Victorian school principals will soon have new powers to suspend or expel students for harmful behaviour outside the school gate — including online incidents.
Announced by Premier Jacinta Allan on Wednesday, 4 June, the changes bring Victoria into line with NSW and South Australia and aim to address concerns about behaviours that impacts student and staff safety.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll reassured the community that “safety comes first” in Victoria.
However, parents and students across Casey and Cardinia Shire question whether it goes too far or misses the real issue.
James, a Pakenham resident who witnessed multiple shoplifting incidents by students in uniform, previously struggled to get a local school to respond since the incidents occurred off school grounds. He felt the system let schools turn a “blind eye.”
“The cursory reply with no follow-up shows how schools treat this behaviour as ’out of sight, out of mind’ or ’not my problem’,” he said.
James warned the new powers are “long overdue” but will only have an effect if schools have the necessary motivation to use them as intended.
“I do not think it will push schools to take more accountability no. It will provide them the protection to do so if they wish.. but until they are made to be held to account for the actions of their students, I believe very little will change,” he said.
“Schools serve a vital part of the education process along with parents and community leaders (such as organised sports teams etc) to instill into kids what is right and what is wrong and need the ability to impose sanctions should there be an incident (crime related or otherwise).
“They need to accept and understand that they are preparing students for their ’way in the world’ and without the action to keep them on the right path at this age, petty crime(s) can escalate to far worse ones.”
Pakenham’s Stephanie Thomas warns the state government has not made “the right move”, as statistics show many high-risk youths don’t attend school regularly and won’t be deterred by these measures.
“How about being tougher with the system and youth centres by removing all amenities but toilets and showers! I was disgusted to find out they get to have swimming pools, basketball courts etc. This is a holiday for them,” she said.
“I’m sure us taxpayers would rather send them all to a hard boot camp and get them actually working than sending them on a holiday in a youth centre.”
Jason, a former student, who recently spoke to Gazette about the teacher allegedly carjacked at knifepoint at Berwick College, agrees school should oversee student behaviour in uniform off campus but have limited authority beyond that.
“When a student is wearing a school uniform and causing trouble outside of school, the school can take the acquired action. Whilst wearing uniforms, you are primarily the face of and represent the school,” he said.
“Therefore, that school should be allowed to take the acquired action whilst its uniforms are being branded around society.
“What happens on school grounds should be severely reprimanded by the school. However anything that happens outside of its grounds can be seen as not their priory or problem.
“Although I do agree with the internet/cyber bullying etc, as that aimed at other students, should fall under both the school and police.”
Several principals from local schools, including both private and public institutions, were approached for comment. Victoria Police also declined to comment.
