Emmaus College students suspended after toilet block vaping | Video

A large number of students have been suspended from a regional Queensland school after shocking video surfaced of a number of students vaping in a toilet block.

Shocking footage has emerged of students at a Rockhampton school vaping in a toilet block and using lewd language, with speculation more than 30 have been suspended over the incident.

A near two-minute video circulated on social media of a number of students from Emmaus College in Rockhampton vaping in a school toilet block.

The video surfaced just days after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called an inquiry into vaping.

In the video, a large number of students are seen in the boys ‘L Block bathrooms’ sitting and standing around, with a hazy smoke in the room.

A number of students have been suspended from Emmaus College Rockhampton after a video surfaced of students vaping in a toilet block.

“This is Emmaus College Rockhampton, although it may seem like a normal, nice Catholic school from the outside, there‘s something completely unheard of going on the inside,” a narrator in the video introduction says.

In the video students can be seen standing at the back of the bathroom with some using a vape.

Students can also be heard seemingly mocking the school’s motto ‘light my way’ and referring to the gathering in the toilet block as a ‘community builder’.

“I think it’s perfect...it’s a good community builder,” one student is heard saying.

Vulgar language, including the words ‘f---ing’ and ‘c---’ are heard being used in the video by students.

In the video, a large number of students are seen in the boys ‘L Block bathrooms’ sitting and standing around, with a hazy smoke in the room.

According to the Guidelines for Membership of the Emmaus College Community, which are publicly viewable on the school’s website, students are “not to promote or engage in smoking/vaping, drinking alcohol or consuming illicit drugs at school, in college uniform or before, after or at college related activities”.

The schools rules also clearly state the use and possession of alcohol, tobacco, vapes and illicit drugs “is completely unacceptable at school, at any school related activity or prior to any school related activity”.

The school’s rule about alcohol and other drugs further states the “possession or use of these substances, encouraging the use of these substances, and boasting about the use of these substances are absolutely prohibited”.

According to the college handbook, failing to observe the regulations in relation alcohol, tobacco and other drugs “may result in suspension or expulsion from the college”.

The school also has a strict phone policy.

Emmaus College Principal Eamon Hannan confirmed the video involved students from the school and described it as “disappointing”.

“This conduct by a group of students is very disappointing and certainly does not align with Emmaus College values,” he said.

Mr Hannan said the school had “very clear expectations” with respect to student behaviour and the students involved with the video have all been suspended while the incident was being investigated.

“The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is the College’s highest priority and any situation where this is compromised is taken very seriously,” he said.

The video showed a number of students using a vape and using lewd language.

Mr Hannan said the College had written to its community informing families of the circulation of the video on social media, the inappropriate behaviour of some students on the video and the suspension of the students involved pending the results of an investigation that was underway.

In his correspondence to families, Mr Hannan said the students had been suspended for “varying amounts of time” as the investigation progresses.

He said the incident was a “clear breach” of student behaviour expectations.

He said students involved and their families would be offered counselling and support during the suspension period.

“I can assure parents that Emmaus College has strict protocols and policies in place to ensure the safety of all of our students and staff and I encourage any parent who has concerns with respect to this very regretful incident to please contact the College,” he said.

In response to the video, Education Minister Grace Grace said: “The incident itself is up to the school to manage.

“But this is an example of exactly why we have called a parliamentary inquiry into vaping.

“People, particularly young people, need to be aware of what is in vapes and what the potential dangers are,” she said.

A number of students have been suspended from Emmaus College Rockhampton after a video surfaced of students vaping in a toilet block.

Over the weekend Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called an inquiry into vaping, saying she was particularly concerned by use among young people.

“I’m hearing accounts of children in primary schools vaping during their lunch hours, so I think we need an educational campaign to really inform the public about what is actually in these vapes,” Ms Palaszczuk said on Sunday.

The parliamentary committee charged with taking up the probe will investigate how prevalent e-cigarette usage is among the Queensland population, particularly with young people.

One of the inquiry’s terms of reference will be looking at the prevalence in schools and what more can be done.