Non-school providers - diversity and equity

Supporting children from different backgrounds, characteristics or beliefs.

About the Standard

Equity is upheld and diverse needs of children are respected in policy and practice.

This Standard requires non-school providers to pay particular attention to the needs of vulnerable students. Non-school providers will often have vulnerable student cohorts.

The Royal Commission found that vulnerable children are at greater risk of harm. Non-school providers must support vulnerable children and make sure that all children feel welcome and supported in policy and practice.

How to comply

A non-school provider must ensure that they:

  • make sure all staff and volunteers understand the diverse circumstances of children and how to support and respond to those children
  • review existing documents or strategies to meet requirements or develop a new policy or document
  • provide support, information and complaints processes for all students that are:
    • accessible to children
    • culturally safe
    • easy to understand
  • support and respond to the needs of vulnerable children, including children who are:
    • Aboriginal
    • from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
    • have a disability
    • unable to live at home
    • lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex.

Examples of compliance

A non-school provider complying with this Standard may:

  • discuss needs of vulnerable students with families or carers and implement supports or provide access and information about services for those students
  • develop complaints processes and procedures that:
    • are available in a range of different languages (as appropriate)
    • make it easy for students to raise concerns
    • are child-centred
    • are culturally safe
    • involve parents or carers in the process
    • consider the support children may need to raise a complaint
  • have youth workers or other supports for children, or provide information about where children can access support services
  • communicate zero tolerance for discrimination and bullying
  • publish diverse images of students in publications.

Updated