ABCN Student Behaviour Policy

Purpose of this policy 

ABCN is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for both students and mentors at all our programs. This Policy informs and provides ABCN’s approach to student behaviour management, specifically how we work with our schools to promote and communicate ABCN’s Behaviour Code to students and how we address behaviour when it deviates from this code.

ABCN understands that our partner schools have their own behaviour management frameworks, and this Behaviour Management Policy is designed to work alongside these frameworks.

This Policy should be read in conjunction with ABCN’s Child Safe Policy and ABCN’s Code of Conduct.

Behaviour code 

All ABCN program participants, including students, educators, mentors and ABCN staff are expected to meet ABCN’s Behaviour Code:

• We all have a right to feel safe and welcome
• We treat each other with respect and dignity. This includes respecting the space and facilities being used for the program
• We communicate in a positive and constructive manner
• We respect and celebrate diversity and promote tolerance and understanding
• We support each other and understand when to seek help
• Aggressive, intimidating and discriminating words and actions will not be tolerated

We ask that schools communicate the Behaviour Code to students prior to program commencement.

Inappropriate Behaviour Response

The ABCN facilitator will manage minor student behaviour issues themselves during the program. The facilitator may ask the supervising teacher for help with persistent issues.

ABCN defines a serious behaviour incident when it is threatening to the wellbeing, health or safety of other program participants or to the student themselves.

If a serious behaviour incident occurs:

• The ABCN facilitator will speak with the supervising teacher immediately and manage the student at the time of incident alongside the teacher.
• If a mentor, host company representative or another student observes a serious behaviour incident, they should report it to the ABCN facilitator or supervising teacher as soon as possible – preferably during or at the end of the session or as soon after the session as possible.
• ABCN will notify the School Principal within 24 hours of the program / being told of the incident.
• ABCN will log all serious behaviour issues in the ABCN internal ‘incident report’ log file and notify ABCN management.
• All student consequence and remedial actions will be left to the discretion of the school to manage under their own behaviour management systems.
• ABCN understands that all people can make mistakes, and the most important lesson is how you can recover from mistakes. ABCN will welcome all students back to future programs should the school determine that it is appropriate, and the student is ready.

Policy Detail

This policy will be regularly reviewed, particularly in line with business requirements or relevant changes to ABCN processes. This policy takes effective from 28 April 2025.