| Date | 4 November 2026 |
| Time | 12.00pm-2.30pm AEDT (Syd/Mel time) |
| Format | Live Online & Recorded. The recording can be viewed until 4 December 2026 |
| Pricing | $295. Prices includes gst. |
| CPD | This PD addresses 7.2.2. of the Standards |
| Other related LawSense Events |
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Program
12.00 LawSense Welcome
12.05 Opening Remarks
David Baker, Principal, Woodleigh School (Victoria)
12.10 Examining a School’s Rights, Duties and Obligations in Dealing with Allegations, the Alleged Perpetrator, the Survivor/Victim and Other Students
Understanding the Extent of The School’s Duties
- Examining the obligations of the school where the alleged incident:
- occurred outside school hours or activities
- involves students from other schools
- involves students who are 18 or over
Allegations of “Domestic Violence” or Coercion / Coercive Control
- Navigating allegations of domestic violence or coercion between students
Examining When Reporting Obligations to Agencies and Police Are Triggered
- Evaluating when legal obligations to report and notify police are triggered
- What steps should be taken where there are only rumours or suspicions of abuse or offending?
- Understanding the obligations and options of the school where the alleged victim does not wish the matter to be disclosed, investigated or reported or is not cooperative
Navigating Privacy Considerations
- Dealing with requests from students you not inform their parents
- Examining potential risks and conflicts where the school counsellor is involved with both students
- Understanding the extent to which you should or shouldn’t disclose allegations or investigations to school staff members
- Balancing privacy obligations with your duties to other students and parents
Implementing Interim Measures
- Examining the extent of your obligations to implement interim measures pending investigations
- Exploring best practice risk assessments
- Managing challenging scenarios and learning from case studies
Communicating with the Alleged Perpetrator, Survivor/Victim and School Community
- Understanding how communications between the school and parties can and has been used in evidence
- Communicating in a way that is supportive, but considers the legal position of the parties involved, including the school
- Exploring optimum approaches to communicating with parents and the school community
Managing Outcomes, Risk and Discipline
- Assessing risk and managing circumstances where:
- no action is taken against the alleged perpetrator by police or they are exonerated
- there is no action by police, but the school investigation indicates wrongdoing or inappropriate behaviour by the alleged perpetrator
Ben Tallboys, Principal, Russell Kennedy; Legal Counsel, Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA)
1.10 Break
1.25 Navigating Investigations: Understanding When, To What Extent and How the School Should Investigate and Dealing with Police
Investigating Suspicions, Allegations or Where Police Take No Action
- Understanding when an investigation is required and the extent of any investigation
- Examining the potential limits on a school investigating while other agencies, such as police are involved
- Understanding the potential role of legal privilege
- Exploring when an external investigator should be used
- Obtaining evidence from students:
- examining rights and obligations in taking or searching student belongings, phones or laptops
- understanding restrictions on copying or storing material regarding sexualised behaviours
- navigating rights and obligations and dealing with hearsay
- Making appropriate findings and deciding reasonable consequences
Dealing with Police
- Police interviewing students or staff:
- what are a school’s rights and obligations to participate?
- what are the rights of the alleged student perpetrator and student witnessing the police wish to interview
- supporting a student or participating in police interviews – key matters to consider
- Examining your rights and obligations in meeting requests for documents or other material from the police.
- Providing a witness statement and giving evidence to police – what is your exposure and how should this be managed?
Fiona Manderson, Principal, Aloncaws Mediation & Investigation; Inhouse Counsel, Hillcrest Christian College
2.25 Closing Remarks
2.30 Event Close
Presenters / panelists include:
 | Ben Tallboys provides sector-specific, practical legal solutions to schools across Australia. Ben is a passionate and effective advocate for principals dealing with complex matters relating to parents, staff and students, as well as their own employment. |
 | Fiona Manderson has been a practicing solicitor for more than 20 years working in traditional law firms and Legal Aid Queensland before a nearly six-year stint as Head of Compliance, Risk & Legal at Hillcrest Christian College. She has now opened her own business – Aloncaws Mediation & Investigation and is transitioning out of her inhouse role at Hillcrest. |