Presbyterian Ladies’ College is a Uniting Church School committed to an excellent well-rounded educational experience that gives every girl confidence, empowers her to lead a principled life and make an active contribution to the Community.

Policy Statement

All students, parents/guardians, teachers and staff have the right to be safe and feel safe in their College community.

The PLC Community Code of Conduct provides members of the College community with guidelines for the effective development of positive relationships within the College community and assists in promoting the PLC Values.

Context

The Uniting Church in Australia celebrates diversity and seeks to be an inclusive church that lives out the Gospel of love, justice and reconciliation for all. The Uniting Church recognises the unique worth of every human being, and advocates for the welfare and flourishing of every person and the whole creation.

Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC) is a values-based community.

Staff, students, and parents/guardians subscribe to our values upon becoming members of the College. These values provide the compass by which we come together as a College community to support one another and be of service to others. The PLC Values, Integrity (Honore), Learning, Community and Effort (Labore), guide our PLC Community Code of Conduct.

The PLC Community Code of Conduct sets out clear standards of behaviour which are expected of all members of the PLC community in the school environment or when attending any College related function or activity at any other location.

The PLC Community Code of Conduct specifies the consequences for any member of the PLC community who does not comply with these standards of behaviour.

Application

The PLC Community Code of Conduct applies to all members of the PLC community, including students, staff, parents/guardians, volunteers, Council members, contractors, external education providers, friends, supporters and invitees of the College.

Guiding Principles

The following principles provide the framework for the PLC Community Code of Conduct:

  • Members of the College community have a responsibility to develop and maintain an environment where conflict and differences can be addressed in a manner characterised by respect, civility, and dignity.

Our Code of Conduct

As a member of the PLC Community, I will:

  • Support the College in the development of an inclusive and values-based learning community supporting the Uniting Church ethos.
  • Demonstrate honesty and integrity.
  • Respect diversity in people, their ideas and opinions and treat others fairly, regardless of their race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
  • Respect the legal and moral rights of others.
  • Treat others with dignity, civility, and respect at all times, and especially when there is a disagreement.
  • Seek staff assistance, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully.
  • Work with the College to deal promptly with areas of concern.
  • Show proper care and regard for College property and the property of others.
  • Respect and comply with all applicable Commonwealth and State laws.
  • Support the College’s policies; and
  • Acknowledge that the Principal is responsible for implementing the College’s policies.

Extensions of the PLC Community Code of Conduct  

The PLC Community Code of Conduct encompasses and is supported by the following documents:

Breaches of this Code of Conduct

The consequences to a member of the College community for breaching the PLC Community Code of Conduct will be determined by the Principal in accordance with the PLC Complaints & Grievance Policy and may include one or more of the following:

  • The College may ban any member of the College community from attending any extra-curricular activity,
  • The College may ban any member of the College community from being on the College grounds in general,
  • The College may direct that any member of the College community may only communicate with members of staff through a nominated College representative,
  • In the case of extreme or prolonged breach of the PLC Community Code of Conduct by a parent/guardian, the College may terminate the enrolment of the child of that parent, and
  • The College may take such other steps as it may in its reasonable discretion determine appropriate according to the nature of the breach.

Right of Appeal

The PLC Complaints and Grievance Policy ‘right of appeal’ will apply to any decision made by the Principal under the PLC Community Code of Conduct. The Policy is accessible on and can be downloaded from the College’s website.

Document Control

Executive Responsibility  PLC Council
Approved Date 28 November 2022