Hinchinbrook MP and KAP deputy leader Nick Dametto says comments by education minister Di Farmer ‘deeply troubling’

With more than 12,000 teachers and teacher aides having resigned from state schools across Queensland in the last four years, a state MP has slammed the government for failing to protect educators.

Hinchinbrook MP and KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto.

Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party Deputy Leader Nick Dametto says it’s time the greater public knew the “grim” reality faces by educators, and the divide between the support that is provided and government ‘rhetoric’.

He says a “startling” admission made by Minister for Education Dianne Farmer that teachers are working in classrooms where physical and verbal abuse is a daily occurrence, is an “indictment of the government’s failure” to maintain safe classrooms.

During this years Budget Estimates Ms Farmer stated “ … if the average person knew of the physical and verbal abuse that teachers experience — that is happening in schools every single day right across the state — they would be shocked.”

Mr Dametto said the comments by the Education Minister were deeply troubling, not just what it revealed about the state of Queensland schools, but what he says is the government’s failure to protect teachers.

With a total of 12,375 teachers and teacher aides having resigned from state schools across Queensland in the last four years, Mr Dametto said teachers needed more support.

“The claim of ‘zero tolerance’ appears disingenuous when the government’s actions – or lack thereof — continue to leave teachers vulnerable and unsupported, “he said.

“Teachers deserve the same rights as every other worker, to work in a safe and risk-free environment. This includes real, tangible support within the workplace.”

Minister for Education Di Farmer. Picture David Clark

Mr Dametto said he wants to see an immediate review of the policies, allowing for all teachers to provide feedback.

“Too often, teachers’ rights are overshadowed by the needs of students, or the academic performance of each school,” he said.

“If we can address the problems that our educators are facing, increased wellbeing of students and academic performance will surely follow.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Education said in response to Mr Dametto’s concerns that the department is “committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and students, and does not tolerate violent, aggressive or threatening behaviour”.

They advised that addressing the risk of injury and illness to staff from Occupational Violence and Aggression has been identified by the Government and the Department of Education as a priority focus area.

“Departmental staff are supported by prevention procedures that are focused on risk management strategies specific to each location,” the spokesperson said.

“A range of potential controls to manage risks may be considered including awareness training, facility improvements and post-incident support processes.”

The department advised there are a number of processes in place to assist injured employees, including access to workers’ compensation, local workplace health and safety committees, health and safety advisers, rehabilitation and return to work co-ordinators and additional regional human resources and Organisational Safety and Wellbeing support, as well as access to the department’s Employee Assistance Program.

Originally published as Hinchinbrook MP and KAP deputy leader Nick Dametto says comments by education minister Di Farmer ‘deeply troubling’