Page Contents

• Purpose, Scope

• Communication of this policy

• Further information and resources

Purpose

To explain to members of our school community the circumstances in which Templestowe College may decide to treat a student as a mature minor to enable them to independently make decisions about their education, health and welfare.  

Scope

This policy may be applied to some or all decisions involving a student’s education, health and welfare.  

Policy

Templestowe College will ordinarily engage with a student’s parents/carers about a student’s education and welfare unless the Principal (or their nominee) decides it is not in the best interests of the student to do so.

The Principal (or their nominee) is responsible for determining whether a student is a mature minor for the purpose of making a particular decision about their education or welfare. A student may be treated as a mature minor for some decisions and not for others. The Principal (or their nominee) will decide whether a student should be treated as a mature minor on a case by case basis and may consult with school staff including the Community Executive Team, Wellbeing staff and Student Support Services where appropriate.

When assessing whether a student should be treated as a mature minor for the purposes of a particular decision, the Principal (or their nominee) will consider:

• the best interests of the student

• the student’s age, maturity level, understanding of the issues and consequences associated with the decision

• their living arrangements (independence)

• the student’s academic results, attendance and engagement at school.

The Principal must be satisfied that the student has sufficient maturity, understanding and intelligence to comprehend the nature and effect of the particular decision.

Students who would like more information about the Department’s Mature Minors policy, and how it might apply to them should contact Aaron Mackinnon, Assistant Principal.

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Available publicly on the school’s website

• Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required

• Included in Wellbeing staff training

• Hard copy available from school administration upon request

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

• Mature Minors and Decision Making