Rosewood Downs staffer suspended after allegedly making ‘highly offensive’ video

An investigation has been launched into a video containing sexual innuendos and unsolicited photos of children with disabilities at Rosewood Downs Primary School.

A primary school teacher has been suspended after her involvement in making a “highly offensive” video featuring children with special needs.

An offensive video poking fun at children with disabilities has led to the interim suspension of a teacher and a Department of Education investigation.

The Herald Sun can reveal Rosewood Downs Primary School’s welfare co-ordinator Carly Pinwill, who was suspended on an interim basis by the teaching regulator on January 31, was allegedly involved in making the “highly offensive” and “distressing” farewell video for outgoing principal Julian Growcott.

The five minute long video, shown to more than 20 teachers at last year’s school staff Christmas party, contained several sexual innuendos and unsolicited photos of children with disabilities and their families used without permission.

The video was made to farewell outgoing principal Julian Growcott.

The video, which had the song “You’re the Voice” by John Farnham playing in the background, contained references to “erections” and a play on words including “premature evacuation” and “pulling out”.

In one scene, six children believed to have learning and behavioural issues, are easily identifiable by their school photos.

The children are made fun of in the video, with the caption: “Can’t forget about the Grade 1 kids, who are such a friendly and welcoming bunch. Why would Julian want to leave them?”

Most distressing of all is the inclusion of a photo of a mother and her 10-year-old son, who has autism, parodied as “a delightful family who were so happy with RDPS they wanted to stay all day?”

The video is being investigated by the Department of Education.

The video was also uploaded to YouTube and made publicly available on the school’s shared Google Drive between staff. It has since been removed from the internet.

The Herald Sun has been told several families have made complaints about the video to the Department of Education.

In letters from the Department of Education to the family involved, it said it was investigating the “extremely inappropriate” video and apologised to all of the children involved.

“I expect that also those involved in the production of the video are feeling truly regretful,” the letter said.

The mother, whose 10-year-old son was featured in the video, said her family was “angered” and “humiliated” by the video.

“The video is highly offensive and makes fun of some children that have disabilities, it is insensitive and distressing for all families involved,” she said.

The boy’s parents also said their son had been left “traumatised” by his experience at the school, which included an “aggressive” teacher, who allegedly restrained him and other “multiple” concerning incidents.

Parents were angered and humiliated by the video.

“On his fourth day of school in February 2021, I was trying to ensure that he was settled in his classroom, but one of the teachers forcibly pulled him away while he was clinging onto my top.”

The child’s father said due his son experiencing “several” other traumatic incidents at the school, his family had no choice but to take him and his siblings out last year.

“The toxic culture at Rosewood Downs needs to stop. Our son has been left with ongoing PTSD symptoms because of his experience and his whole life has been turned upside down.

“We have reported these incidents including the video to the Department of Education and Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner and we hope they investigate them as thoroughly as they possibly can.

“We don’t want another family to go through this. This video is evidence of the culture that needs to change. We want justice for our family and others that have gone through this.”

A Department of Education spokesman said the Department was currently investigating an incident at Rosewood Downs Primary School.

“The incident is unacceptable and the Department has apologised to affected families,” he said.

“The health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff is always paramount and behaviour that compromises a respectful and supportive learning environment will not be tolerated.”