❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Education regarding the appropriateness of communication and support provided to parents after a teacher was charged with secretly filming students. The Minister defends the department's actions, citing cooperation with WA Police and adherence to their investigation requirements.
AnsweredQoN 205Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS — STAFF — ALLEGED CRIMINAL
CONDUCT
205. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for
Education:
I refer to the minister's
answer to question without notice 154 about the case of a teacher charged with
secretly filming students in a change room. The minister said he was confident
that the communication to parents and support offered to students, staff and
parents was appropriate and considered.
(1) Is the
minister aware that the first contact with parents was the police knocking on
parents' doors asking them to identify their children in photos?
(2) Is the
minister aware that no contact was initiated by the school or the department
following that police contact with parents?
(3) Is the
minister aware that it was only after concerned and angry parents asked the
school, and then the south metropolitan regional office, for information and
support to assist them to explain the circumstances to their children, that the
following day the south metropolitan director commenced phoning parents?
(4) In those
circumstances, does the minister stand by his answer yesterday and does he
still have confidence that the communication and support was appropriate?
CONDUCT
205. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for
Education:
I refer to the minister's
answer to question without notice 154 about the case of a teacher charged with
secretly filming students in a change room. The minister said he was confident
that the communication to parents and support offered to students, staff and
parents was appropriate and considered.
(1) Is the
minister aware that the first contact with parents was the police knocking on
parents' doors asking them to identify their children in photos?
(2) Is the
minister aware that no contact was initiated by the school or the department
following that police contact with parents?
(3) Is the
minister aware that it was only after concerned and angry parents asked the
school, and then the south metropolitan regional office, for information and
support to assist them to explain the circumstances to their children, that the
following day the south metropolitan director commenced phoning parents?
(4) In those
circumstances, does the minister stand by his answer yesterday and does he
still have confidence that the communication and support was appropriate?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) As the
investigating agency, WA Police takes the lead in criminal investigations and
the Department of Education cooperates with them. In order not to compromise
the investigation, the Department of Education was requested by WA Police not
to communicate with parents until such time as WA Police had identified
potential student victims and WA Police had made contact with parents.
(2) Each time WA
Police advised the regional executive director that they had contacted an
individual parent, the regional executive director then made phone calls to
each of those parents, with WA Police approval. These phone calls commenced at
1.20 pm on Friday, 11 March, with the last call to a parent at 8.45 pm on
Saturday, 12 March 2016. The regional executive director confirms that 13 parents
were contacted and spoken to on Friday, 11 March 2016, and on Saturday, 12 March
2016.
(3) This is not
the case. Once given approval by WA Police, the regional executive director
commenced phoning parents on Friday, 11 March 2016. On Monday, 14 March, the
regional executive director met with and supported approximately 30 concerned
parents. Once approved by WA Police, the regional executive director sent
letters to each family at the school on Monday, 14 March 2016, detailing
counselling and support services available to them.
(4) Yes, I am
confident that the communication to parents and the support offered to
students, staff and parents was appropriate and in accordance with the
requirements of WA Police as the investigating agency.
some notice of the question.
(1) As the
investigating agency, WA Police takes the lead in criminal investigations and
the Department of Education cooperates with them. In order not to compromise
the investigation, the Department of Education was requested by WA Police not
to communicate with parents until such time as WA Police had identified
potential student victims and WA Police had made contact with parents.
(2) Each time WA
Police advised the regional executive director that they had contacted an
individual parent, the regional executive director then made phone calls to
each of those parents, with WA Police approval. These phone calls commenced at
1.20 pm on Friday, 11 March, with the last call to a parent at 8.45 pm on
Saturday, 12 March 2016. The regional executive director confirms that 13 parents
were contacted and spoken to on Friday, 11 March 2016, and on Saturday, 12 March
2016.
(3) This is not
the case. Once given approval by WA Police, the regional executive director
commenced phoning parents on Friday, 11 March 2016. On Monday, 14 March, the
regional executive director met with and supported approximately 30 concerned
parents. Once approved by WA Police, the regional executive director sent
letters to each family at the school on Monday, 14 March 2016, detailing
counselling and support services available to them.
(4) Yes, I am
confident that the communication to parents and the support offered to
students, staff and parents was appropriate and in accordance with the
requirements of WA Police as the investigating agency.
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