Class War: Parents, experts call for specialist psychologists, safe spaces in NSW schools

Fearful parents determined to protect vulnerable children are calling on the NSW Government to take action after shocking videos of school fights have been uncovered. Read their proposal.

Desperate parents determined to protect vulnerable children in violent NSW schools have called for the installation of specialist psychologists in classrooms to support victims of schoolyard violence and educate students with aggressive tendencies.

The call comes as The Daily Telegraph’s Class War investigative series revealed hundreds of NSW schools are gripped in a battle against a violent trend of Instagram profiles dedicated to turning schoolyard assaults into brutal broadcasts of our education system’s social media shame.

The Daily Telegraph's Class War investigation

NSW Parents and Citizens Federation president, Natalie Walker, said parents from schools across NSW were advocating to see child psychologists from NSW Health, university clinics and not-for-profit organisations installed at state public schools.

The NSW Government is currently rolling out an additional 250 school counsellors over the next four years, to the tune of $75 million, in an effort to meet the ratio of one school counsellor for every 500 students.

Ms Walker said there was an urgent need for more specialist psychologists in schools with high numbers of assault data reported to NSW Police.

“Wellbeing and safety in the classroom should be a major focus inside NSW schools,” Ms Walker said. “Governments need to provide additional funding to support students and their parents and ensure a safe environment inside our schools.

Natalie Walker - President - Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW

“Accessing specialist psychologists to deal with child trauma from bullying or violence in the classroom can be difficult for parents, particularly in regional areas.

“However, not-for-profit organisations, or even universities with low-cost psychology clinics could help answer the call to support the wellbeing of our students.”

Ms Walker said the NSW Education Department needed to establish a business case for the development of “safe spaces” inside public schools, dedicated to children with aggressive behaviours.

The federation president described the spaces as ‘calm rooms’ with access to counsellors, teachers and psychologists to provide techniques and training to help children deal with violent outbursts.

The Daily Telegraph understands public schools across NSW currently have access to 2000 specialists, including behaviour specialists, school counselling staff, student support officers and wellbeing nurses – who “provide a range of supports to NSW public schools in managing complex student behaviour”, according to a NSW Education spokesman.

There are calls for safe spaces to be installed in NSW schools to protect victims of violent school bashings. Picture: Burak Sr

NSW Police acting assistant commissioner Chad Gillies said specialist programs are in place to address anti-social behaviour occurring within schools.

“As with all crime, police will thoroughly investigate any offence committed by or against students,” he said. “Young people are eligible to be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act either by way of warnings, cautions or conference depending on a range of factors including the severity of the offence.”

Acting assistant commissioner Chad Gillies. Picture: Newscorp :Daily Telegraph/ Gaye Gerard

The Youth Command boss said social media is a “hinderance and a tool for youth crime”. “Whilst social media can enable some behaviours like harassment, promoting violence, or sharing inappropriate content, it also is a platform police can use to identify offenders, collect intelligence, and share important public safety messaging,” he said.

Meanwhile, a NSW Education Department spokesman told The Daily Telegraph “even a single violent incident at a school is one too many”.

“We have measures and supports in place to respond,” he said. “Schools are overwhelmingly safe places for students and staff.

“People under 18 years of age are at least five times more likely to be assaulted away from school grounds than on a school site.”