About Code Red Days

Code Red Closure List

What happens on a Code Red Day?

For schools and services that are currently closed, see: School and Service Closure List

Schools, kindergartens and licensed child care centres that have been identified as being at high fire risk and on the Department’s Bushfire At-Risk Register will close on days declared Code Red.

Schools and services not on the Department’s Bushfire At-Risk Register will remain open, unless directly threatened by fire or another emergency.

Where possible, up to 3-days notice of a planned closure will be provided; parents and carers should, however, expect that in some instances fewer than 3-days notice may be provided.

Once the final decision to close is confirmed at 12 noon the day prior, this decision will not change – regardless of any changes in the weather forecast. This will help limit confusion and help your family plan for how your children will be cared for when their school, kindergarten or child care centre is closed.

Advice will be provided to you directly by your school, kindergarten or child care centre.

When a school or children's service is closed for bushfire, no staff will remain on site and all out-of-school care programs (including vacation, before and after school programs) will not operate.

What happens if a school or service is only potentially closed?

For schools and services that may be potentially closed, see: School and Service Closure List

If your school or facility is listed as potentially closed on the School and Service Closure List, you should start planning for alternative care arrangements for your child in the event that the planned closure proceeds. The final decision to close a school or children’s service will be confirmed no later than midday the day before the planned closure. This decision will not change, irrespective of an improvement in the weather forecast. No child should be left at home alone or in the care of siblings on high-fire danger days.

School bus transport

Bus routes passing through high-risk areas or routes operated by schools in high-risk locations will be closed on high-risk fire days.

A school bus route will be closed if it has to pass through an area affected by fire even if the associated school is not affected by fire and remains open.

If a bus route is threatened by unexpected fire, the school will enact its local emergency management plan.

Information on changes to bus routes or cancellation of services will be provided by your school and via this website.

Off-site activities

The safety of students and staff is paramount and off-site activities may be cancelled, postponed or relocated if faced with the threat of bushfire.

Off-site activities include any activity undertaken by staff and children away from their normal school facility. This can include:

• Camps
• Field trips
• Sporting activities
• Training or conferences for staff