Extracurricular activities are the heartbeat of a thriving school community, fostering teamwork, resilience, and personal growth. But beneath the surface, hidden risks pose serious threats to student welfare and school liability. Recent research from Macquarie University reveals that students who suffer concussions are 77% more likely not to complete Year 12 compared to their uninjured peers. Despite the undeniable benefits of extracurricular participation, outdated risk management processes can leave students vulnerable to serious health and academic consequences.
If your school is still relying on manual attendance tracking and fragmented incident reporting, the cost of not implementing a new system could be higher than you realise.
What the Data Tells Us About Concussion Risks in Schools
New research from Macquarie University has made it clear: concussions are not just short-term injuries—they have long-term academic consequences. The study compared students hospitalised with concussions to their uninjured peers and found shocking results:
- 30% were more likely to fail to meet minimum numeracy standards.
- 40% were more likely to fail to meet minimum reading standards.
- 43% were more likely to fail to meet minimum spelling standards.
- 64% were more likely not to complete Year 11.
- 77% were more likely not to complete Year 12.
These findings align with data from Clipboard’s Research Report, which highlights the urgent need for digital risk management in schools. According to the report, 93% of schools using a digital Extracurricular Management System (EMS) felt it significantly reduced their legal risk when tracking injuries. The study also found that schools have been held liable for up to $200,000 in damages when incidents were mishandled due to inadequate reporting systems.
One real-world case study from Melbourne highlights the consequences of outdated systems: a school faced nearly $200,000 in damages after a failure in concussion tracking and communication resulted in long-term student harm.
The Critical Role of Return to Play in Concussion Management
Concussions require structured recovery protocols to prevent long-term damage and ensure student safety. The Australian Sports Commission’s Graded Return to Sport Framework outlines a step-by-step process that schools should follow, including:
- Immediate removal from play and at least 24-48 hours of rest following a suspected concussion.
- Gradual reintroduction of physical and cognitive activities, ensuring students can tolerate increased activity without symptom recurrence.
- A minimum of 14 days symptom-free before engaging in contact training.
- No return to full-contact competition before 21 days post-concussion.
- Final clearance from a healthcare professional before resuming high-risk activities.
Ignoring these guidelines increases the likelihood of second-impact syndrome, which can lead to severe brain injury or even death. Schools must have clear, structured return-to-play policies to protect students and avoid legal and reputational risks.
You can see the graded return to sport framework here.
A Smarter Approach to Protecting Students and Schools
With student safety and academic success at stake, schools must prioritise real-time digital incident tracking. Clipboard’s Incidents Module is purpose-built to help schools manage concussion tracking effectively.
With Clipboard’s digital solution, schools can:
- Ensure real-time reporting of injuries to all relevant staff, reducing delayed or missed communication.
- Track student recovery and return-to-play protocols to ensure compliance with medical guidelines.
- Prevent long-term student harm by keeping a record of concussions and identifying students at higher risk.
- Reduce legal exposure by maintaining secure, time-stamped incident logs that demonstrate compliance with best practices.
- Enhance academic support by identifying at-risk students early and providing intervention strategies.
Don’t wait for an incident to reveal the gaps in your school’s safety measures. Download the full Clipboard Research Report to learn more about the risks, real-world case studies, and how Australian schools are using digital solutions to protect students and reduce liability.
Want to learn more?
We've compiled research and insights from multiple sources (including this study) to give you an even deeper understanding of the risks a school faces when it comes to incident management. You can download it here:
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Next Steps: Assess Your School’s Incident Management Processes
Are you confident in your school’s ability to track injuries and protect students? If you feel that there is room for improvement we'd be more than happy to give you a demo of how Clipboard can help ensure greater student saftey at your school .
Sources:
- Lystad, Reidar P.; McMaugh, Anne; Herkes, Geoffrey K., et al. (2023). Risk of impaired school performance in children hospitalized with concussion: a population-based matched cohort study. Concussion, Vol. 8, No. 3, CNC105.
- Australian Sports Commission (2024). Graded Return to Sport Framework for Community and Youth.
- Clipboard Research Report, Health, Legal & Reputational Risks in Extracurricular Activities (2025)
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