2019-07-03
The complainant’s 10-year-old son has anxiety and processing speed difficulties and attended the respondent public primary school. The complainant alleged the school discriminated against her son on the ground of disability including by failing to develop a behaviour support plan, allowing him to be bullied, suspending him on a number of occasions and restricting his hours of attendance. She also alleged the school’s principal assaulted her son. The complainant alleged that following a complaint about the school’s treatment of her son, a departmental representative victimised her by failing to provide her with information about her son’s schooling or the progress of the complaint. The complainant’s son no longer attended the school.
On being advised of the complaint, the school and relevant government department indicated a willingness to try to resolve the matter by conciliation.
The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the school pay the complainant $40,000 and the principal write to her son apologising for the way he felt during his time at the school and acknowledging he could have helped him more.
Year
Discrimination type
Disability Discrimination Act
Grounds
Disability
Unlawful to contravene Disability Standards
Victimisation
Areas
Education
Goods, services and facilities
Compensation
Statement of regret
Amount
$40,000