Mentoring students
This policy sets out the requirements for implementing student mentoring programs in NSW public schools.
Changes since previous version
2020 May 21 - updated contact details in policy statement. Deleted the following related documents: Allegations Against Employees in the Area of Child Protection, WWCC App 2, WWCC App 3, WWCC Procedures 15 June 2015 - Replaced with related document: Working With Children Check Policy. Replaced implementation document: Guidelines for Mentoring and supporting students, replaced with Student mentoring programs.
Document history
2014 May 08 - requirements updated to reflect the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012. Contact details and position titles updated.
Superseded documents
Guidelines for Mentoring, 2000.
- Policy statement
- Student mentoring refers to situations where teachers, other adults or older students work on a regular, one-to-one or small group basis with students to achieve planned outcomes. It includes activities such as tutoring or coaching.
- The principal must approve of any student mentoring activity in a school.
- Written consent will be obtained from a student's parent or carer before the student is included in a mentoring program.
- Teachers, other school staff, community members, volunteers and students who mentor must be provided with support, advice and supervision. Principals may provide this directly or delegate the task to an executive staff member.
- All adult mentors, including volunteers, must obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance from the NSW Children's Guardian. While teachers will have met this requirement as a condition of employment, it is appropriate to remind them of their ongoing child protection obligations as they commence mentoring.
- Training must be provided for all volunteer mentors. The training must address child protection, duty of care and appropriate relationships between mentors and students.
- Audience and applicability
- This policy applies to all NSW Government schools, educational services and state offices.
- Parents/guardians/caregivers.
- The public.
- Context
- Quality education is provided for students to meet their learning needs in a secure, ordered and supportive environment.
- The wellbeing, safety and health of students inform school policies, programs and practices.
- Partnership with parents, caregivers, students and the wider community is central to the success of this process.
- Responsibilities and delegations
- It is the responsibility of principals to ensure that student mentoring programs conducted in schools and as part of a school activity are planned and implemented in accordance with this policy.
- All school staff have an obligation to tell the principal if they become aware that the relationship between a student and a mentor may be inappropriate. This includes reporting to the principal any indications that a student is developing a 'crush' on a mentor. The principal will assess the situation and take action in response to the details of these circumstances.
- Monitoring and review
- The Director Student Engagement and Interagency Partnerships will monitor the implementation of this policy and report annually or as required to the Executive Director, Learning and Engagement.
- Contact
Student Health and Interagency
StudentHealthInteragency@det.nsw.edu.au