Incidents recorded by SA public schools involving violence, sexual abuse, bullying have skyrocketed since Debelle Royal Commission

NUMBERS of critical incidents recorded by SA public schools involving violence, sexual abuse, self harm and bullying have skyrocketed since the Debelle Royal Commission.

Numbers of critical incidents recorded by SA public schools involving violence, sexual abuse, self harm and bullying have skyrocketed in the wake of the Debelle Royal Commission. Picture: Thinkstock

• Debelle report on child sex abuse in SA public schools handed in

NUMBERS of critical incidents recorded by SA public schools involving violence, sexual abuse, self harm and bullying have skyrocketed in the wake of the Debelle Royal Commission.

The 5586 incidents filed last year were more than double the 2642 in 2012.

School leaders say the figures are a result of new reporting systems arising from the 2013 commission into sex abuse in schools but also reflect the effect of societal problems of poverty, drugs and unemployment.

A critical incident is any significant, unusual or threatening event that might cause disruption and put students or staff in danger, or be contentious and attract media attention.

Reports of self-harm quadrupled from 107 to 459 from 2012 to 2015, while violent incidents rose from 877 to 1604 in the same period.

Sexual abuse reports more than tripled from 47 to 165 between 2012 and 2014 and those of inappropriate sexual behaviour rose even more steeply from 119 to 459 over that period, before significant drops in both categories last year.

Some incidents are recorded in multiple categories and the Education Department believes the “major factor” behind the growing figures is more diligent reporting into an improved online system, not more incidents.

Inquiry commissioner retired Justice Bruce Debelle.

But SA Primary Principals Association president Pam Kent said the figures were “reflective of the pressures people are under from unemployment and poverty”.

“People are feeling marginalised and find it harder to cope,” she said.

Australian Education Union state president Howard Spreadbury said the figures bolstered the argument for hiring more school counsellors.

SA Secondary Principals Association president Peter Mader said that, post-Debelle, there had been a “significant push” for more “methodical” reporting by schools.

“The fear of not doing so given the Debelle Inquiry (means) they are really clear it’s better to report a runny nose than not,” he said.

Education Department executive director for school and preschool improvement Anne Millard said total reports had “levelled out” between 2014 and 2015, indicating better reporting practices in the wake of the 2013 commission explained the previous rises.

“We look closely at the long-term trends to ensure that the department continues to put resources in the right areas,” she said.

Verbal abuse reports escalated from 564 to 986, bullying from 244 to 411, e-crime from 84 to 190 and drugs/alcohol from 107 to 242 between 2012 and 2015.