Starting from Term 3, 2025, school principals in Victoria will be granted expanded authority to suspend or expel students for serious misconduct that takes place outside of school grounds or in online environments.
Previously, disciplinary actions were limited to behaviour occurring within the school setting. The state government announced the policy shift to align Victoria with existing laws in New South Wales and South Australia.
Education Minister Ben Carroll said the change responds to a rise in concerning behaviour beyond the school gates, including physical assaults and online bullying involving technologies like AI-generated deepfake images.
“Community safety is paramount in Victoria,” Mr Carroll said. “These expanded powers make it clear that serious misbehaviour outside of school will carry consequences.”
He emphasised that student and staff wellbeing remains the top priority and said the government is also investing in programs to promote respect and safety in schools.
Mr Carroll clarified that principals will have discretion over when to apply these new powers, describing the policy as a “last resort.”
“I’ve heard from families and school leaders about severe incidents occurring online that were beyond the reach of school authority — until now,” he said.
