Policy for Principals and School Leaders

This section provides policy advice, tools to support schools when self-evaluating, reviewing and planning a comprehensive drug education program.

Please note where the former Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide is noted in documents please refer to the School Policy and Advisory Guide

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 Schools Policy and Advice Guide formerly known as the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide

The Schools Policy and Advice Guide provides information on the Department's drug education policy. The most relevant sections include:

• Health Education Approaches - whole school approaches to health education, school policy
• Drug Prevention - advice on the importance of evidence based curriculum to support the prevention of drug related harm
• Drug use - harm minimisation, responding to drug related incidents, illicit drug use, prescription drugs
• Syringe disposals and injuries

 

 

Drugs and Schools: Legal Issues – A Guide for Principals 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 Schools Policy and Advisory Guide and Student Engagement Policy Guidelines. See School Policy and Advisory Guide, Student Engagement Policy Guidelines

 

Student Wellbeing

Student Wellbeing provides information on frameworks and policies for health and wellbeing.

Support in schools details the critical school based workforces that assist school leaders to identify appropriate prevention or intervention strategies for students that may become disengaged from school

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 review their drug education strategy 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  including 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. Schools are able to obtain a copy of this document or the Overview & Summary of the Principles for school drug education by sending a request to the following email address drugeducationprogramme@deewr.gov.au
• Drug Education self reflection and planning document (Word - 900Kb) - assists schools to reflect on their current programs and practices and plan for the future
• 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 - 83Kb)
• School Drug Education Work Plan Record: Secondary school example (Word - 85Kb)

Schools may wish to contact their Regional Senior Program Officers to access:

• information and advice on developing their drug education program
• teacher professional development
• 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