The victimisation of parents of children with disabilities, teachers and their advocates who make complaints about the treatment of students has been a significant problem for many years. Examples of victimisation can be found in the attached submission at page 36.
Senate Inquiry into Abuse of People with Disabilities
In addition to the information in the submission, a number of parents have found themselves the subject of Child Protection visits after making a complaint about their school. Parents report this occurring at Ivanhoe East Primary School, Monash SDS, Marnebek School, Vermont Primary School and Bendigo SDS.
Teachers in the North Western region have found themselves terminated and unemployable after putting in complaints about Bendigo SDS.
Parents, teachers and advocates have reported that victimisation due to making complaints continues to date, despite rearranging personnel at the Department of Education and Training late in 2015 in response to the recent IBAC (Independent Broad-Based Anticorruption Commission) inquiries.
The Senate Community Affairs References Committee who in 2015 oversaw an inquiry into violence abuse and neglect against people with disabilities provided DET with an opportunity to respond to a submission from Disability Advocate Julie Phillips who made numerous allegations of abuse against them. DET Secretary Gill Callister responded to the Committee on 29/9/15 without refuting one specific allegation of abuse made, but rather attempting to impugn the integrity of the advocate. Click the link below to view the response and the reply.
Victimisation Disability Advocate
Members of the current government have worked together to obstruct any investigation of a victimisation allegation against Ms Callister as of January 2017, despite requests for an investigation to the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Premier Daniel Andrews, and Minister James Merlino beginning November 2015.
Therefore on one hand Ms Callister has stated she is reforming DET and will not tolerate victimisation, and on the other hand is victimising those who report abuse of students, with the protection of the current government. As at the end of 2018, Ms Callister has resigned.