Policy for Principals and School Leaders

This section provides policy advice and information about school drug education plans. This section links to supporting documents for schools when self-evaluating, reviewing and planning a comprehensive drug education program.

The role of principals and school leaders in drug education

A response to drug-related issues is a key priority for the Victorian Government. A harm minimisation approach is an important focus that aims to reduce the risks associated with drug use, and promote healthier, alternative behaviours for students.

School leaders provide the overall support for the drug education program. Generally this is through:

• endorsing the development and ongoing provision of a program that best meets the learning needs of the student population
• ensuring appropriate consultation through the school council
• engaging students in activities to give them some sense of ownership of their curriculum
• committing the necessary staff time and resources
• supporting staff training to ensure teaching staff have the ability to teach and assess drug education against the Victorian Essential Learning Standards
• demonstrating an understanding of the importance of drug education
• communicating support for drug education to the school community
• cultivating relationships with the local school community.

Procedures for managing a drug related incident at school and developing a drug education policy

Drug Education Policy (Word - 58Kb) - provides a template for writing a drug education policy and drug related incident plan.

The following key supporting documents for principals provide further information to schools to assist them to develop policy and address drug related issues.

Supporting documents for principals

The Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide

The Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide provides information on the Department’s drug education policy. The most relevant sections for schools in relation to drug education include:

• 3.17 Health Education 
  • see section: 3.17.3 Drug Education
• 4.5 Student Health
  • see section:4.5.5.1.4 Needle Disposal
  • see section:4.5.5.1.5 Needle Stick Injuries
• 4.6 Student Care and Supervision
  • see section:4.6.6.1 Responding to drug related incidents, including those involving illicit drugs
  • see section:4.6.6.2 Illicit drug use in schools

Drugs Legal Issues and Schools – A Guide for Principles of Government Schools

Drugs and Schools: Legal Issues (PDF - 214Kb) - a 15 page guide to assist principals with practical responses to questions relating to drug issues. Principals should ensure that this information is made available to all staff and the school council. This guide is intended to be read in conjunction with the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide and Effective Schools are Engaging Schools - Student Engagement Policy Guidelines.

 

 

Student wellbeing – Framework for Student Support Services

Students are better prepared for learning when they are healthy, safe and happy; therefore, student welfare is the responsibility of all staff working in a whole school context. Student learning cannot be separated from welfare.

Student Wellbeing Policy - Framework for student support services - describes the principles, arrangements and the additional resources provided to strengthen student welfare and support services. Student Wellbeing provides additional information on frameworks and policies for health and wellbeing.

Keeping in Touch (The Kit) is an Australian government resource that has been designed to increase the knowledge and skills of school staff in providing early identification, effective responses and ongoing support to students across a range of drug use issues and incidents.

The following resources provide information for keeping young people connected to school or assist with case management planning for incidents occurring in schools.

• School Retention - What does it take? (PDF - 911Kb)
• Preventing Drug-related Harm: A manual for Student Welfare Coordinators (PDF - 633Kb)
• Retention & Reintegration - Recommendations and model of practice for schools (PDF - 432Kb)

A range of family support services are available to assist families with information, advice and counselling, see: Drug Education

School drug education planning

In accordance with the Department’s School Accountability and Improvement Framework for Government Schools, schools are required to develop a drug education plan every four years to ensure that all students have access to drug education curriculum, programs and support. Government schools use the School Compliance Checklist to report that they have an effective drug education program and that includes policies to respond to drug related incidents.

Victorian schools are required to:

• Have an effective drug education program supported by whole school policies which include procedures to respond to drug related incidents, see: Drug Education Policy (Word - 58Kb)
• Review their drug education strategy every four years.
• Complete a minimum of 10 hours of drug education per year per year level.

The following documents support the development of drug education plans:

• Principles for School Drug Education - produced by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), provides a framework of core concepts and values for effective drug education practise in schools.
• Evaluation (Word - 35Kb) of School Drug Education Program (Word - 101Kb) - a resource document containing a summary set of questions designed to assist schools in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of their drug education program.
• Evaluation of School Drug Education Program — unpacked (Word - 101Kb) - a resource designed to assist schools in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of their drug education program. It is a detailed breakdown of questions formulated to support the evaluation process as outlined in the Evaluation of School Drug Education Program.
• School Drug Education Work Plan Record (Word - 70Kb) - supports the development of goals and key improvement strategies outlined in the School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan.

The following examples are of school drug education plans which include goals and strategies that schools may consider. They apply to Prep-Year 12 and special schools.

• School Drug Education Work Plan Record: Primary school example (Word - 90Kb)
• School Drug Education Work Plan Record: Secondary school example (Word - 97Kb)

Schools may wish to contact their Regional Senior Program Officers for support and to provide:

• information and advice
• professional development
• current research
• resources.

See: Contacts

Working with parents and the broader community

In recognition of a shared responsibility for drug education, school leaders cultivate strategic partnerships with the local community and parents.

Parent engagement in drug education is the involvement of parents in any drug-related programs, strategies and communication to enhance the learning outcomes and wellbeing of students. Parents have a critical role to play in building the resilience of their children and helping them become healthy, active members of the community. See: Engaging Parents