School Councils
Approval process
The school council is responsible for the approval of:
- overnight excursions
- camps
- interstate and overseas visits
- excursions requiring sea or air travel
- excursions involving weekends or vacations
- adventure activities.
As part of the approval process the school council should:
- understand the purpose of the program and its connection to student learning
- ensure that the staff members attending have the competence to provide the necessary supervision of students throughout the program
- ensure there is an appropriately trained member of staff able to provide first aid
- ensure that staff members who are not registered teachers have completed a Working with Children Check (http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren/)
- know the location of staff and students throughout the program including during travel
- maintain a record of telephone contacts for the supervising staff accompanying the excursion
- record the names and family contacts for all students and staff
- have copies of the parental approval and medical advice forms for those students on the excursion
- maintain a copy of the completed approval proforma (including all attachments) submitted to school council
- ensure that the Notification of School Activity (edumail password required) form is submitted three weeks prior to the excursion (required edumail password)
The members of the school council may not have detailed knowledge of outdoor and adventure activities. Where further information or advice is required it is recommended that advice be sought from peak bodies and teachers with recent experience instructing the activity. Teachers with such experience can offer an understanding of both the technical requirements and the educational context.
Planning support
The following materials are essential to guiding the planning and approval process:
- Planning - additional information to inform the approval process
- Activity guidelines - any program that includes an adventure activity must ensure that it will be conducted in accordance with these guidelines
- School council checklist (Word - 88Kb) - use this to ensure you have met your responsibilities
More information
If a school council does not have detailed knowledge of an outdoor or adventure activity it is recommended that further information and advice is sought from:
- Activity peak bodies, see: Resources
- Teachers with recent experience instructing the activity, who can offer an understanding of both the technical requirements and the educational context.
- Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide