Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour

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When schools, families and students work together, we achieve the best outcomes. These partnerships are essential to creating school environments that support all students to belong, learn and thrive. As a parent and carer, you play a vital role in helping your child to understand and meet shared behaviour expectations.

How students demonstrate expected behaviours

At school, all students are expected to be respectful, safe, and engaged. These behaviours help make schools a place where everyone can succeed.

Students meet these behaviour expectations by being respectful, safe and engaged.

Respectful

Following staff instructions and school rules.
Caring for school property and others’ belongings.
Using respectful language.

Safe

Keeping themselves and others safe from harm.
Speaking up or seeking help from an adult if they or someone else is being treated unfairly.
Only bringing safe and necessary items to school.

Engaged

Going to school every day, being on time, and ready to learn.
Taking part, doing their best, and asking for help when they need.
Knowing and following the school’s policies, including the mobile phone policy.

How parents and carers can help

By modelling and encouraging positive behaviour, you help your child build the skills and habits they need to be successful at school. When families and schools work together, students can achieve their best.

Parents and carers can help support their child’s behaviour to be respectful, safe and engaged.

Respectful

Knowing the school’s rules and supporting them at home.
Modelling respectful behaviour in how you speak to and about school staff, families, and others both in person and online.
Making use of the school’s processes to raise and resolve concerns early.

Safe

Working together with staff if your child is having problems at school to understand and resolve the issue.
Ensuring your child knows it is okay to ask for help from a trusted adult at school.
Ensuring your child stays safe online by talking with them and addressing concerns early.

Engaged

Helping your child to attend school every day – every day counts.
Communicating with school staff and working together to support your child’s learning and wellbeing.
Talking with your child about their day and how they are feeling, and encouraging their learning by noticing their effort and progress.

We know that some students and their families are struggling with school attendance or navigating school refusal. Here are some resources that can help:

How schools support students to meet behaviour expectations

By teaching and reinforcing positive behaviour, schools ensure positive, safe and fair learning environments with a focus on learning and wellbeing.

Schools support families and students by being respectful, safe and engaged.

Respectful

Teaching and demonstrating school rules and positive behaviour expectations to students.
Explicitly teaching, modelling and acknowledging expected respectful behaviour.
Engaging collaboratively and positively with all students, parents and carers.

Safe

Having clear policies and procedures to prevent and respond to bullying and keep students safe.
Offering additional supports to students proactively, and supporting students to speak up and seek help.
Proactively identifying and addressing problems to maintain a physically, socially and culturally safe school environment.

Engaged

Delivering evidence-based, inclusive education that meets the needs of all students.
Empowering students to have a say in decisions that affect their learning and school life.
Building strong, trusting relationships to ensure all students feel seen, heard and valued.

The Department of Education provides resources and support for schools to build positive student behaviour and foster positive relationships between schools, students and families.

Where parents and carers can go for help

If you are concerned about your child’s wellbeing, behaviour or safety you can:

Talk to your child’s teacher or identified contact person as the first step and follow the school’s process for communicating concerns.
Ask the school for support or a referral – they can connect you with wellbeing staff or specialist services.
Contact the Department of Education’s regional office if you need further assistance.

The following resources are also available:

Raising Children Network – provides advice for parents and carers of school-aged, pre-teens and teens.
eSafety Commissioner – advice for parents and carers to help keep children safe online.
Report Racism hotline – find out how to report racism or religious discrimination in schools.
Bully Stoppers – advice for parents and carers about bullying.

Translated resources

This information is available in 30 languages: find your language.

For an Easy Read version of this page see working together to support student behaviour (PDF, 2.87MB).

Education & training

Updated 27 March 2026

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Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour

In your language

On this page

How students demonstrate expected behaviours

Respectful

Safe

Engaged

How parents and carers can help

Respectful

Safe

Engaged

How schools support students to meet behaviour expectations

Respectful

Safe

Engaged

Where parents and carers can go for help

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