Appoint a skilled Critical Incident Recovery Team member to respond to media enquiries. A written press release may be useful. If necessary, protect others from contact with the media. Advice regarding this may be obtained from the DET Emergency Communications Centre and the DET Media Unit. Establish an open line of contact with the family or families directly involved. Provide out of school hours contact if necessary. This could be as simple as circulating the Principal’s telephone number. In more complex situations it may mean maintaining telephone contact at the school. Continue contact with the family to identify their expectations of the school, e.g. student participation in funeral or memorial service. Try to identify those most likely to need help, e.g. classmates, teacher, special friends. Some students not directly affected may become distressed. Ensure that counselling help is available. Contact the Regional Office and/or DET if necessary. All emergency or criminal activity, in which the safety or well-being of staff or students is at risk, or where there is a threat to property, must be reported immediately to the Department’s 24 hour Emergency and Security Management Branch on (03) 9589 6266. Continue to keep staff, students and parents informed, especially about what has happened and what the school is doing about it. As soon as possible call students together and provide information about what has happened and what the school is doing about it. A follow up letter home may be important. Provide counselling services for all. Ensure that there are suitable places in which this can take place. Be prepared to modify the timetable and other arrangements so that people are free to make use of available help. The class teacher may be the person to whom students first turn for help. Children wishing to attend funerals should do so in the company of their parents. Provide meaningful participation for those not actually attending the service. Continue normal routines at school but acknowledge the effect of tragedy on the school community. Be flexible with those in need of help. Be aware that many people may be deeply affected, e.g. an event may cause a person to recall some traumatic event involving them in the past. The anniversary may also be a difficult time. Maintain links with the family. The school and family may wish to develop a memorial garden, erect a memorial plaque, or display a photo in a prominent position in the school. Be sensitive to staff and student’s needs over a period of time. Links and Appendices (including processes related to this policy)
Appoint a skilled Critical Incident Recovery Team member to respond to media enquiries. A written press release may be useful. If necessary, protect others from contact with the media. Advice regarding this may be obtained from the DET Emergency Communications Centre and the DET Media Unit. Establish an open line of contact with the family or families directly involved. Provide out of school hours contact if necessary. This could be as simple as circulating the Principal’s telephone number. In more complex situations it may mean maintaining telephone contact at the school. Continue contact with the family to identify their expectations of the school, e.g. student participation in funeral or memorial service. Try to identify those most likely to need help, e.g. classmates, teacher, special friends. Some students not directly affected may become distressed. Ensure that counselling help is available. Contact the Regional Office and/or DET if necessary. All emergency or criminal activity, in which the safety or well-being of staff or students is at risk, or where there is a threat to property, must be reported immediately to the Department’s 24 hour Emergency and Security Management Branch on (03) 9589 6266. Continue to keep staff, students and parents informed, especially about what has happened and what the school is doing about it. As soon as possible call students together and provide information about what has happened and what the school is doing about it. A follow up letter home may be important. Provide counselling services for all. Ensure that there are suitable places in which this can take place. Be prepared to modify the timetable and other arrangements so that people are free to make use of available help. The class teacher may be the person to whom students first turn for help. Children wishing to attend funerals should do so in the company of their parents. Provide meaningful participation for those not actually attending the service. Continue normal routines at school but acknowledge the effect of tragedy on the school community. Be flexible with those in need of help. Be aware that many people may be deeply affected, e.g. an event may cause a person to recall some traumatic event involving them in the past. The anniversary may also be a difficult time. Maintain links with the family. The school and family may wish to develop a memorial garden, erect a memorial plaque, or display a photo in a prominent position in the school. Be sensitive to staff and student’s needs over a period of time. Links and Appendices (including processes related to this policy)
7-Critical-Incident.docx