Interviewing of Students at School 

The Department’s policy on interviewing students at school outlines the protocols for facilitating interviews conducted by Victoria Police or Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Child Protection (Child Protection) workers. The policy aims to balance the school's duty of care to its students with the legal obligations of these authorities.​ 

Circumstances for On-Site Interview

Principals are required to facilitate interviews at school when the following conditions are met:​

• Appropriate Location: The school is deemed the only suitable place for the interview.​
• Timing Constraints: The interview cannot be scheduled outside school hours.​
• Parental Exclusion: There are valid reasons to conduct the interview without the presence of parents or carers, necessitating support from school staff during the interview.

Our advice to principals if contacted is to always ask…is school the best place for the interview to be conducted? 

Role of School Staff as Supportive Adults:

During interviews at school, a principal or designated staff member can act as an independent supportive adult, provided the student agrees. If the student is not mature enough to make this decision, a staff member may support the student if it is in their best interest. 

Verification of Authority:

Before facilitating an interview, principals or their delegates must verify the official identification of the police officer or Child Protection worker to ensure they are authorised to access the student by adhering to these guidelines, schools can effectively support legal investigations while safeguarding the rights and well-being of their students.

For more information please visit:  Police and Child Protection Interviews