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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 06 Hansard (Thursday, 24 June 2004) . . Page.. 2809 ..

schools, the Minister or the Department in (a) 2001-2002, (b) 2002-2003 and (c) 2003-2004 to date;

(2) What is the breakdown of schools for these reported incidents;

(3) What action was taken by the schools, the Minister or the Department to investigate these reports;

(4) Has any action been taken on teachers as a result of these investigations;

(5) If so, what has that action been;

(6) What programs are in place for teachers to advise them about bullying or harassment towards students.

Ms Gallagher: The answer to Mr Pratt’s question is:

(1) (a,b,c) If reports of incidents of teachers bullying or harassing students are received by the Minister’s office, they are referred to the department for action and advice. Reports of these incidents from schools or other sources are not kept centrally by the department. In the first instance all ‘reports’ of this nature are treated as unsubstantiated allegations.

(2) See answer to (1)

(3) Action on reports may be taken in a variety of ways. Complaints made at the school may be dealt with informally through mediation; or more formally through investigation and, where appropriate, referral to the department according to the procedures outlined in the department’s Complaint Resolution Policy. A complaint made to the Minister’s office is referred to the Executive Director School Education for investigation and action. Where a complaint may involve misconduct by a teacher, the department’s usual disciplinary processes will be followed.

(4) If an allegation of bullying or harassment by a teacher is proven, the Public Sector Management Act provides for a range of possible penalties ranging from counselling to dismissal. Where counselling of a teacher has occurred, a record has been placed on the teacher’s personal file.

(5) See (4)

(6) All ACT government schools are designated Safe Schools and as such adhere to the policy set out in the Safe Schools Policy Framework. The Safe Schools Policy Framework addresses the need to ensure that students “feel safe and are free from verbal and physical abuse and harassment in the playground, classroom and allied teaching and sporting areas”. This is available from the department’s website.

ACT Government schools regularly address bullying and harassment issues within their professional development programs. Schools appoint equity and diversity contact officers for staff and Anti-Sexual Harassment and Anti-Racism Contact Officers for students. School counsellors also support students to resolve issues of alleged harassment or bullying.

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