It’s a result of on-site therapy services and a range of external support services for its students, according to the Department of Education.
The News reached out to GSSC with several questions after the college made national headlines earlier this week after one media outlet described it as “Victoria’s wildest school”.
The Department of Education responded on the school’s behalf, stating that several disciplinary measures were in place to address behavioural issues and ensure the wellbeing of students and staff at GSSC.
A news.com.au article reported there were 456 suspensions handed down to students at Greater Shepparton Secondary College during 2024, the most of any school in the state.
The next highest, the article said, was Mount Ridley P-12 College in Craigieburn, with six fewer suspensions, at 450.
The information was reportedly obtained via Freedom of Information laws.
The Department of Education did not confirm nor deny the accuracy of the 2024 suspension figures, but it did say the figures had dropped by 13 per cent the following year.
In 2024, there were around half the students enrolled in Mount Ridley P-12 College’s Year 7 to 12 year levels as there were at GSSC (2,031).
The article did not break down how many of the reported 450 suspensions were handed to students at Mount Ridley P-12’s senior school and junior school levels.
Suspensions are not only the result of violent altercations.
The Department of Education states grounds for suspension and expulsion do include posing a danger to other students or staff, but also for causing significant damage to property or continually interfering with the education of peers.
“Where disciplinary action is required, principals use a range of options including suspension and expulsion to manage student behaviour in schools and meet the expectations of school communities,” a Department of Education spokesperson said.
“Expulsion is only used as an absolute last resort as we want every Victorian student to be able to attend their local school.”
It said that suspension figures at a local level could be affected by enrolment growth and schools taking a stronger stand against inappropriate behaviour than other schools might.
GSSC has one of the highest enrolments of Victorian schools.
Vulnerable students are supported by a wellbeing support team of more than 25 staff at the school, including the Doctors in Schools program, mental health practitioners, social and youth workers, cultural aides and educators.
In July, around 35 leaders from Goulburn Valley schools, community organisations and agencies, sporting and cultural groups, industry representatives and police met in Shepparton to brainstorm a collaborative approach to tackle youth violence in the area, in and outside of schools.
Greater Shepparton police Superintendent Brett Kahan said at the time there was “a very small proportion of violent crime committed by youth in Greater Shepparton”, despite public perception.
“But ... it’s really prevalent because they film through social media their crimes, and when that gets out into social media, people become concerned,” Supt Kahan said.
The group has been working on a draft strategy, youth safety and violence prevention strategy and a whole-of-community strategy with items for agencies who met in July to action.
They will meet again on September 11.
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