The new Act will come into operation during 2020, supporting South Australia's ambition to deliver world-class education.

What This Means:

• Introduced new protections for school and preschool staff and tougher penalties for those who abuse teachers and principals
• Introduced tougher penalties against those who use abusive, threatening or insulting language or behave in an offensive or threatening manner to a school staff member acting in the course of their duties – maximum fines increased to $2500.
• Extended the rules allowing public schools to bar individuals for bad behaviour so that now government preschools and non-government schools, preschools and all children’s services can do the same – maximum fine for breaching a barring order lifted from $200 to $2500.
• Made it easier for schools to get the information they need about students
• Given principals the right to request reports from a child’s previous school or preschool on academic progress and other relevant information so they can support the safety and wellbeing of the student and others.
• The department, government agencies, schools, preschools and children’s services are now explicitly permitted to share information on the education, health, safety, welfare and wellbeing of a child to support their education journey.
• The Department can now require parents/ carers to provide information, including medical and other details about a child, to help a school or preschool cater to their needs.
• Introduced a strong new approach to attendance to get kids in school and keep them there
• New tough penalties for parents/ carers who allow their child to be chronically truant – maximum fine increased from $500 to $5000.
• Introduced a positive obligation on parents/ carers to take all reasonable steps to ensure attendance, making it easier for the department to prosecute offences.
• New family conferences will support families to make voluntary arrangements to address chronic non-attendance.
• Parents/ carers are now required by law to provide a reason for a child’s absence within 5 days.
• Increased the penalty for parents/ carers who don’t enrol their child in school or an approved learning program – up from $500 to $5000.
• introduced new powers to address bullying and serious assaults
• The Chief Executive now has circuit-breaking power to direct that a child be enrolled at a different school for the health, safety and welfare of them or other students and staff in response to serial bullying or a serious assault.
• The Bill introduces new rules ensuring fair enrolment
• Students can now be redirected to a different school if they were enrolled on the basis of false or misleading information under new powers given to the Chief Executive.
• Giving more support to governing councils
• Introducing an independent fund for governing councils to pay for the costs of legal advice in relation to disputes with the department.
• Tightened the rules so that the presiding member of a governing council will need to be a parent/ carer of a student unless no parent/ carer is willing to do the job.
• Introduced clearer rules for religious and cultural activities
• Principals are now required to give notice to parents/ carers of a religious or cultural activity so they can make informed decisions about their child’s involvement.
• Children who don’t participate must now be offered an appropriate alternative activity and not suffer any detriment for not participating.
• Modernised employment provisions
• The department will now be able to directly employ a broader range of staff in schools, including nurses, social workers, youth workers, psychologists and other professionals that a school community may need.
• The department will be able to offer special remuneration to attract and retain highly skilled school and preschool leaders and teachers.

Reference: 
South Australia To Introduce New Education and Children's Act In 2020, Aussie Childcare Network, 5th September 2019