaviour.
The revised version of the policy includes:
- a policy statement which focuses on the creation of safe school environments through the effective management of student behaviour;
- advice about physical contact and restraint in line with changes to regulation 38;
- advice about the processes for prevention and management of bullying in schools; and
- advice about mobile phone use in line with the Minister for Education and Training’s announcement about the use of mobile phones in classrooms.
The Community Service Program policy has been revised to accommodate feedback from schools.
The revised version of the policy includes:
- clarification of the procedures with more detailed information included in relation to:
- Option 1 School-Approved, Parent-Organised and Managed activities;
- Public Liability Insurance;
- Vehicle and Transport Insurance; and
- Guidelines in selecting external agencies.
- updated information relating to criminal screening to align with Standards and Integrity policies;
- the inclusion of a Checklist for Management of Option 1 Activities to provide additional support (Appendix B); and
- updated forms and letters.
Community Use of School Facilities and Resources
The Community Use of School Facilities and
Resources policy has been revised. The
significant change is to the procedures on licences which have altered from a
one year licence duration period to a two year licence duration period.
The Healthy Food and Drink policy has been updated with two amendments
to provide additional clarifying information for policy users.
The revised version of the policy includes:
- the addition of ‘Appendix A – ‘Red’ foods and the curriculum’; and
- additional guidelines in Section 6.1.
Motor Vehicles – Motor Cars and Buses Leased/Purchased by Schools
The Motor Vehicles – Motor Cars Leased and Purchased by Schools policy
has been reviewed. The title of the
policy has been amended to Motor Vehicles
– Motor Cars and Buses Leased/Purchased by Schools. The reviewed policy aligns the usage of
leased/purchased buses with that of motor cars.
The revised version of the policy includes:
- updated policy statement and background sections which incorporate the lease/purchase of buses (sections 1 and 2, p.1); and
- changes to the procedures section of the policy including the addition of procedures outlining the:
- recording of buses onto the school asset register (section 4.1.4, p.4);
- replacement of buses (section 4.3, p.4-5);
- insuring of buses (section 4.7); and
- disposal of leased/owned motor vehicles (section 4.9).
The Public Interest Disclosure policy has been reviewed and minor
changes made to address recent organisational changes and restructures within
the Department.
The Student Allowances policy has been updated to provide information on the current allowance schemes available to students in 2008.
Student Drivers in Agricultural Education
The Student Drivers in Agricultural Education policy has been revised
with minor changes made to Procedure 5.2, with the updating of information
related to ‘probationary permits’ and ‘motorcycles’.
Vocational Education and Training for School Students
The Vocational Education and Training for School Students policy has one minor change. The revised version of the policy includes additional information in Section 5.3.1 - Schools Entering Partnerships with RTOs.