Objectives

1. To ensure that all appropriate actions are taken to encourage and enable pregnant students and young mothers to complete secondary education;
2. To promote curriculum and assessment programs, school policies, student welfare and student behaviour management practices which effectively address the issues surrounding teenage pregnancy and young parenthood.
3. To encourage partnerships between education systems, schools and other government and community agencies to increase the rate of school completion among pregnant students and young mothers.

1. All students have the right to develop at school the knowledge, skills and attitudes to function successfully in life beyond school, to access further education and training and to secure rewarding and worthwhile employment.
2. School completion is critical to the quality of life and future life pathways of young mothers and their children.
3. Pregnant students and young parents have the right to expect that school and systemic requirements will be flexible and responsive to their changing circumstances.
4. Pregnant students and young parents have the right to an education in a safe and supportive environment, free from harassment and discrimination.

1. Develop and promote policy and guidelines to support schools to retain pregnant students and young mothers in education.
2. Ensure that professional development, training and appropriate resources are available to support schools in assisting pregnant students and young mothers to complete secondary schooling.
3. Liaise with post-secondary education and training providers to negotiate appropriate consideration for pregnant students and young mothers seeking entry to tertiary courses.
4. Develop interagency linkages with other government and community agencies to ensure that the health, welfare, financial, social and childcare needs of pregnant students and young parents are met in ways which increase the chances of their completing secondary education.
5. Develop systemic requirements for schools to track and report on educational initiatives and outcomes for young women who become mothers while at school.
6. Develop processes to track and monitor educational outcomes for pregnant students and young mothers.

1. Promote the importance of completing secondary schooling to all students and give clear and explicit messages that the school welcomes pregnant students and young mothers and will support them to complete their education.
2. Ensure that the school develops and promotes policy to retain pregnant students and young mothers in education, and that all students, staff, parents and caregivers are familiar with school policy.
3. Promote an "open-door" climate which makes clear that young mothers are welcome to return to school at a later date if their attendance is disrupted by issues associated with their pregnancy or parenting.
4. Ensure that comprehensive and up-to-date information is readily available to students, staff and parents/caregivers in relation to the assistance available to pregnant students and young mothers.
5. Develop flexible approaches to issues which impact on the capacity of pregnant students and young mothers to complete secondary education, such as:
6. Workload and course design;
7. Assessment;
8. Uniform and dress codes;
9. Attendance requirements;
10. Daytime contact between mother and child or care-providers;
11. Space and privacy for specific needs e.g. breastfeeding or expressing milk;
12. Costs associated with schooling.
13. Ensure that all staff and students are skilled to contribute to a safe and supportive learning environment for pregnant students and young mothers by actively discouraging direct and indirect discrimination, including harassment.
14. Ensure the provision of professional development and training to staff to assist them to support pregnant students and young mothers to complete secondary education.
15. Ensure that appropriate staff develop linkages with other agencies to ensure that the health, welfare, financial, social and childcare needs of pregnant students and young mothers are met in ways which increase the chances of their completing secondary education.
16. Develop processes to track and monitor educational outcomes for pregnant students and young mothers.

1. Promote the importance of school completion, and ensure that all students are aware of the school’s support for pregnant students and young mothers.
2. Develop supportive relationships with pregnant students and young mothers and assist them to seek support when necessary.
3. Actively encourage a supportive and welcoming classroom free of harassment and discrimination.
4. Develop flexible approaches to curriculum, pedagogy and assessment which will encourage pregnant students and young mothers to remain at school.

1. Ensure that comprehensive and up-to-date information is readily available to students, staff and parents/caregivers in relation to assistance available to pregnant students and young parents.
2. Support pregnant students and young mothers in informed decision-making, and in discussing issues related to their pregnancy and parenting with family/care-givers, partners, school staff and other agencies and professionals.
3. Support (when possible) pregnant students and young mothers to maintain supportive relationships with their parents and extended families.
4. Develop linkages with other agencies to ensure that health, welfare, housing, financial, social and childcare needs of pregnant students and young mothers are met in ways which increase their chances of completing secondary education.
5. Develop communication channels with school administrators and staff to ensure that issues impacting on individual pregnant students and young mothers are understood, that students confidentiality is protected, and that practical alterations to school processes are advocated.
6. Actively promote the importance of school completion, and ensure that all students are aware of the school’s support for pregnant students and young mothers.