Feedback Session - VRQA Updated Guidelines 2026063W

Date and time

Wednesday 27 May 2026, 12.00 pm to 1.30 pm

Delivery mode

Facilitated online session

Background 

The Minimum Standards for Schools, which outline the basic legal requirements for schools to operate in Victoria, are spelled out at a high level in the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017. The Standards are then operationalised by the VRQA, who publish for schools their detailed Guidelines. Two separate processes are currently being undertaken that will affect the Standards.  

Firstly, at the start of May 2026, the VRQA released draft Guidelines for consultation, outlining in detail the requirements that schools need to meet in order to meet the Standards. The VRQA originally requested that interested parties provide feedback by Wednesday 20 May, but ISV has been able to negotiate a longer consultation period for schools. ISV is seeking to provide feedback by Friday 5 June 2026.  

From the VRQA’s perspective, the draft Guidelines do not represent a change in either the Standards or how the VRQA implements them. Instead, the VRQA believes that the draft Guidelines simply provide greater clarity around the Standards and the evidence that schools need to maintain to demonstrate compliance. As such, the VRQA is seeking feedback from ISV and from schools on the following two questions: 

1. Do the draft Guidelines provide sufficient clarity to schools regarding their requirements under the Standards and the evidence required to demonstrate compliance? Is there anything that is still unclear or missing?  
2. While this is not the VRQA’s intent, do stakeholders believe that the draft Guidelines go further in any areas than simply providing greater clarity, and constitute new obligations for schools? 

The release of the draft Guidelines reflects the VRQA’s implementation of the Standards as they currently exist.  

As a separate process, Vic DoE is undertaking consultation regarding possible changes to the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017, including potential changes to the Standards. Under Victorian law, all Regulations must be reviewed and updated every ten years, and these Regulations will sunset on 30 June 2027. ISV and schools therefore have a chance to influence, not just the VRQA’s interpretation of the Standards, but possible changes to the Standards themselves.  

Purpose of the Forum 

The forum will: 

• provide member schools with a high-level overview of several key areas of the draft Guidelines and the Regulations;  
• identify potential implications for Independent schools; and  
• seek practical feedback from schools to inform ISV’s submissions to the VRQA and Vic DoE.  

The structure of the forum will follow the structure of the Guidelines. Schools will be given the opportunity within the session to consider:  

• Guideline 1: Governance 
• Guideline 2: Student attendance and learning 
• Guideline 3: Student care, safety and welfare 
• Guideline 4: Staff 
• Guideline 5: School site, infrastructure and performance 
• Guideline 6: Senior and foundation secondary 
• Other emerging issues and operational concerns  

Within each section, participants will be asked first to provide comments about the draft Guidelines, and then to identify any beneficial changes to the Regulations that could be recommended to Vic DoE.  

Schools are welcome to inform ISV prior to the forum if there are particular issues that you would like to be covered during the session. 

Providing Feedback  

If you are unable to attend the forum, but wish to provide any feedback to inform ISV’s responses to the Victorian Regulation and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and/or the Victorian Department of Education (Vic DoE), please contact ISV by 3:00pm on Friday 29 May. 

If you intend to provide feedback directly to VRQA regarding the draft Guidelines, ISV would be interested in receiving a copy of this feedback, to ensure that our comments match those of schools.

All member schools will be provided with information on ISV’s responses both to the VRQA with regard to the draft Guidelines and to Vic DoE with regard to potential, future amendments to the Regulations and Minimum Standards. 

Presenter information