Attendance Advisory Panels 1

Outcomes Understanding of the purpose of Attendance Advisory Panels (AAPs) as part of a plan for restoring attendance Familiarity with the legislative requirements for AAPs 2

The Requirements School Education Act 1999 and Student Attendance policy and procedures RECOGNISE Daily attendance is monitored and every absence is identified RECORDS Accurate records are maintained and would withstand external scrutiny RESTORE Where a student’s attendance is identified as a concern, school-devised and legislative strategies are implemented to restore attendance RESOLVE Every absence is investigated and the reason recorded 3

Restoring Attendance Unpacking system-level strategies and processes Consultation Phase Documented plan Meeting(s) with student and parents Implementation of school- devised, local strategies Formal Meeting Introduction of external support for family (brokered by school) - Refer to AAP (community) - Offer RPA (agencies) If not already tried School interventions; School based School intervention; School based Attendance Advisory Panel Prosecution Legislative intervention; School based Judicial intervention; System based 4

Attendance Advisory Panel - definition A group of suitably qualified people formed under the School Education Act 1999 to inquire into the reasons for a student’s absence from school and offer advice or assistance to engage the student, and their family, to restore attendance. Legislative strategy that involves community perspective. Not about prosecution or removing students from the roll. 5

Convening an AAP Principal offers parent(s) a panel IPS principal or RED appoints a Chairperson (mandatory) and EO (recommended) Chairperson/EO identify and engage panel members 6

What is an Attendance Advisory Panel? Panel composition An Executive Officer may be appointed as a liaison and to the coordinate the panel process. MUST BE Minimum 3 people Chairperson (community representative ) At least one community representative MUST NOT BE  A parent of a student at the same school  A member of teaching staff at the school 7

What is an Attendance Advisory Panel? Preparing for the panel meeting The EO should work with the Chairperson to: arrange a suitable time and venue; prepare required documentation for the panel; determine if a Responsible Parenting Agreement has already been used; and act as the contact person for the panel members, the family and the school. 8

9 Communicating with parents The EO should liaise with parent(s) to inform them of: the purpose of the meeting, panel composition and format; role of the EO practicalities of the meeting; and the rights and responsibilities of all parties.

10 Communicating with parents cont. Every reasonable effort to engage the parents and ensure they attend the meeting should be made. Consideration should be given to: language barriers; and effectiveness of post/telephone communication.

11 During the panel meeting The EO should: ensure the meeting is procedurally fair and adheres to legislation and Department policy; and keep concise, accurate records of the discussion, advice provided and assistance offered.

12 Procedural fairness Applies to any person against whom adverse findings might be made and requires: that person to be given an opportunity to be heard; lack of bias; and evidence to support decisions. This is an essential part of a professional investigation and is good-practice for every stage.

13 Record-keeping – the initial panel report The EO should: prepare a written report (template available); ensure all Panel members sign/authorise the report; and ensure that the report is provided to all parties listed in Section 40 (5) of the Act.

14 Record-keeping - the initial panel report The report should capture the essence of the meeting: the panel’s determination into the reasons for the persistent absence; the advice or assistance given by the AAP; and The review date with measurable objectives. Approximately 2 – 3 pages

15 Record-keeping – School requirements All documentation should be maintained in the student’s file. Principals are required to report on the progress of Attendance Advisory Panels in the Student Attendance Reporting (SAR) application.

16 The Department’s objective is not to prosecute A recommendation to prosecute cannot be made unless the parent has failed to follow the advice or assistance provided by the panel and the panel can certify that all practicable steps have been taken to restore attendance. A recommendation to prosecute cannot not be the outcome of the first meeting of a panel.

Responsible Parenting Agreements Parental Support and Responsibility Act 2008 An RPA is a formal agreement between a parent and the Department which clearly sets out what support is to be provided to the parent by the Department and other agencies (eg. DCPFS) and the commitment by the parent to take specific actions. 17

WORKSHOP Attendance Advisory Panel Guidelines 18

Contacts Add to suit network/region Role of an E0 (Post) Attendance Advisory Panels Further information 19