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If the principal is considering an expulsion for your child

Being expelled means a student is permanently excluded from attending a school.

On this page

Being expelled is the most serious discipline option for a school.

Making sure students are safe and well is a priority for the Victorian government. Every child and young person deserves a high-quality education. They have the legal right to attend a government school.

Reasons why

Standard grounds for expulsion

Expulsion can happen if a student’s behaviour is so serious it’s dangerous to other students and school staff.

Under Ministerial Order No. 1125 – Procedures for Suspension and Expulsion of Students in Government Schools a principal may expel a student from the school if, whilst attending school, travelling to and from school or engaging in any school related activity away from school (including when travelling to or from that activity) your child:

  1. behaves in such a way as to pose a danger to the health, safety or wellbeing of any person, whether actual, perceived or threatened
  2. causes significant damage or destruction of property
  3. commits theft of property, attempts to commit theft of property, or is knowingly involved in theft of property
  4. possesses illicit substances or weapons, uses illicit substances or weapons, or assists another person to use illicit substances or weapons
  5. fails to comply with any clear and reasonable instruction of a staff member, so as to pose a danger to the health, safety or wellbeing of any person, whether actual, perceived or threatened.
  6. consistently engages in behaviour that vilifies, defames, degrades or humiliates another person based on:
  1. consistently behaves in an unproductive manner that interferes with the wellbeing, safety or educational opportunities of any other student

and the student’s behaviour is of such magnitude that, having regard to the need of the student to receive an education compared to the need to maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of other students and staff at the school and the need to maintain the effectiveness of the school’s educational programs, expulsion is the only available mechanism.

Exceptional ground for expulsion - outside of school activity

To keep students and staff safe at school, principals can decide, in exceptional circumstances, to expel students for behaviour which occurs outside of school, including online behaviour, if the following are met:

and the student’s behaviour is of such magnitude that, having regard to the need of the student to receive an education compared to the need to maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of other students and staff at the school and the need to maintain the effectiveness of the school’s educational programs, expulsion is the only available mechanism.

It is important to understand that the principal cannot expel students for all negative behaviours outside of school, the behaviour must meet the requirements above.

What the principal will do

Only principals can expel students. They must follow a set process. The process is to:

The principal will:

Behaviour support and intervention meeting

The principal must hold a behaviour support and intervention meeting before making a decision.

In this meeting, you and your child can:

The principal does not decide to expel a student before this meeting.

The meeting will include:

You or your child are able to bring a support person to the meeting. It’s important that you and your child feel supported and able to fully participate in the meeting. This person cannot be paid or rewarded by you for their time.

Support person

A support person is someone the student or family chooses and can be someone the family trusts, someone who respects the family’s culture, and chooses to be involved as a support throughout the expulsion process and

They can be involved in supporting the student and family before, during and after the expulsion process.

You may want to use a support person or organisation with suitable experience if:

If you need assistance in identifying a support person, the school or department can help.

How a support person can support you and your child

This person can:

The support person is not there to:

You can access additional information from the support person guide.

Support person guide Word 44.36 KB (opens in a new window)

The school can also organise an interpreter if required.

If you’re not able to go to the meeting

It’s very important that your child has somebody to advocate and give support for them at this meeting.

Relevant Person

If you can’t go for any reason, you can nominate a relevant person, another trusted adult to attend the meeting to act on your behalf. You will need to complete a Relevant Person nomination form.

Relevant person nomination form Word 202.42 KB (opens in a new window)

Suitable person

If you are unable to nominate a relevant person, you can ask the school for assistance in finding a suitable person from the department to play this role.

There are a number of department staff who have special training and will advocate on behalf of your child and their best interests.

This person can attend the meeting on your behalf. The school principal will need to complete a Request to appoint a person from the suitable person list form.

Request to appoint a person from the suitable person list Word 114.57 KB (opens in a new window)

Koorie students and families

There is a dedicated Koorie workforce who give information and support to Koorie students and families. You can contact your school or regional engagement coordinator for more information.

You can also contact the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated for independent support or call 03 9481 0800.

Students with a disability

If your child has a disability, we can provide extra support. You can contact your school or regional engagement coordinator for more information.

You can also contact the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit for independent support or call 03 9639 5807.

Older children—adults and ‘mature minors’

If your child is 18 years old or older they can represent themselves during an expulsion process if they choose to.

You can still support them and attend relevant meetings if they give permission.

The school will strongly encourage your child to have a parent, carer, support person or independent person to help them.

The law recognises that as children become older and more mature, they are more capable of making their own decisions.

If your child asks to represent themselves during the expulsion process, the principal will need to determine if:

Online safety

If your child has been involved in unsafe or difficult online experience you can access information and resources to support them to stay safe when using social media via Safe Socials or the Online safety | eSafety Commissioner.

Interventions and supports from the school

Before considering an expulsion and during the process, the school can explore interventions and supports. These can include:

You are likely to know what may trigger certain behaviour in your child. This information will help the school respond and prevent issues from escalating.

You can speak to your school and get support if you are concerned about your child’s behaviour and any contributing issues.

If you’re concerned about your child’s wellbeing

Signs your child needs additional support include:

Supports for your child

If your child needs to talk to someone, you can encourage them to contact:

How long it takes to make a decision

The principal must tell you their decision within 2 business days after the behaviour support and intervention meeting.

If your child is 8 years old or younger, the secretary of the department must approve an expulsion. This is because we recognise how important it is for very young students to be supported to stay in school. A final decision will be given within 10 business days of the behaviour support and intervention meeting. This is so the secretary has time to consider your child’s case.

While the principal is making a decision:

What happens next

If a decision is made not to expel your child:

If a decision is made to expel your child:

Lodge an appeal if your child is expelled

You have a right to appeal a decision to expel your child.

The principal will give you an expulsion appeals form at the same time as the notice of expulsion. You must complete and sign the form and give it to the principal within 10 business days of receiving a notice of expulsion.

An expulsion can be appealed on the following grounds:

Your appeal will go to the Department of Education Secretary or their delegate (usually the Executive Director - Area) for consideration.

They may convene a panel to consider your appeal. You and your child will be invited to attend a meeting of the panel and give your reasons for the appeal. You can also bring a support person to the review panel.

Get advice and support from us

You can ask to speak to a regional engagement coordinator about support for yourself or your child. Contact your nearest regional office.

You can read the Expulsions policy for schools.

You can download the information on this page as a PDF or Word document:

Education & trainingParents & carers

Updated 30 March 2026

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