Managing risk

Schools must follow the department's Work Health and Safety Risk Management process when planning and managing risks.

To assist schools manage risk and road safety schools can consider using:

This document suggests control measures that can be implemented as part of WHS risk management procedures to reduce road safety risks onsite and in the school traffic environment.

A suggested process to help address a road safety concern, as outlined below.


Educate, Inform, Notify Document to manage duty of care Educate, Inform, Notify Document to manage duty of care
Image: Mangaging a school's duty of care and road safety process

Educate

Which students need educating about the road safety concern?

  • individual or small groups of students
  • year/stage group of students
  • the whole school?

How will road safety education be made relevant?

Through:

  • localised, school-specific teaching and learning activities
  • identified outcomes
  • a strengths’ based approach?

Notify

If you need emergency services assistance call them before calling the WHS Incident Report and Support Hotline.

All department staff must report work health and safety (WHS) incidents, including injuries, hazards, and near misses, using the department’s approved reporting channels, in line with Incident notification and response procedures. This includes any non-workplace incident that impacts students, staff and the school community, e.g. travel to/from school.

Situations that have the potential to cause injury to an employee, student, member of the community, volunteer, or contractor should also be reported through the Mandatory incident reporting tools.

It is valuable to report all concerns to:

  • highlight that a risk exists
  • contribute to managing your duty of care
  • get the concern noted so appropriate support and corrective actions can be initiated to prevent further incidents
  • build a data profile that Health and Safety, and School Infrastructure NSW Directorates can use to bring about change for your school.

Who needs notifying if:

  • student/s are unsafe road users
  • the infrastructure is unsupportive to a safe school site or school zone
  1. Parents/carers
  2. Internally: school staff, P & C, school WHS Committee, WHS Advisor, WHS Incident Hotline, Assets Management UnitExternal link, local Director Educational Leadership, local Road Safety Education Officer
  3. Externally: Council Road Safety Officer or general manager, Transport for NSW, police highway patrol/liaison officer, council parking rangers, bus company, local businesses?

How can the notification be made?

e.g. phone call, face to face informal discussion/formal meeting, email, formal letters, Snap send solve app

Inform

Which parents/carers need informing about the road safety concern?

The parents of:

  • individual or small groups of students
  • a year/stage group of students
  • all students?

How will it be communicated?

  • e.g. social media (Facebook, school apps, Twitter)
  • newsletters
  • school website
  • enrolment pack information,
  • orientation day
  • school noticeboard sign, email
  • meetings
  • take-home activity/note

Document

Who will document, record and track the actions?

Reporting

  • class teachers, SASS staff, school executive

Managing

  • principal

How and where will the actions be documented, recorded and tracked?

Download a copy of Managing a school's duty of care and road safety process (PDF 184KB)

Category:

  • Teaching and learning

Business Unit:

  • Curriculum
Page details
Last modified date
09/06/2026
Business unit contact email
Executive director
Megan Kelly
Executive director’s business unit
Teaching Learning&Student Wellbeing
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