Healesville Primary School cancelled its grade 5/6 city camp on “advice from the Department of Education” in light of the terror attack in Bourke Street.
The school posted on its Facebook page that it was “not a decision taken lightly but the safety of our students is the main priority”.
The camp was due to begin on Monday 12 November.
“School will run as normal next week and a discussion will be had then about the next step,” the post said.
However, the department said it was not advising schools to cancel any normal school activities and spokesman Bruce Armstrong said “the principal took this decision due to concerns in the school community”.
“This decision was made just hours after the exclusion zone was lifted and we still weren’t clear on what exactly had happened and whether there was still any risk,” he said.
“Regional staff helped the principal with a risk assessment early on Saturday morning.
“As with all decisions about excursions, the decision to postpone the excursion was taken by the principal.
“We’ll work with the school to rearrange the trip and to make sure that no parents are out of pocket.
“I’d like to echo the calls for Victorians to go about their lives, and that includes schools.”
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told Neil Mitchell on 3AW he was surprised by the school’s actions.
“That’s exactly what terrorists want in those situations,” he said.
“We’ve been encouraging people to get on with their lives.”
