Optimising Effectiveness, Compliance and Legal Protection of Policies & Policy Updates
| Date | 29 April 2026 |
| Time | 12.00pm-2.30pm AEST (Sydney time) |
| Format | Live Online & Recorded - recording available for viewing until 29 May 2026 after which access expires |
| Pricing | Webinar Pricing: $275 Price includes GST |
| Sector | Non-State Schools |
| PD | Addresses 7.2 of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers |
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Program
12.00 LawSense Welcome
12.05 Introductory Remarks
Adele Sparke, Legal & Governance Manager, Newington College
Nadia Kavgas, Legal & Policy Officer, Newington College
Policies are the backbone of a well-run school. Properly structured policies assist the school to mitigate risk and ensure that all stakeholders are supported and facilitated to make good decisions at the coalface. Well-structured, lawful, and tailored policies, that either build or are in line with your school’s culture are essential. In a fast-moving legal landscape (and minefield), policies need to be monitored and updated. This session will help you ensure your policy writing is effective in protecting the school from ongoing risks; that it simplifies and makes the school function and operations more efficient; and evolves policies in a way that is consistent with school values and direction. Ben Tallboys, Principal at Russell Kennedy Lawyers, consulting lawyer to AHISA, will guide you through a unique two-hour program, including case studies, best practice and tips and traps learned from extensive experience. Adele Sparke, Legal & Governance Manager, and Nadia Kavgas, Legal and Policy Officer, at Newington College, will provide practical insight and commentary:
12.15 Part 1: Examining Best Practice Policy Frameworks, Identifying Key Policies Required in the Current Environment, Examining Optimal Policy Structures, Key Clauses, and Developing and Updating Policies
Policy Frameworks
- Exploring best practice policy frameworks to optimise compliance and operations
- Understanding and optimising frameworks where system level policies are involved
- Simplifying structures and the relationship between policies to optimise workability, updates and effectiveness
Key Policies, Procedures, Codes of Conduct and Updates in the Current Environment
- Identifying key policies in the current environment and what is driving change requiring updates, including:
- Child Safeguarding Policies
- AI, Data, Information Security Policy
- Privacy Policy
- Social Media & Anti-Bullying Policy
- Codes of Conduct (students, staff & the Board)
- Enrolment Policy
- Workplace Policies
- Reviewing key policy clauses and updates in different areas
- Exploring how the Board should be involved in policy development, review and changes
- Drafting procedures to effectively carry out policies
- Measuring the effectiveness of policy changes
1.15 Break
1.30 Part 2: Case Studies – Tailoring Policies to Suit Your School Circumstances, Culture and Values and Writing Effective Policy Updates
- Exploring how different school circumstances, culture and values can change policy approaches, key clauses and policy writing
- Exploring optimal approaches to policy writing:
- how much detail is required?
- writing to ensure you have the flexibility to manage different circumstances and are not “locked in” to a difficult position
- examining what language and approaches to avoid
- learnings from case studies and examples
- Examining effective approaches to consultation and feedback on policies, including who should provide feedback and preparing critical questions
- Exploring best practice staff training regarding policies
- Learning from case studies and examples of key policies and policy updates:
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- AI, data, information security policy
- social media, anti-bullying policy
- codes of conduct
- respectful workplace behaviour
Ben Tallboys, Principal, Russell Kennedy; Legal Counsel, Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA)
2.25 Concluding Remarks
2.30 Close of Webinar
Presenters / panelists include:
Adele Sparke brings a unique blend of high-level legal, policy, and governance expertise within the education sector. As Legal & Governance Manager at Newington College, Adele facilitates a whole-school approach to legal, risk, compliance, and governance matters. Her experience spans litigation management, contract negotiation, and policy development, with a proven track record in complex legal matters.
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.