Families

Equal Opportunity and what it means to Parents

Every student has a right to feel safe at school. Every parent has the same right to expect that schools will be free of discrimination and harassment.

Other Topics:
	Bullying - What every parent should know
	How do I raise an issue or make a complaint?
	Useful Contacts and Resources

A safe and supportive school begins with strong leadership. Principals, administrators and teachers have a responsibility to put effective strategies in place to provide students with progressive learning environments and real learning outcomes for all students.

Student wellbeing

Effective student learning and behaviour is underpinned by student wellbeing. In 2005, research conducted by the Department of Education revealed factors that contributed to successful wellbeing outcomes in good practice schools. One of the significant factors is positive student-to-student relationships. Other factors include effective leadership, a whole school approach and management system, positive student-to-teacher relationships, strong curriculum and strong extracurricular or program electives.

Find out more about Student Wellbeing Good Practice Themes.

Fostering student safety and wellbeing is key to running safe and inclusive schools that are free of bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment, and vilification.

The Right to Equal Opportunity

In many cases, unfair treatment and harassment because of personal characteristics is against the law. But it’s important to not just rely on the law to get people to treat each other equally.

The right to equal opportunity is a basic human right. Equal opportunity is concerned with ensuring that everyone has equal access to, and opportunity to participate in, all areas of public life such as accommodation, education, employment and access to goods and services.

How are schools affected by equal opportunity law?

Schools are covered by equal opportunity law because they:

educate children
employ people (teachers, school support officers, aides, counsellors etc)
provide goods and services (canteen, facilities, after school programs, parent interviews etc)
organise sporting teams and events

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Who is responsible if discrimination or sexual harassment occurs in a school?

Teachers and other staff are liable for their actions if they discriminate against or sexually harass others
Students are liable for their actions if they sexually harass other students
Teachers, staff and students may be liable if they authorise, encourage or assist others to discriminate or sexually harass
Employers (for example, schools, school councils) are liable for the actions of their employees and agents unless they can show that they have taken reasonable precautions to prevent the discrimination or sexual harassment from occurring