School Enrolment as a Grandparent in Victoria Without a Parenting Order

You Do Not Need a Court Order to Enrol a Child

This is the question that sends many grandparents into a panic: the school asks for proof of guardianship and you do not have a court order. The good news is that Victorian education policy explicitly allows informal carers to enrol a child without one.

The Victorian Department of Education recognises that children sometimes live with grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives under private family arrangements. For these situations, the department has created a standardised process using an Informal Carer Statutory Declaration.

What the Informal Carer Statutory Declaration Is

The Statutory Declaration is a formal legal document where you declare, under penalty of law, that you are the child's primary day-to-day carer. It replaces the need for a parenting order or birth parent signature on enrolment forms.

The declaration confirms:

• You are providing day-to-day care for the child
• The arrangement is ongoing (not a temporary visit)
• You are taking responsibility for the child's education and welfare while they are in your care

A statutory declaration has legal weight — making a false statement in one is a criminal offence in Victoria. Schools accept them because the Department of Education policy backs them as sufficient proof for enrolment.

Step by Step: Enrolling the Child

1. Contact the school. Call or visit the school office and explain that you are the child's grandparent (or relative) and primary carer. Ask for their enrolment pack and mention you will be using the Informal Carer Statutory Declaration.

2. Complete the Statutory Declaration. The school may provide the form, or you can use the standard Victorian statutory declaration template. State your full name, your relationship to the child, the child's full name and date of birth, and that you are providing primary day-to-day care.

3. Have the declaration witnessed. A statutory declaration must be witnessed by an authorised person — a justice of the peace, pharmacist, doctor, police officer, or certain other professionals. JPs cannot charge for witnessing, but check the Victorian JP directory for local availability before you go.

4. Submit the enrolment forms. Hand in the completed enrolment form alongside the witnessed Statutory Declaration. Bring any supporting documents you have: the child's birth certificate, immunisation records, previous school reports, and your own identification.

5. Provide emergency contacts and medical consent. The school will ask for your contact details as the primary contact and may need a separate medical consent form for first aid and excursions. The Statutory Declaration generally covers day-to-day school consent, but the school may have its own additional forms.

What the Statutory Declaration Does and Does Not Give You

It gives you:

• Authority to enrol the child
• Status as the school's primary contact
• Consent authority for routine school matters (excursions, activities, photos)

It does not give you:

• Legal guardianship or custody
• Authority that overrides a parent's objection (if a parent actively disputes the enrolment, the school may need to involve DFFH or seek legal guidance)
• Permanent parental responsibility — the biological parents retain legal responsibility unless a court order says otherwise

If the child's parent is cooperative or absent, the Statutory Declaration works smoothly. If there is an active dispute between you and the parent about where the child should be enrolled, ask the school to seek guidance from the Department of Education Legal Division.

CSEF and School Financial Help

Once enrolled, ask the school about the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF). If you hold a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, or Veterans Affairs Gold Card on the first day of Term 1 or Term 2, the child qualifies for $400 per year towards school activities. The application goes through the school.

Also ask about State Schools' Relief — the principal or wellbeing coordinator can apply on the child's behalf for free uniforms, shoes, and study materials.

The Victoria Kinship Carer Support guide includes the Statutory Declaration process, school consent forms, and every school-related financial support available to kinship carers.

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