Page 4265 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2019
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Shortly after that, in April, following debate in this place on matters regarding the safety of students and teachers in ACT schools, the Assembly referred the issue of the management and minimisation of bullying and violence in ACT schools to the Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Youth Affairs. Members would be aware that the standing committee tabled its report on this inquiry early, on 19 September 2019.
Given the common ground canvassed by both reports, it was opportune for the government to consider the reports and the government responses together. Both the standing committee and the advisory committee reports tell a similar story. They both found that bullying and violence are whole-of-community issues, they found that these issues are not frequent in ACT schools, and they acknowledge the sound response already present in ACT schools. The government is grateful for the useful guidance from both committees on opportunities to strengthen the government’s response to these issues.
Firstly, I would like to talk about the schools education advisory committee, which I tasked with reviewing current policies, procedures and processes, with a focus on the positive behaviours for learning framework, the PBL framework, and other specific interventions that support the implementation of the safe and supportive schools policy in ACT government schools. The advisory committee report validates the ACT government’s position that the Education Directorate and its schools have strong foundations in place to manage and minimise bullying and violence. It acknowledges the considerable investment, effort and progress already taken by the government.
The advisory committee made observations in 10 themes that they identified where government could strengthen its response. As members will see in the government response, the government is already undertaking significant work aligned with the advisory committee’s observations in all 10 themes that they raised. In particular, it highlights the strength of the positive behaviours for learning framework, the PBL framework, as an integral part of the government’s approach to safe and supportive schools. Research shows that school-wide positive behaviour support reduces behavioural issues.
The PBL framework is international best practice. In schools implementing PBL you will see things like students following routines and procedures promoted by visual cues such as posters in corridors, classrooms and canteens; teachers providing positive acknowledgement to students who are making positive behavioural choices and having restorative conversations about behaviours that are not appropriate; and students being able to demonstrate an understanding of their school’s expectations, such as being respectful, caring, and safe. The ACT government is committed to the ongoing implementation of PBL.
Madam Speaker, as the government response details and as the advisory committee report affirms, we are working hard to ensure that we have the most effective policies, procedures and processes in place to create safe and supportive schools. The government has already dedicated significant resources to this task and will consider additional resource needs in the future.
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