Page 3630 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
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This broad restriction has resulted in the committee arranging hearings, quoting evidence in the final report and not being able to share information with the public as it normally would. However, what we did was to release the submissions, hold hearings, and visit schools both here in the ACT and interstate. What we have not done, however, is to release the transcripts of those hearings and those visits. The committee encourages the Assembly to think carefully regarding referrals like this in the future. They are warranted in certain circumstances, and I firmly believe that this is one of them.
As part of the inquiry, the committee conducted a number of in-camera hearings, speaking to eight organisations and six individuals. The committee also visited nine schools and received 27 submissions. The committee notes that all schoolteachers and school leaders that the committee spoke to are committed to the elimination of bullying and violence in schools.
The committee made 23 recommendations and nine findings in its report. The recommendations focused on developing systems and tools for parents and students to report incidents of bullying and violence, and tools that support all stakeholders understanding what will happen following an incident being reported. The committee also highlights the need for a systematic approach to social and emotional learning programs operating in schools.
The committee would like to acknowledge the significant contributions from those participating in the inquiry, either by writing submissions or by attending as witnesses.
I want to be very clear on one point that I have just mentioned. From the witnesses and the visits that we undertook, it is very clear to me that teachers and principals in our schools care deeply about their students. They are all working hard to ensure that our schools are safe and positive places. I would also like to highlight something for those listening in who have a keen interest in our schools, and this is fleshed out in different aspects throughout the report: ACT schools are safe places. They are amazing places of learning, filled with exciting opportunities. There are instances of bullying and violence in our schools but they are the exception.
In regard to students, every student has the right to an education. That includes students exhibiting problematic behaviour and those who have been victims to bullying and violence. I freely admit that it is challenging to balance the right to education when this conflict arises, but I believe that the system in place now is a good one and I hope that our recommendations will make it an even better one.
There are a couple of recommendations that I would like to highlight. With respect to recommendation 6, for students who are victims of bullying and violence, I think that one of the easiest short circuits to that cycle is to give students the ability to pursue their education at another school. I think we can all agree that, ideally, this would not be needed, but in ensuring that the right to an education for every student is maintained, sometimes this is required.
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