This procedure explains what ‘duty of care’ means, how teaching staff may discharge their duty of care to students, and circumstances in which non-teaching staff, external providers and volunteers may owe students a duty of care.

The Department of Education provides inclusive and equitable work and learning environments, services and management practices free of unlawful discrimination and harassment. This includes the prevention and effective management of discrimination and harassment.

The Department of Education (the Department) supports high quality, ethical research where the findings have the potential to inform decision making and contribute to improvements in school education policy, staff competency, operational practices, student and staff wellbeing or student achievement and progress.

These procedures ensures that employees are aware of their obligations under the Working With Children Check (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (the Act) and ensures that the Department maintains compliance with the Act.

Criminal history screening is the process of gathering relevant information to assist in making an informed decision about a person’s suitability for employment or continued employment with the Department.