South Australia Sets New National Benchmark for School Community Safety

The South Australian government has introduced comprehensive legislation that represents Australia's most thorough framework for protecting school staff and communities from harmful behaviour. The Education and Children's Services (Barring Notices and Other Protections) Amendment Act 2025, together with detailed Ministerial Guidelines and Supplementary Guidance, establishes a sophisticated approach to managing risks to school safety whilst maintaining educational engagement with families.

Education Minister Blair Boyer has been clear about the government's commitment to this issue: "Every child or young person deserves to have their learning environment be a safe space, and every staff member deserves a safe workplace, free of harassment, violence or abuse. I've been disturbed by the stories I have heard about some of the behaviour teachers and principals are experiencing."

Building on Existing Frameworks

Victoria's School Community Safety Order Scheme, established under the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Protection of School Communities) Act 2021, enables authorised persons to issue orders prohibiting or restraining certain behaviours on school premises and school-related places VIC.GOV.AU. South Australia's framework shares similar objectives whilst introducing several distinctive features.

The South Australian legislation notably extends protection to incidents occurring beyond school premises. Under the new framework, a Designated Person can issue a barring notice based on incidents occurring anywhere - whether at a shopping centre, on social media, or in the wider community - if they reasonably believe the person would pose a risk if they attended school premises. This recognition of the interconnected nature of school communities and the broader environment represents an evolution in protective legislation.

Clear Authority with Defined Parameters

The South Australian legislation empowers principals with clear authority whilst establishing transparent boundaries. Barring notices can be issued for up to six months, with specific grounds including risks to safety or wellbeing, significant disruption to the learning environment, or vexatious communication with staff.

The legislation explicitly addresses contemporary challenges such as social media harassment and online defamation of staff members. This comprehensive approach acknowledges the digital dimension of modern school community interactions.

The framework provides for immediate protection through directions to leave premises for up to two business days, allowing time for longer-term protective measures to be considered and implemented efficiently.

Prioritising Educational Continuity

A notable feature of South Australia's approach is its emphasis on maintaining children's educational continuity whilst managing adult behaviour concerns. The Ministerial Guidelines mandate consideration of children's best interests, requiring barring conditions to accommodate safe drop-off and collection arrangements and essential communication about children's education and care needs.

The supplementary guidance explicitly states that "children should not be unreasonably disadvantaged at their education and care site due to concerns about the behaviour of their parent or carer." This child-centred approach ensures that protective measures support rather than hinder educational outcomes.

Comprehensive Procedural Safeguards

South Australia has embedded extensive procedural fairness requirements in legislation. Before issuing a barring notice (except in urgent circumstances), the Designated Person must provide the visitor with written notification of the proposal and at least five business days to make submissions.

The framework includes multiple review mechanisms: applications to the Designated Person, the Chief Executive of the Department for Education, and for government sites, ministerial review. This multi-tiered approach ensures accountability whilst offering operational efficiency, which will be welcome to school leaders.

Responding to Real-World Experiences

Minister Boyer emphasised that the new framework emerged from careful consultation: "These new powers taking effect today are the result of listening to real world experiences of where the gaps in those protections existed. They reinforce that we will not tolerate any violent, threatening, intimidating or abusive behaviour around children and young people's learning environments or toward education and care staff."

The South Australian model appears designed for practical implementation. The Department has provided templates, flowcharts, and guidance materials that standardise processes across all education sectors - government and non-government alike.

The clear delineation of roles between Authorised Persons (who can issue immediate directions) and Designated Persons (who issue barring notices) ensures appropriate delegation whilst maintaining accountability. Site leaders retain discretion to authorise others when conflicts of interest arise or when they are direct victims of threatening behaviour.

A Welcome Response to Contemporary Challenges

South Australia's framework addresses the full spectrum of harmful behaviours affecting school communities. By explicitly recognising that school community safety extends beyond physical boundaries to include digital spaces and off-site interactions, the legislation acknowledges contemporary realities facing educators.

The Minister's acknowledgement that "most people behave respectfully when communicating with staff, but we have heard from our educators that some parents and caregivers' behaviour has worsened" reflects the balanced nature of the legislation - targeting problematic behaviour whilst maintaining positive partnerships with the vast majority of families who engage constructively with schools.

National Significance

Different Australian jurisdictions have developed various approaches to managing school community safety, each responding to local contexts and needs. Victoria's School Community Safety Order Scheme is part of a suite of measures to create and support a safe and respectful learning environment within Victorian schools Victorian Government. NSW operates primarily through policy frameworks, whilst other states utilise combinations of education legislation and general trespass laws.

South Australia's comprehensive legislative framework offers a detailed model that other jurisdictions may find valuable to examine as they continue developing their own approaches to school community safety.

Supporting School Communities

South Australia's new framework represents a thoughtful evolution in school safety legislation. It balances multiple important interests: staff safety, children's educational needs, parental engagement, and procedural fairness. The comprehensive guidance materials and clear implementation pathways provide schools with practical tools for managing challenging situations.

As schools nationwide navigate complex community relationships and evolving safety challenges, South Australia's approach offers a carefully constructed framework that recognises both the importance of protecting school communities and maintaining positive educational partnerships. It demonstrates that these goals can be mutually reinforcing when supported by clear legislation and practical implementation guidance.

The framework acknowledges that school safety is not just about physical premises but encompasses the full range of interactions that affect the learning environment, providing school leaders with contemporary tools to support their communities effectively.