24-hour care, safety and welfare

The VRQA began regulating all Victorian school boarding premises in 2021. This was in response to legislation that required us to ensure they met the minimum standards. We have now reviewed every independent school boarding premises in Victoria.

Our reviews particularly focused on the Child Safe Standards (Ministerial Order No. 1359) and that school boarding premises were meeting their duties of care. This includes the 24-hour care, safety, welfare and supervision of students.

We found that most school boarding premises are compliant. They have good procedures and strategies in place. They manage the increased risk and vulnerability of students in their care, living and learning away from home.

Evidence that school boarding premises meet their duties of care and manage risk is essential. They must comply with:

• Child Safe Standard 7, including clear procedures for responding to complaints or concerns about child abuse in all forms
• Child Safe Standard 2, including embedding child safety and wellbeing in organisational leadership, governance and culture, and mitigating child safety risks
• the supervision requirements in the minimum standards, including appropriate and active overnight supervision
• the governance requirements in the minimum standards, including appropriate governing body oversight of the school boarding premises
• Ministerial Order No. 706 to protect the safety of students who have a diagnosis of being at risk of anaphylaxis.

We are developing additional guidance to help school boarding premises understand how to comply.

Any school boarding premises that identify a significant child safety breach should contact: vrqa.schools@education.vic.gov.au