A new advisory group looking into the management of violence in schools is unlikely to hear directly from the families or teachers affected or investigate specific schools, ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry revealed on Tuesday.
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Instead, an expert panel will examine existing school violence processes, using past incidents as case studies to determine where systems may be failing.
"It is not an independent inquiry where a report will come about that points fingers at individuals or schools or children or families," Ms Berry said.
"This is not about demonising or belittling or making a spectacle of what is a very serious and sometimes quite complex issue."
Ms Berry said the advisory group would not hear people's experiences directly but would advise her office, rather than education directorate, on opportunities for strengthening existing policies.
A spokeswoman later clarified that the committee would have some discretion over how it conducts the review, which will run until September 13, and may seek conversations with students, teachers or parents.
"The idea is this is looking at systems that have [already] been implemented based on expert advice," Ms Berry said.
"If they are not working and if there are gaps in them, they will be identified and reccomendations will be made to me."
Child welfare advocate and Senior Australian of the Year Dr Sue Packer will join seven experts from the community and schools on the panel chaired by retired government official Sue Chapman.
According to the review's terms of reference, the government is "seeking assurances that its responses to bullying and violence in schools is robust" and the panel will consider approaches in other jurisdictions as well as potential indicators and data that could improve early intervention.
It is unclear how many previous incidents of violence will be used as case studies but the panel will consider accountability and school-based management of attacks.
Ms Berry said her dismissal of calls for an independent inquiry was not about protecting the ACT government from criticism.
On Tuesday, the ABC reported private social media groups were being used to share videos of Canberra school students taking part in fights. The broadcaster published footage from videos that appeared to show Canberra students fighting, with some faces blurred.
Ms Berry told ABC Radio Canberra that social media companies should have to take responsibility for videos of violent fights being shared.
Opposition spokeswoman for education Elizabeth Lee described the footage as horrific and agreed with Ms Berry that everyone in the community, including social media companies and the media, had a reponsibility to stop the spread of such content.
The Canberra Times has learnt of long-standing concerns about the management of violence in at least eight ACT public schools as well as incidents in non-government schools. It has also obtained footage of recent student brawls on public school grounds circulated in private messages on Snapchat and via text message. But the directorate has repeatedly refused to answer questions on such incidents.
On Tuesday, multiple families told this masthead they remained sceptical of the minister's review, raising concerns the committee's focus would be limited to just a few incidents included as case studies.
The review follows relevations in The Canberra Times about schoolyard attacks and calls from the opposition for an independent expert to audit responses to violence in schools.
A petition started by parents calling for such an inquiry has since reached 500 signatures and will be presented to the assembly this week.
ACT Policing has been contacted regarding footage depicting student assaults.
