This course supports school leaders to strengthen governance, compliance, and risk management through clear, practical systems and everyday leadership practices. It aligns with the Australian Professional Standard for Principals, specifically Leading the management of the school, and focuses on ensuring expectations are consistently enacted, monitored, and sustained across the school.
School Leaders
7.2.4 Lead Level - Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community - Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements: Initiate, develop and implement relevant policies and processes to support colleagues’ compliance with and understanding of existing and new legislative, administrative, organisational and professional responsibilities.
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Welcome
Acknowledgement of Country
Learning Objectives
Teaching Standards
Introduction
Clarifying Governance, Leadership and Management
What This Looks Like in Practice
Accountability Cannot Be Delegated
What Governance Failure Actually Looks Like
Why Governance Breaks Down
Governance as Daily Leadership Practice
A Simple Weekly Governance Routine
Resource: Governance Oversight Toolkit
Reflection Question
Introduction
From Policy to Practice
What a Strong Policy Looks Like in Practice
Case Study: When Policy Is Clear but Practice Is Not
What This Means for Leaders
Where Compliance Challenges Often Occur
How Leaders Can Strengthen Consistency
Supporting Staff to Act with Confidence
Responding When Things Go Wrong
Keeping Documentation Simple and Effective
Example of Effective Documentation
Resource: Compliance Response Checklist
Reflection Question
Introduction
Understanding Risk in Everyday Practice
From Individual Responsibility to System Thinking
Embedding Risk Management into Daily Routines
Identifying Gaps Between Policy and Practice
Strengthening Risk Management Systems
Resource: Risk Management Check Tool
Scenario Activity: Identifying and Responding to Risk
Introduction
Understanding Information Governance in Schools
Balancing Compliance and Ethical Judgement
Building Consistent Practices Across Staff
How to Do This in Practice
Reducing Risk in Digital Environments
Resource: Information Sharing Decision Guide
Scenario Activity: Making an Ethical Decision
Introduction
Understanding Governance Relationships
Communicating Accountability Clearly
How to Structure Reporting
Managing Upward Accountability
Maintaining Role Clarity
Resource: Governance Reporting Template
Scenario Activity: Reporting with Clarity and Confidence
Moving from Learning to Implementation
Final Reflection
Wrap Up
Resource: Governance and Compliance in Practice – Post-Course 30-Minute Collaboration
Reference List
Course Feedback
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