Two neighbouring northside state schools have recorded standout results in how they manage student behaviour, according to the Queensland Department of Education’s 2025 School Opinion Survey. But the strong support came from two entirely different groups.
At Zillmere State School, every parent who completed the survey agreed that student behavior was managed well. At nearby Taigum State School, it was the staff who gave a unanimous 100% vote of confidence.
The annual survey measures community perception rather than counting classroom disruptions or playground incidents. Yet for local families, the figures offer something just as valuable: a window into why parents and teachers feel confident when challenges arise.
Zillmere: Trust built through tough conversations
Maintaining parent trust can be difficult when disciplinary action hits close to home, which makes Zillmere’s parent result all the more striking.
Long-time mum has had five of her six children educated at Zillmere since 2006. Even when one of her children was suspended, she remained strongly supportive of the school’s leadership.
Rather than jumping straight to punishment, the mother says staff used a chaplain, weekly therapy-dog visits, and a wristband “time-out” system to help students settle. Suspension was used only after other measures failed, backed by frank, transparent conversations.
She also said that trust often grows when families understand what happened, know which supports were offered and believe the child was treated fairly.
That ethos aligns with Zillmere’s 2025 Annual Improvement Plan, which prioritises community hubs, a wellbeing garden, and targeted outreach for refugee, migrant, and Pasifika families.
The approach was put to the test in 2025, when Zillmere recorded a 19.1 percentage point rise in suspensions—the largest increase among Brisbane state schools. While a jump in suspensions might seem at odds with parent satisfaction, experts note that firm action can actually build confidence if handled correctly.
Australian Catholic University inclusion specialist Dr. Matthew White describes school discipline as a delicate balancing act: parents expect firm action when learning is disrupted, but over-reliance on suspensions can alienate families. Zillmere’s survey suggests parents feel the school is getting that balance right.
Taigum: A safety net for teachers
Over at Taigum State School, the strongest endorsement came from inside the staffroom.
Taigum was one of just five Brisbane state schools to record 100% staff agreement on behaviour management, alongside Kedron, Wondall Heights, Northgate, and Darra.
Rather than a school without challenging days, the result points to a staff that feels backed by workable systems. In 2025, Taigum expanded its guidance officer access to three days a week, introduced a new inclusion teacher, and launched “Taigum Talks“—regular sessions connecting parents directly with speech pathologists and learning heads.
When teachers have specialist support to adjust classroom routines early, they aren’t forced to manage complex behavioural needs alone.
The Takeaway
Zillmere and Taigum approached the challenge from different directions—one by rallying parent trust through open communication, the other by equipping teachers with strong internal support networks.
Neither survey result proves one school has “better-behaved” students than another. What they do show is confidence. Good behaviour management isn’t about pretending problems don’t happen. It’s about having a fair, practical plan when they do.
Published 25-July-2026
