New legislation effective today grants schools, preschools, and children’s services in Australia enhanced powers to manage violent and abusive parental behaviour. This development is in response to a significant rise in incidents of parental misconduct, which has seen a staggering 200 percent increase in parental bans at public schools from 2019 to 2023.
Expanded Authority for Educational Institutions
The revised law broadens the criteria under which individuals can be barred from educational sites, increasing the maximum duration of such bans from three months to six months. Additionally, penalties for violating these bans have escalated from $2,500 to $7,500. According to the latest data, public schools issued 107 barring notices and sent 206 formal warning letters in 2025, mirroring patterns observed in 2024.
More than half of the barring orders issued in 2025 were due to threatening behaviour, and five were related to actual physical violence against a parent, student, or staff member. This legislative change seeks to address escalating concerns regarding safety within learning environments.
Addressing Online Abuse and Protecting Staff
Starting today, individuals can be prohibited from entering educational facilities if they pose a risk to the safety and wellbeing of others or engage in unreasonable or threatening communication with staff. Notably, the new provisions allow for barring orders to be applied to online interactions, marking a significant step in tackling the rise of abusive behaviour on digital platforms.
“Every child or young person deserves to have their learning environment be a safe space, and every staff member deserves a safe workplace, free of harassment, violence or abuse,” said Blair Boyer, the Minister for Education.
These measures are designed to ensure that staff are protected even outside of school hours from harassment or threats made online. Principals can now issue barring notices that prohibit any form of communication with a staff member, enhancing the protective framework available to educational institutions.
The legislation, developed in collaboration with leaders’ associations, parent groups, and community organizations, applies across all public, Catholic, and independent schools, as well as preschools and approved education and care services.
Russell Barwell, Principal of Prospect North Primary School, emphasized the necessity of these protections, stating, “All staff, including Principals or other site leaders, have the right to feel safe in their workplace. We always hope to not need this type of protection, but when there is unacceptable behaviour, it is good to know that there are protections and support available.”
With these legislative changes, schools aim to foster a safer educational environment, addressing both physical and online threats to ensure the wellbeing of students and staff alike. As schools and communities adapt to these new measures, there is a collective hope that they will lead to a reduction in violent and abusive incidents, ultimately creating a more positive atmosphere for learning.
