Safety guidelines for education outdoors

The Safety Guidelines for Education Outdoors are mandatory for all excursions requiring school council approval, including:

• overnight excursions
• camps
• interstate and overseas visits
• excursions requiring sea or air travel
• excursions involving weekends or vacations
• adventure activities.

How to use the guidelines

It is important that you are familiar with the planning and approval process and document all steps taken.

1. Begin planning:
   • Review the planning summary for an overview of the main issues to consider before undertaking detailed planning
   • Where adventure activities form part of the program, also read the relevant activity guidelines. If the activity does not have guidelines, apply the recommendations for activities without guidelines.
2. Understand the responsibilities of your role
   • Select your role in the planning process, then read and complete the checklist relevant to your role as you plan the activity.
3. Consider the risks associated with an activity
   • Document your risk management plan and submit it with the request for school council approval.
4. Have your excursion approved
   • A completed approval proforma must be submitted for all programs requiring school council approval. This must be approved by the school council prior to the excursion starting.

Get advice

For more information about:

• excursion planning and approvals, contact the Department's School Operations and Governance Unit via community.stakeholders@edumail.vic.gov.au
• the administration and operation of government schools in Victoria, Australia, visit the School Policy and Advisory Guide

Contacts

Security Services Unit

The Unit provides a 24 hour communication facility for schools and give assistance to them both during and after emergencies.

For more information, see: Security Services Unit

Victorian Emergency Management Branch, Department of Human Services

The branch is a division of the Department of Human Services and has major responsibilities in emergency management and counter-terrorism, reflected in Victoria’s emergency management arrangements.

Email: emb@dhs.vic.gov.au

For more information, see: Victorian Emergency Management Branch

School Operations and Governance Unit

The unit provides advice on legislation and policy matters relating to government school council governance and responsibilities and government school excursions.

Email: community.stakeholders@edumail.vic.gov.au

Phone: 03 7022 1742