Update to essential reference for Australian teachers released

Schools are complicated environments in which legal issues can easily arise. Teachers, Students and the Law: A quick reference guide for Australian teachers (5th edition) is a comprehensive, plain language guide to the legal rights and responsibilities of educators working in Australian schools – now comprehensively revised to bring it fully up to date.

ACER Press publisher Elisa Webb said revisions were necessary to keep teachers fully informed on their legal responsibilities in a changing world.

‘Education is constantly shifting to incorporate new technologies, to reflect changing social expectations and, recently, to meet restrictions created by a global pandemic,’ Ms Webb said. ‘It’s crucial that teachers are given the information they need to protect their students – and themselves – in current conditions.’

The book covers topics like cyberbullying, discrimination and family law, and new advice on potential issues around online learning has been added.

In his foreword, Professor Andrew Lynch, Acting Dean of UNSW’s Faculty of Law & Justice, said that the inclusion of the impact of the COVID pandemic on the educational landscape was timely, and called the updated edition a ‘highly accessible guide’.

‘A sound awareness of legal responsibilities and rights can help teachers and principals navigate the very special challenges that come from working with and caring for young people,’ Professor Lynch said.

As a barrister and teacher, Vivien Millane’s practical experience in the education and legal sectors makes her well placed to write Teachers, Students and the Law. In the book, Ms Millane wrote that she aimed to answer many common questions about the legal issues teachers face, and to point teachers to other sources for more detailed advice. And while its focus on the teacher-student relationship makes it most relevant for educators, Ms Millane said non-teaching and administrative staff in schools would find it a helpful source of information.

Teachers, Students and the Law: A quick reference guide for Australian teachers (5th edition) is published on 1 October 2021.