For Parents

Here at TASSO, we understand that parents are integral to the success of our schools and students. Whether you’re looking to get more involved with your school committee, understand more about how you can support your child’s learning, or just stay informed about educational developments in Tasmania, we’re here to help.

Making a Complaint

We’re here to help resolve any issues you might encounter within your State School Organisation or with TASSO. If you have concerns or complaints, please feel free to share them with us.

Your feedback is important to us. It helps us improve and work more effectively for all students and families.

How do i make a complaint at my school?

Step 1

Raise the concern with the class teacher and senior staff at the school. TASSO recommend emailing the class teacher with:

An outline of what happened.
Request a meeting to discuss.
Take a support person and take notes.

Step 2

Request a meeting via email and outline the concerns. Let them know you’re bringing a support person. Outline what you are seeking to understanding maybe it’s:

What actions have been taken so far?
What practices can you do to support your student.
What support from staff or counselling is available for you child?
What can you do, as parents, to help ensure that your child is at school and learning?

Your support person

Through the whole process you are welcome to have a support person with you. A support person can be:

Your partner
A friend
A family member
Someone from your School Association Committee

Have your support person make notes about the meeting.

The aim is to work with the school for an early resolution to ensure your student is safe and learning. If an early resolution is not achieved, then you can lodge a request for an internal review following.

Request an internal review

Joining a Committee

If you’re interested in taking an active role in your State School Organisation, joining your school’s committee is a great way to do so.

Committee ballots take place before the end of the school association year, or if there is a vacancy. The Chairperson or Principal can give you more information about your committee. They can explain when nominations for the committee are due and what roles are available.

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FAQs

What is a School Association?

A school Association works together for the benefit of the school. This includes parents, school staff and the community working with the school’s Principal to achieve shared outcomes for learners attending the school, and for the benefit of the whole school community.

What is the name of my School Association?

The name of your School Association is established under the Education Act 2016 and is “School Name” Association. For example, “Kingston High School Association” or “Hellyer College Association”.

School Associations cannot use “Inc” or ‘Incorporated” after their association name.

Who is a member of the School Association?

Parents, guardians and school staff members (including the Principal) are automatically members of the School Association and community members can apply to join the School Association.

If a parent is also a staff member (permanent or fixed-term contract) at the school they are counted as a staff member. Someone engaged as a relief or casual employee is not considered a staff member of the School Association.

Staff members (including those who are also parents at the school) have the same voting rights as parent members and approved community members, and their participation is only limited by their ability to hold the Committee position of Chairperson.

Parent and staff members can elect to ‘opt out’ of the Association. In most schools, the School Business Manager is responsible for maintaining a record of membership.

What is the difference between the School Association and the School Association Committee?

The School Association is an incorporated entity (a body corporate established under an Act of Parliament is an incorporated entity) and is made up of parents, staff and approved community members.

The School Association Committee is an elected group of School Association members for administrative and decision making as a representative group of the School Association.

Who can be on the School Association Committee?

Anyone from the School Association (parent, staff or community members) can nominate to be on the Committee. The maximum number of Committee members depends on the maximum listed in the School Association Constitution; however, a Committee can function with a minimum of five elected members.

To ensure the Committee is representative of the Association members, it must consist of:

no less than three parent members
no more than three community members
at least one staff member, but no more than three staff members
the Principal