Children aged between 10 and 14 living with a disability are the most likely to be physically assaulted by a school employee, according to a damning report into child safety in WA.
The state ombudsman’s report, titled A review of systems to protect children, was tabled in parliament this week, with one section specifically analysing the education sector between January 2023 and July 2024.
A total of 304 allegations of physical assault were made during that time period, with more than two-thirds involving a male victim and over half aged between 10 and 14.
Nearly one-third of physical assault allegations involved a child with disability as the victim – most commonly those with autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
An estimated 7.5 per cent of children in WA have a reported disability, the report claimed, meaning the results indicated an over-representation of children with a disability as victims.
Most of the physical assault allegations (almost 73 per cent) involved an employee “grabbing, pulling or pushing a child”.
Others included throwing objects or hitting.
“Most physical assault allegations appeared to involve an employee using physical force to gain the compliance of a child,” the report reads.
“For example, to facilitate a child sitting down in class, dropping an object or to gain their attention.”
Other instances included using physical force to remove a child from an area or restrain their movement, or to prevent a child from entering or leaving an area, and physical confrontations including hitting a child or intervening in fights between students.
Symone Wheatley-Hey, a community advocate and founder of the group Square Peg Round Whole, said she was “horrified but not surprised” by the data on young people with a disability.
Physical assault allegations in the education sector
During the reporting period, examples of physical assault allegations notified to the ombudsman from the education sector involved an employee:
• Making physical contact with a student by grabbing them by the arms and “dragging” them to sit in a free spot.
• Taking hold of the hood of a student’s jumper in an attempt to take an object out of the student’s hand and placing their hand around the student’s arm in order to prevent the student leaving the class.
• Kicking a young student with autism spectrum disorder in retaliation for being kicked by the student.
• Making physical contact with two students by pushing them out of a door of a classroom, in the process, inadvertently striking a third student with the forcefully closed door.
“We know this is happening – we’ve been telling these stories for years,” she said.
“Disabled young people and their families have spoken up, shared their trauma, and begged for change.”
Wheatley-Hey said it was “not a matter of isolated incidents or minor failings” and revealed “a deep, systemic crisis – a human rights emergency”.
“When the most vulnerable young people in our community are the least protected and most harmed, the system is not fit for purpose,” she said.
“This is not a fight between parents and teachers. We stand with educators, many of whom are deeply committed, under-resourced, and calling out these same systemic failures.
“Blame and division will not build safe schools.
“There has been enough consultation. Enough information gathering. What’s needed now is urgent, impactful, system-wide reform.”
The report also revealed there were 243 allegations of sexual misconduct made in the education sector during the same period.
Of those, more than two-thirds involved female victims and more than half were aged 14 or older.
Just under half of all allegations involved inappropriate physical contact, while others included grooming behaviour, including showing favouritism, giving gifts, spending special time with a child or group of children, often asking the child to not tell others about the treatment.
Sexual misconduct allegations in the education sector
During the reporting period, examples of sexual misconduct allegations notified to the Ombudsman from the education sector involved an employee:
• Making inappropriate contact with a student by putting their arm around the student’s shoulder and kissing them on the head
• Asking students to play a “physical coordination game” which involved students crossing and uncrossing their legs. The teacher was observed looking under the desks of students as they did the activity
• Making inappropriate comments to a student, including a statement to the effect of, “If I was your age, I would ask you out”. The employee further complimented the student’s nail polish and commented that the student would have “lots of boyfriends” in the future.
• Forming close relationships with multiple students and displaying potential grooming behaviours towards them, which included:
- Driving students in their private vehicle without permission from the school or their guardians.
- Hugging students.
- Hosting movie days in the classroom, during which the employee provided unauthorised treats and allowed students to sit on their lap and between their legs.
- Inviting and allowing students to attend their private residence.
- Attending the local swimming pool with students and allowing them to jump off their shoulders, whilst in the water.
Allegations also involved having inappropriate conversations, the subject of allegation exposing themselves to a child or exposing the child to materials of a sexual nature, and concerning conduct such as taking photographs of children or not respecting a child’s personal space.
In addition, 16 per cent of sexual misconduct allegations in the education sector referred to the use of online communication methods, such as the use of social media, messaging applications and online gaming.
Department of Education professional standards and conduct executive director Mary Brown said the safety and wellbeing of children was paramount.
“Violence is never acceptable in schools, and parents should be able to expect that these environments are safe for children,” she said.
“Any matter of alleged staff misconduct is taken very seriously.
“The department is reviewing the report’s observations to ensure we maintain comprehensive and effective systems to continue to meet the requirements of the Reportable Conduct Scheme in all Western Australian public schools.”
Deputy Ombudsman David Robinson said the report examined the compliance of organisations with legislative requirements under WA’s Reportable Conduct Scheme.
Areas for improvement included the readiness of organisations to investigate allegations, and procedures for the storage, access and disclosure of investigation information.
“The implementation of systems is essential to ensuring that allegations of child abuse are not dismissed, ignored or mishandled,” he said.
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