17LSuspension—involving student and parents

17L Suspension—involving student and parents (a) for a government school or Catholic system school with a delegated principal—the delegated principal proposes to suspend a student at the school; or delegated principal—the principal proposes to recommend the suspension of a student under section 17K; or (c) the principal of an independent school proposes to suspend a student at the school. (2) Before taking the proposed action, the principal must take reasonable steps to tell the student, and give their parents written notice, about the proposed suspension, including— (a) the grounds for the suspension including details of— suspending the student; and (b) the length of the suspension; and (c) how the school intends to support the student to continue their education during the suspension; and

(d) the decision-making process for the suspension, and how the (3) However, the principal may take the proposed action before giving the parents written notice if— (a) the student’s unsafe or noncompliant behaviour presents an immediate or imminent risk of harm to a person; and Examples—behaviour that presents an immediate or imminent risk of harm to a person • the student was physically violent to another student • the student threatened to be physically violent to a staff member (b) the principal tells the student and their parents, orally, about the proposed suspension, including— (i) the information mentioned in subsection (2) (a) to (d); and (ii) that the suspension starts immediately. (4) If the principal takes the proposed action under subsection (3), the principal must, as soon as possible, give the student’s parents written notice about the suspension, including the information mentioned in subsection (2) (a) to (d). (5) If a principal takes action under subsection (3) and a student is suspended before any views of the student and their parents about the suspension may be considered, the decision-maker may, after considering the views of the student and their parents, revise the suspension in any way the decision-maker considers reasonable. (6) If the decision-maker revises a suspension under subsection (5), the decision-maker must tell the student, and give the student’s parents a revised suspension notice.