Victoria’s government schools will adopt a new statement outlining shared expectations for behaviour, designed to help students, parents and teachers foster a more respectful and supportive learning environment.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll announced that the statement, titled Respectful, Safe, Engaged: Shared expectations to support student behaviour, will be distributed to every government school across the state.
Developed after the Annual Education State Forum and through consultation with teachers, principals, parents and education experts, the framework sets out what respectful conduct looks like in classrooms and school communities. It aims to provide clarity on how students, staff and parents can contribute to a positive school culture where learning and wellbeing come first.
The statement outlines clear expectations for students and emphasises the importance of parents and carers modelling positive behaviours at home. It also introduces a common language for families and schools to use when addressing issues of behaviour, promoting collaboration rather than conflict.
Mr Carroll said the feedback from the education community was consistent: schools needed clearer, consistent behavioural standards that everyone could understand and uphold.
“Parents and teachers have told us they want clearer standards for behaviour in our schools, and we’ve listened,” he said. “When students are respectful and engaged, classrooms are calmer and students can focus on learning.”
The rollout builds on the state’s $10.4 million investment through the 2025–26 Victorian Budget to expand the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support program to more than 400 additional schools. It complements the government’s Respectful Relationships initiative, which promotes equality and respectful communication among students from an early age.
Alongside the new statement, schools will have access to online resources that help support wellbeing, safety and behavioural management. These materials will be available to teachers, students, parents and carers through the Department of Education’s website.
Mr Carroll said the initiative was about giving schools and families a shared framework that reinforces mutual respect and engagement. “This statement gives families and schools a shared understanding of expectations, so we can work together to support every child to succeed,” he said.
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