South Australian Department for Education and Child Development (DECD)

School Dress Code Policy

The Department for Education and Child Development School Dress Code Policy states that:

Regardless of a student’s gender, the dress code should be flexible, and allow the right of choice. This includes the choice of clothing that allows for freedom of movement, level of comfort, safety, consideration of climatic factors, and specific circumstances such as pregnancy.

Thus any state school in South Australia that does not allow girls to choose from a range of options that include shorts and long pants would appear to be in contravention of DECD’s policy.

The DECD’s School Dress Code Policy can be found here:

https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net691/f/school-dress-code-procedure.pdf?v=1480484709

Letter for Education Department

If your school is not following the Department’s policy, or you think the policy is inadequate to ensure shorts and pants are made available to girls, write to the department so that they can take action.

Use our letter template that can be downloaded and edited here.