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Information for principals

Learn more about the role of IOSDR and how to build individual and workplace capability in your school.

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The Independent Office for School Dispute Resolution (IOSDR) was established in 2017 to fulfil 2 primary responsibilities:

What this means for principals

Unlike most complaint handling bodies, the IOSDR does not investigate with a view to making findings or adjudicating on complaints. It does not assign blame or responsibility, nor does it have the power to order outcomes.

The IOSDR was established by the Minister for Education, and does not report to the Department on matters discussed, decided or agreed to by principals and families.

When a case is closed, the IOSDR advises the Department that their work has been completed, and the complaint is either resolved or otherwise. There are times when the IOSDR may identify potential system improvements and these may be documented and shared with the Department without creating liability risk for a school.

The approach to resolving conflicts

As we are not advocates for parents or for principals, and do not investigate past events, the IOSDR focuses on establishing future directions and the strategies to implement agreed actions. This acknowledges the need for principals and school staff to work together with families, possibly over a number of years as the student progresses through their education. The establishment of a professional and sustainable working relationship is a priority and is particularly important for the student involved.

Principals and parents will have the opportunity to discuss and then decide the future directions and to commit in good faith to mutually agreed actions and plans. The IOSDR can facilitate these discussions, but the next steps are decided by the parties involved, which establishes the best possible opportunity for successful steps going forward.

Building individual and workplace capability

The IOSDR provides individual coaching support for principals, alongside programs for the skill development of teams and staff within the workplace.

The coaching discussions allow a school leader to:

Programs for leadership and staff development are skill-based and mostly delivered in-person. These are often bespoke workshops that focus on developing communication, relationship management and conflict resolution skills.

The program goals aim to:

The work is often bespoke, adapted to the needs of individual schools and situations.

At a broader level, the IOSDR has partnered with the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership to deliver conflict resolution skills development programs across the education system.

The IOSDR is also an independent commentator on policy initiatives and system practices. The IOSDR provides skill development presentations and practice sessions to professional practice groups and networks within the education community. It supports broader organisational goals by recommending systemic changes, commenting on policy initiatives, and maintaining stakeholder engagement.

More information

For more information on this support, please contact the IOSDR directly:

Education & trainingStudentsParents & carers

Updated 27 March 2026

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