Support: respond to abuse by an adult engaged by an independent school

It is important to talk to the student about the support they want. This can help them feel empowered and more likely to take part in the process in a positive way.

You can:

• hear their thoughts and acknowledge their situation
• discuss your concerns about their safety and wellbeing
• highlight the support available through your school
• help them to explore their options and develop appropriate plans.

Talk to the student in a way that is culturally safe, suitable for their age, trauma-informed and respectful.

To learn more, see the managing trauma guide.

Support available at your school includes:

• Student Support Group (SSG): a team made up of the school, the student, parents/carers and relevant agencies. Together, they support the student’s educational, social, cultural and emotional wellbeing.
• Individual Education Plan: a written statement created by the SSG. It shows the changes, goals and plans to support a student’s learning and wellbeing needs.
• Schools Mental Health Menu: a list of programs, staff and other support from an evidence-based menu. This includes whole school approaches to individual interventions. The Menu is publicly available. It helps independent schools find effective programs and resources. These are based on evidence to support student mental health and wellbeing.
• Mental health and wellbeing toolkit: advice to support student mental health and wellbeing. This includes a map of key mental health and wellbeing supports.
• Behaviour Support Plan: a document that addresses inappropriate behaviour of a student. It outlines strategies to improve their behaviour.

It is also important to talk to the student’s parents or carers. Parental support and encouragement can help the student through the process.

Follow the guidance at contacting parents and carers.

When supporting a student, pay attention to their individual circumstances. Some children or young people may experience increased vulnerability.

Consider all the experiences and needs of the student and their parents or carers. Follow the guidance at supporting students with diverse needs.

This includes supporting:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
• students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• international students
• students with disability
• LGBTIQA+ students
• students in out-of-home care.

Work with school staff with information sharing responsibilities. They can share and request information with other Information Sharing Entities (ISEs) under the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) where needed. What you learn from other ISEs can help you decide how to support the students.

For example, you may request information about a student from:

• their previous school
• a community service they have used for health and wellbeing support.

If you do not know which services a child is linked with, ask staff who have access to Child Link. They can check the child’s participation in early childhood and education services. They can also see key family relationships and if the child or their sibling has a past or current child protection order. This can help you find which ISEs to contact under CISS.

To share information safely and appropriately, follow the guidance for staff who use CISS and FVISS.

Sometimes, there will be no students at your school who are directly affected. For example, if a staff member is charged with sexually abusing a child who has never attended your school.

In these cases, Independent Schools Victoria can assist you. They will:

• support you to appropriately share this information about the charges with your community
• help you make sure that students are supported.

For more information, see Protecting Children – Reporting and Other Legal Obligations.