Schools are only legally required to respond to parents and guardians. The Education Act defines “parent” as a mother, father or guardian. This doesn’t include caregivers.
So, caregivers might not be able to do certain things relating to a student’s schooling. For example a caregiver isn’t legally entitled to:
enrol a child in school
receive school reports
give permission for a child to go on a school camp.
Some schools won’t ask for proof of guardianship. If you need to, you can apply to become a guardian. For more information, see the chapter “Parents, guardians and caregivers” in the Community Law Manual
Parents have rights and responsibilities when bringing up a child. These responsibilities involve contributing to the child’s emotional, cultural and social development. Parents make important decisions like naming a child and deciding where they live.
A guardian has the same duties, powers, rights and responsibilities that a parent has. You have to apply to the Family Court to be appointed as a guardian if you aren’t a “natural guardian”. Birth parents are usually natural guardians.
A caregiver is generally someone who regularly looks after a child. Caregivers do not have the same legal status as parents or guardians to make decisions about a child.