Parent Complaints
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is committed to good communication and treating everyone with dignity and respect (see below to view the Department's Dignity and Respect Statement).
The Department has developed this information to improve communication for us all when addressing concerns or making a complaint that is related to the school or your child’s education.
- Do you have any questions about the school or something you would like to discuss?
- We are happy to talk to you.
- Your views and suggestions are important to us.
- Remember, teaching and learning works best when there is a partnership between you and your child’s school.
You may be supported at any meeting by a friend, colleague or a representative from a support organisation.
Parents and caregivers have a number of rights including the right to obtain copies of Departmental or school policies and procedures.
- How do I raise an issue or make a complaint?
- Parent complaint information sheets
- External Agencies contact details
- More information
How do I raise an issue or make a complaint?
Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to contact their child’s school in the first instance on all matters involving their child’s education.
Step 1
Identify your topic or issue
Making notes is a good idea as it ensures that you cover all points. Think about the resolution you would like to see as an outcome.
Step 2
Contact the school and speak to the Principal or Assistant Principal
They will discuss an appropriate way forward with you. This may include organising a meeting for a mutually convenient time.
Step 3
Meet with the school’s principal or assistant principal or teacher
If a classroom teacher is to be present it is more convenient for a meeting to occur outside of classroom hours.
Step 4
Contact your local Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Regional Office.
If the matter is unresolved at the school level, you may wish to discuss if further with the community liaison officer at your regional office. For regional office phone numbers, see: Regions or phone 1800 809 834.
Step 5
If the matter is unresolved at the regional level you can address your complaint in writing to the Deputy Secretary, Office of School Education, c/o Manager, Community and Stakeholder Relations Branch, 33 St. Andrews Place, East Melbourne VIC 3000
Parent complaints information sheets
Access the English language Parent Complaints Information Sheet (PDF - 87Kb). The Parent Complaints Information Sheet has been translated into the following languages:
- Albanian (PDF - 169Kb)
- Amharic (PDF - 304Kb)
- Arabic (PDF - 146Kb)
- Bosnian (PDF - 98Kb)
- Cambodian (PDF - 101Kb)
- Chinese (PDF - 188Kb)
- Croatian (PDF - 101Kb)
- Dari (PDF - 127Kb)
- Hindi (PDF - 247Kb)
- Japanese (PDF - 297Kb)
- Korean (PDF - 161Kb)
- Macedonian (PDF - 97Kb)
- Persian (PDF - 119Kb)
- Russian (PDF - 165Kb)
- Samoan (PDF - 66Kb)
- Serbian (PDF - 102Kb)
- Sinhalese (PDF - 66Kb)
- Somali (PDF - 208Kb)
- Spanish (PDF - 195Kb)
- Tagalog (PDF - 287Kb)
- Tamil (PDF - 96Kb)
- Tigrinya (PDF - 93Kb)
- Turkish (PDF - 101Kb)
- Vietnamese (PDF - 103Kb)
External Agencies contact details
This information has been designed as the Department’s standard procedure to resolve issues and complaints and improve communication strategies. If you are unsatisfied with the outcome, you can submit your complaint to an appropriate external agency for consideration. Other agencies may include:
Victorian Ombudsman (http://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/)
Level 3, 459 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Ph. (03) 9613 6222
Outside Metropolitan Area 1800 806 314 [toll free]
Victorian Human Rights Commission (http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/Home.asp)
More information
Dignity and Respect Statement (PDF - 288Kb)
For more information, see: parents and caregivers.