❓ Hon. Linda Savage questions the Minister for Education about implementing a specific homophobic bullying policy. The Minister responds that existing policies address homophobic bullying and additional guidelines are being developed.
AnsweredQoN 958Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
EDUCATION —
HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING POLICY
958. Hon LINDA SAVAGE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the comments by the minister reported on ABC News
online on 9 October 2012 that ''bullying is one of the most significant
issues facing students, as they become much more sophisticated in the way they
intimidate their peers and teachers. There are thousands of students who turn
up to our schools every day and suffer in silence as a result of intimidatory
tactics of their peers''.
(1) Is the
minister now considering a specific homophobic bullying policy as recommended
by experts, including Professor Donna Cross?
(2) If no to (1), in view of the minister's comments,
why is he not reconsidering current strategies?
HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING POLICY
958. Hon LINDA SAVAGE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the comments by the minister reported on ABC News
online on 9 October 2012 that ''bullying is one of the most significant
issues facing students, as they become much more sophisticated in the way they
intimidate their peers and teachers. There are thousands of students who turn
up to our schools every day and suffer in silence as a result of intimidatory
tactics of their peers''.
(1) Is the
minister now considering a specific homophobic bullying policy as recommended
by experts, including Professor Donna Cross?
(2) If no to (1), in view of the minister's comments,
why is he not reconsidering current strategies?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question, which was asked on 16 October,
but is still relevant. I also recently answered a very similar question from
Hon Lynn MacLaren.
(1) As the Department of Education's
behaviour management in schools policy requires all schools to develop an
environment free of violence, coercion and discrimination and makes specific
reference to homophobic bullying, there is no intention to create a specific
homophobic bullying policy.
The department is proposing that
guidelines to support schools to effectively deal with homophobic bullying are
drafted under the auspices of the gender and sexuality-based bullying and
discrimination in schools steering committee, which is convened by the Equal
Opportunity Commission. The Department of Education is represented on this
committee. These support materials will assist schools to prevent and manage
all bullying and specifically homophobic bullying.
(2) The
development and provision of additional guidelines and support materials that
specifically target homophobic bullying will provide schools with the
flexibility to implement the behaviour management in schools policy and best
address the unique needs of their student cohort. It will also ensure that all
resources provided to schools are reflective of current research in the area.
honourable member for some notice of the question, which was asked on 16 October,
but is still relevant. I also recently answered a very similar question from
Hon Lynn MacLaren.
(1) As the Department of Education's
behaviour management in schools policy requires all schools to develop an
environment free of violence, coercion and discrimination and makes specific
reference to homophobic bullying, there is no intention to create a specific
homophobic bullying policy.
The department is proposing that
guidelines to support schools to effectively deal with homophobic bullying are
drafted under the auspices of the gender and sexuality-based bullying and
discrimination in schools steering committee, which is convened by the Equal
Opportunity Commission. The Department of Education is represented on this
committee. These support materials will assist schools to prevent and manage
all bullying and specifically homophobic bullying.
(2) The
development and provision of additional guidelines and support materials that
specifically target homophobic bullying will provide schools with the
flexibility to implement the behaviour management in schools policy and best
address the unique needs of their student cohort. It will also ensure that all
resources provided to schools are reflective of current research in the area.
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