Ipswich mum takes school to Human Rights board over alleged Tourettes bullying

A mother of a Ipswich student with Tourette Syndrome has lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission claiming her son has been discriminated against.

Caitlyn Rolfe, mother of nine-year-old Carter Rolfe. Picture: Contributed

The mother of a Ipswich primary school student with Tourette’s Syndrome feels “physically sick” sending her son to school each day, as she lodges an Australian Human Rights Commission complaint against the school with claims of discriminatory behaviour.

Caitlyn Rolfe, mother of nine-year-old and Year 4 student Carter Lee Rolfe, said she has reached the threshold of tolerating behaviour from Deebing Heights State School and the Education Department.

Carter also has Autism, ADHD and Epilepsy.

Ms Rolfe’s complaint centres on alleged instances of bullying and discriminating against Carter, and an alleged failure by the school to implement specialist’s recommendations in Carter’s tailored learning plan.

In her complaint submission, Ms Rolfe claims she frequently hears comments at school such as “Carter needs to fit into our world” and “specialists don’t have real ideas about what occurs in schools and often recommend things that won’t work”.

In a recent incident, Ms Rolfe was called by the school one hour after dropping Carter off, when he had ripped a book apart and pushed everything off a table, after allegedly being “set off” by a student who she claims bullies him.

Jasper, David, Caitlyn and Carter Rolfe. Picture: Contributed

Ms Rolfe claimed the other student would copy Carter’s tics, calls him horrible names and regularly chastises him.

She says she struggles to get him out of the house due to his anxiety.

“He has baseline facial tics, a wide jaw opening movement and throws his neck back and to the side, that’s him in a calm state,” she said.

“As he gets anxious, that’s when the vocals start

“One of our family activities is going to the Broncos games.

“We’re members of the Broncos and five minutes into games now, he wants to leave because he’s worried people will make fun of him.

“I feel physically sick sending him to school.”

During Carter’s recent outburst she said: “The school asked if I could talk to Carter on the phone. Carter proceeded to beg me to come home and specifically stated it was because of this child.”

“I encouraged him to stay put. Carter then got angry that I wasn’t going to pick him up from school and he hung up on me and left the school office,” she said.

Caitlyn said her bullied son Carter is scared of going to things like Broncos games out of fear he will be bullied. Picture: Contributed

Ms Rolfe then wrote that the school told her to take Carter home, which she refused.

“I refused because I have asked the school to do something between these two kids,” Ms Rolfe wrote.

“I have refused because I want a plan in place to improve Carter’s anxiety in coming to school.

“I asked what adjustments are being made for Carter and what support has been in place for Carter, and I was told that they will not discuss this with me.”

Carter was enrolled at Deebing Heights State School on July 25, 2023 and recommendations by a psychiatrist and other specialists were made in reports to the school to tailor Carter’s learning.

Ms Rolfe said whilst some recommendations were implemented, important ones like allowing iPad learning for literacy tasks, accommodating Carter’s dysgraphia, and sensory tools have not been met.

Carter Rolfe is diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, ADHD, Autism and epilepsy. Picture: Contributed

In response to the bullying claim and lack of specialist recommendations, like sensory tools being met, a Queensland Department of Education spokesperson said concerns raised by the family around bullying and student behaviour were being taken seriously.

“Deebing Heights State School has looked into the matters raised and has been in contact with the student’s family and will continue to offer ongoing support,” the spokesperson said.

“Specific information about individual students cannot be provided for privacy reasons.

“All Queensland state schools, including Deebing Heights State School are required to have a Student Code of Conduct that explicitly details how the school will work to prevent and respond to bullying.

“The department encourages students, parents and carers to immediately report any cases of bullying or misconduct to their school principal in the first instance, or their closest Department of Education regional office.”

Having moved from a private school and before that Darwin, Ms Rolfe said Carter and the family have never faced these issues with schools.

“He did go to a private school when we first moved to Queensland and they were too accepting of his disabilities and let him sit in the corner and do no work,” Ms Rolfe said.

“We moved to a state school for a better education and for Carter to do more work.

“I’m advocating for other kids with special needs and the poor teachers, I don’t just wanna seem like a cow of a mother.

“You see teachers on TikTok leaving in droves.

“Not by any means are the school staff at fault here, I care for them.

“I just wanted someone to talk to me.

“I feel like I’m being punished because I’m advocating and speaking out

“For me I ask, what is the government and Department providing?”

The Human Right Commission conciliation conference on August 12 will see Ms Rolfe and Department of Education representatives and lawyers, working towards outcomes that help Carter and the school.

An Australian Human Rights Commission spokesperson said the Commission does not release information about individual complaints.