Female teacher left permanently disabled after student attack while retrieving sports ball

Incidents of choking, punching and dislocation have led to at least three teachers from the same school lodging WorkCover claims amid an unprecedented rise in workplace compensation at state schools across one Queensland region.

Complex students are leading to complex problems – and a string of worker compensation claims at the Cairns State Special School Picture: Peter Carruthers

At least three teachers from the same school are on WorkCover claims after a series of random and devastating attacks at the Cairns State Special School, amid an unprecedented rise in compensation claims for teacher assaults in public schools across the Far North.

A female teacher has been left with extremely limited movement in her left arm after an alleged attack by a student at Cairns State Special School for special needs children in Woree.

The woman is one of at least three female staff members at the school who are on worker compensation payments following incidents, often involving older teen males with psychosocial disabilities.

School insiders say that incidents of extreme violence spring up at the school with very little build up and are seemingly unprovoked – with concerns the school is not escalating these incidents to the police.

A courtyard shaped like a butterfly at Cairns State Special School Picture: Peter Carruthers

“There are some children at the school who are repeat violent offenders and for the sake of the staff and the other children, they simply cannot be there,” one school insider said.

In one incident, a teacher alleges she was opening the gate for a 17-year-old, physically able student who was showing some signs of agitation but whom she had never had any contact with before, who turned and punched her in the face – leaving her on the ground concussed and with signs of possible permanent nose damage some nine months later.

The teacher has since been diagnosed with PTSD from the incident.

In another alleged incident, a teacher was choked by a student who was unwilling to let go until several other students pulled him off.

Another woman now appears to have permanent damage in her arm after retrieving a ball which had rolled into an “outdoor learning centre” for high needs students where an older, physically able student grabbed her, twisting her arm and dislocating it.

However, a second school insider has said that it’s “important not blame the kids - or the teachers, and teachers aides, who the real angels in this place”.

Beth Rolton says that she has seen an unpredecented rise in worker compensation claims from Cairns public school teachers after being physically assaulted by students.

The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, explained that the most violent children at the school are usually children who are deemed too unwell to live with their families and that when they are not at the school they are looked after by carers on a “two to one ratio”.

“These kids are then dropped off at school where they leave their carer and are left with a care-ratio is about 18 to one,” she said.

The woman said the school needed better resourcing for these children who require close to constant one to one care.

“Female teachers have what is akin to a DV relationship with these violent, male students,” she said.

The complexity of dealing with the psychosocially disabled students has been laid bare in a series of internal documents seen by the Cairns Post where a 17-year-old “non-verbal” student reacts to “separation anxiety from his mother” by shaking fences, spitting water, throwing food, rolling toilet paper across the bathroom floor, as well as a propensity to “punch teachers in the face … resulting in WHS incidents”.

The teacher had just gone into a high needs to retrieve a ball and now looks set to have a permanent arm disability.

The revelations at Cairns Special State School come as leading Cairns law firm Travis Schultz and Partners says it has seen an unprecedented rise in inquiries from teachers injured from student violence in the last year.

“We’re seeing an increase in inquiries from injured teachers each year, with injuries and

incidents becoming more severe,” firm partner Beth Rolton said.

“From verbal threats to physical violence with weapons, our clients suffer significant harm,

from students as young as nine or from their parents.

“Some incidents stem from escalating violence between students and from those under the influence of drugs.”

Ms Rolton explained that teachers are reporting students across a large number of Far North schools are using chairs and furniture, stationery and gardening tools to attack teachers.

In March, a response to a parliamentary question on notice from opposition education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan by Education Minister Di Farmer indicated an increase in the amount paid to teachers and other staff for stress-related WorkCover claims over the past two years.

Teacher Naomi Brett source: LinkedIn

In 2022-23, more than $27m was paid to teachers and other staff for psychological injuries, with almost $24m paid out so far this year — showing an increase of $300,000 per month in this financial year to date.

Ms Rolton’s firm is also representing Brisbane woman Naomi Brett – a special needs teachers suing the state government for $3m, alleging she was left permanently injured when a student pulled her head abruptly when she was teaching at Ipswich West Special School in 2020.

Cairns Special School is also grappling with the best way to deal with students who routinely play in their own faeces and have been known to lash out at other students and teachers by smearing faeces on their targets, leading to fears of a hepatitis A infection around the campus.

A spokesman from the Department of Education said: “Incidents alleged to have taken place at the school are a serious concern for staff, families and the broader community and are treated very seriously”.

“Staff will not hesitate to engage with the Queensland Police Service to assist staff in cases where student and staff safety or wellbeing are placed at risk,” the spokesman said.

Originally published as Female teacher left permanently disabled after student attack while retrieving sports ball