Alcohol and Drugs

Context

Drug and alcohol abuse by students affects other students, staff and the organisation as a whole. The most significant effects are:

• when a student is abusing drugs or alcohol their academic performance will be impaired
• when a student is abusing drugs or alcohol they pose a health and safety risk to other students and staff
• students who are using drugs can negatively influence other students, causing drug or alcohol abuse to increase among students
• students that are abusing drugs or alcohol take valuable teacher time away from other students
• if alcohol or drug abuse becomes common practice among students this may influence the public perception of Dev Academy as a quality training provider
• if students escalate to selling drugs from Dev Academy-controlled premises the organisation could be at significant legal liability.

Alcohol on campus

Alcohol may be provided for students during Bootcamp Showcase presentations. Students are not permitted to bring alcohol onto campus. Students may not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs whilst on campus outside of our Bootcamp showcase or other instances which are authorised by staff.

Procedures

The following procedure will be followed when there is a consistent pattern of students performance on the course dropping and/or poor performance and the suspected reason is alcohol or drug use:

Concern by member of staff

If a member of staff is concerned about a student’s performance on the course and they suspect that the reason for impaired performance is related to alcohol or drug use they should report this concern to the CEO. A list of reasonable grounds for suspicion includes but is not limited to a sustained pattern of:

1. Lack of focus or concentration
2. Lack of energy or motivation
3. Lateness or absence
4. Significant personality change
5. Irritability
6. Forgetfulness
7. Declining or poor performance

Action by CEO

The CEO will:

1. Speak with team members involved with the student to gather observed evidence. This must be done in a way that does not compromise the confidentiality of the student.
2. Review the student’s performance including:
   1. Attendance
   2. Academic performance
   3. Training pathway
   4. Teacher observations
   5. Any other information they consider relevant
3. Seek advice as required
4. Interview the student to decide whether the conduct of the student is of significant magnitude to review the student’s status on the course. They will assess the level of alcohol or drug use by the student and how it is impacting their performance on the course.

There are three options for recommendations concerning the student’s status:

1. No change

   There is not a case for further action. The student is either not using drugs or their performance problems are not alcohol or drug related.

   Action: No further action will be taken. The member of staff who raised the concern will be informed.

2. Conditional retention

   If the student is cooperative and open to additional support, the student will benefit from additional support from the Human SKills Teacher to develop and coordinate the student’s support plan. The student’s retention on the course is conditional on their cooperation with the support plan.

   Action: Referred to Human Skills Teacher to develop a support plan. Conditional retention noted on student’s file.

3. Dismissal

   If the CEO concludes the student’s conduct is sufficiently disruptive they will be dealt with as per the existing policy STU 7.0 - Student Conduct (parts of which are detailed below). If the student is selling drugs from the Dev Academy premises the matter will be referred to the police.

   Action: CEO acts as per the existing policy STU 7.0 or refers the matter to the police.