Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

WA's Equal Opportunity Act reforms affect faith based schools

Explore how WA's Equal Opportunity Act reforms affect faith based schools. Get essential insights on the shift to an "inherent requirement" hiring standard, student enrolment protections, and what leadership teams must do when / if changes take effect.

Read More
Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

WA's 2027 Privacy Shift… What School Boards and Principals Must Watch

From 1 January 2027, WA’s new PRIS Act introduces mandatory serious data breach reporting across the state. While independent schools are federally regulated, state funded wellbeing programs, youth initiatives, and service contracts mean leadership teams face new, rapid fire breach notification rules. Here is what school boards and principals need to know to stay ahead of the changes.

Read More
Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

Why WA Schools Must Prepare for Smart Glasses

As mobile phone bans settle across Western Australia, camera enabled smart glasses and ambient recording wearables present an urgent new challenge for school leaders. Explore the safeguarding, legal, and academic integrity implications of this discreet technology, along with key policy updates to keep your school community secure.

Read More
Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

OAIC Update: Facial Recognition

The OAIC’s updated guidance on facial recognition confirms a strict legal threshold for capturing biometric data. Learn what this means for WA independent schools considering AI security cameras, biometric attendance systems, and campus visitor management, including where leaders can turn for compliance advice.

Read More
Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

Key Workplace and Wage Changes for Schools July 2026

What’s changing in workplace compliance this July? From 1 July 2026, non-government schools face a wave of major industrial adjustments including shifts to the National Minimum Wage, changes to the Children’s Services Award, the rollout of 'Payday Super', and an expansion of the Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme to a full 26 weeks. To help your leadership team stay ahead, we break down what these updates mean for your staff, how they impact your payroll.

Read More
Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

Making Professional Development Count

Does mandatory compliance training actually count toward staff professional development hours? Discover how to log First Aid, Bronze Medallion, and OHS workshops to perfectly satisfy both your next WA school registration audit and individual TRBWA requirements without draining your operational budget.

Read More
Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

Why Your School’s Weapons Policy Needs an Immediate Overhaul

Following recent international events, school compliance teams can no longer rely on a student's intent or faith to manage risk. Our updated "Weapons Procedure." template shifts schools from a passive stance to a strict, proactive compliance model. It introduces a proprietary, multi layered risk management framework that neutralises the physical utility of traditional objects while enforcing strict pre-approval pathways, physical enclosure mandates, and clear zero tolerance disciplinary triggers.

Read More
Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

The New Children’s Online Privacy Code is Coming: What Schools Actually Need to Do

Is Your School's Privacy Policy Written for Lawyers or Kids?

By 10 December 2026, the new Children’s Online Privacy Code will be legally registered, forcing a massive cultural shift in how schools and ed-tech vendors handle student data. The OAIC has made one thing perfectly clear that the 40 page, legalese heavy privacy documents hidden in a website footer are out!

Want to know exactly what the OAIC requires from your school's digital tools and policies?

Read More
Jane Schwarzinger Jane Schwarzinger

Why Schools Need an E-Rideables and E-Bikes Policy

Walk past any school gate during the morning rush, and you will see it instantly, traditional push bikes and foot scooters are rapidly being replaced by high tech electric rides. While e-bikes and e-scooters are fantastic for independence, they introduce significant new challenges from high speed collisions on shared footpaths to the real threat of lithium-ion battery fires inside school buildings.

Read More