Information sharing and child safety principles among education law changes

The Territory’s education laws will be updated in the new year, with information sharing and 10 national principles among the major changes.

The Territory’s education laws will be refreshed in the new year, with two major changes on the way for every school.

From January 2, NT principals will be able to share information about their students with one another.

Under the Education Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, a principal may disclose information relevant to a student’s safety or wellbeing with the principal of a school the student is transferring to.

Principals who disclose such information will not face criminal or civil charges if the information is shared “in good faith”.

Previously, such information sharing was limited to the Education Department’s chief executive.

Australian Education Union NT branch president Michelle Ayres said information sharing between principals would facilitate education continuity for remote students.

Ms Ayres said it was not uncommon for a student to be shared between a boarding school and a remote school, even thought the child was formally enrolled at the boarding school.

“When they come back for school holidays or for cultural reasons, they end up attending the remote schools, but there’s no clarity,” she said.

“We don’t know how much they’ve attended (at boardingschool), we don’t know what kind of learning has occurred over that time, we’ve got no information at all.”

Ms Ayres said information sharing among principals would mitigate some issues associated with the Territory’s transience.

She said bringing non-government schools on board - as well as government schools - would make the system even smoother.

“To have that kind of knowledge across the entire system in the NT will make those things a lot easier,” Ms Ayres said.

Education Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

NT schools will also be required to adopt and apply the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

The principles would require schools to inform and involve young people in discussions relating to their rights, embed child safety into organisational leadership and policy, document schools’ safety, and drive ongoing training for staff.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said she was always looking for ways to “bolster” the education system.

“The changes related to information sharing have been informed by a review of the Education Act 2015, and will improve processes and support for the education, safety and wellbeing of all children in all schools across the Territory,” she said.

“Having access to more relevant information will mean principals are better placed to provide specific support services for individual students to ensure they succeed throughout their educational journey.”

Opposition education spokeswoman Jo Hersey did not respond to questions and instead directed the NT News to Hansard.

Ms Hersey in October sittings said she was glad to see a focus on student wellbeing but was concerned by the increased regulatory burden.

“These additional reporting requirements place further resource and time constraints on the non-government schools,” she said.

“Student welfare is and must always be a priority.

“Given the failings of the current system to provide a safe, well-funded results-oriented learning environment, it is disappointing to see an Education bill that goes only an increment way towards fixing the mess Labor has made of our education system.”