❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the Department of Education's policies and resources regarding homophobic bullying in schools, with the Minister's response outlining existing measures and referencing external resources. The Minister declined to answer questions 4 and 5 citing standing orders.
AnsweredQoN 72Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS — HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING
72. Hon LINDA SAVAGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Education:
I refer to the National Day of Action Against Bullying and
Violence on 16 March 2012.
(1) Can the
minister outline the Department of Education's policy on homophobic
bullying in schools?
(2) What
specific Western Australian Department of Education resources and policies are
available to schools and students concerning homophobic bullying?
(3) Where on
the Department of Education's website can a student or parent access
information and assistance about how to deal with homophobic bullying other
than being redirected to the ''Bullying. No Way!'' website, the
Take a Stand Together website or the Kids Helpline?
(4) Does the
minister believe that teachers have adequate training and policy guidelines to
handle homophobic bullying?
(5) Does the
minister agree with the comments of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity that
teachers need specific guidelines on bullying based on sexual identity?
72. Hon LINDA SAVAGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Education:
I refer to the National Day of Action Against Bullying and
Violence on 16 March 2012.
(1) Can the
minister outline the Department of Education's policy on homophobic
bullying in schools?
(2) What
specific Western Australian Department of Education resources and policies are
available to schools and students concerning homophobic bullying?
(3) Where on
the Department of Education's website can a student or parent access
information and assistance about how to deal with homophobic bullying other
than being redirected to the ''Bullying. No Way!'' website, the
Take a Stand Together website or the Kids Helpline?
(4) Does the
minister believe that teachers have adequate training and policy guidelines to
handle homophobic bullying?
(5) Does the
minister agree with the comments of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity that
teachers need specific guidelines on bullying based on sexual identity?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) The
Department of Education has a no-tolerance approach to bullying of any nature,
including homophobic bullying. Principals are responsible for the safety and
welfare of all students. The Department of Education's behaviour
management in schools policy requires that schools take action to provide an
environment free of violence, coercion and discrimination. The policy is
publicly available on the department's website at
www.det.wa.edu.au/policies.
(2) Schools
are able to access a variety of resources that provide advice, strategies and
research to inform the prevention and management of sexuality and gender-based
bullying and harassment, including homophobic bullying. Principals, in
consultation with their school community, make decisions about the resources
and programs that best meet local needs. All public schools have access to the
growing and developing healthy relationships curriculum support materials, via
the department's portal, which were developed in partnership with the
Department of Health. GDHR provides specific advice to teachers on issues
relating to sexual orientation and identity, homosexuality and the law, and
discrimination.
(3) The
Bullying. No Way! website is the nationally endorsed website and is the
department's key resource. Students and parents can access this website
through the Ed-e-News web page on the department's website. The
Friendly Schools and Families: Child Health Promotion Research Centre link—http://www.friendlyschools.com.au—is
accessible through the department's School Drug Education and Road
Aware website.
In addition, all public schools have
been informed of the online resources available through the department's
portal to support them to prevent and manage gender and sexuality-based
bullying and harassment.
(4)–(5) The
honourable member is seeking the Minister for Education's opinion
contrary to Legislative Council standing order 104(1)(b).
The PRESIDENT : I have noted Hon Alison Xamon 's interest
in asking a second question, but because there are two other members who have
not yet had an opportunity to ask a question, I will give them preference and
then come to Hon Alison Xamon .
question.
(1) The
Department of Education has a no-tolerance approach to bullying of any nature,
including homophobic bullying. Principals are responsible for the safety and
welfare of all students. The Department of Education's behaviour
management in schools policy requires that schools take action to provide an
environment free of violence, coercion and discrimination. The policy is
publicly available on the department's website at
www.det.wa.edu.au/policies.
(2) Schools
are able to access a variety of resources that provide advice, strategies and
research to inform the prevention and management of sexuality and gender-based
bullying and harassment, including homophobic bullying. Principals, in
consultation with their school community, make decisions about the resources
and programs that best meet local needs. All public schools have access to the
growing and developing healthy relationships curriculum support materials, via
the department's portal, which were developed in partnership with the
Department of Health. GDHR provides specific advice to teachers on issues
relating to sexual orientation and identity, homosexuality and the law, and
discrimination.
(3) The
Bullying. No Way! website is the nationally endorsed website and is the
department's key resource. Students and parents can access this website
through the Ed-e-News web page on the department's website. The
Friendly Schools and Families: Child Health Promotion Research Centre link—http://www.friendlyschools.com.au—is
accessible through the department's School Drug Education and Road
Aware website.
In addition, all public schools have
been informed of the online resources available through the department's
portal to support them to prevent and manage gender and sexuality-based
bullying and harassment.
(4)–(5) The
honourable member is seeking the Minister for Education's opinion
contrary to Legislative Council standing order 104(1)(b).
The PRESIDENT : I have noted Hon Alison Xamon 's interest
in asking a second question, but because there are two other members who have
not yet had an opportunity to ask a question, I will give them preference and
then come to Hon Alison Xamon .
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.