VFSN
Listening to children and adults with special needs and those who support them
“integrity lies in truth”
NEWS
By AIDAN KNIGHT
A GIPPSLAND family is taking legal action against the state government, after their son was seriously injured after running straight through a glass window, at a Traralgon special development school.
The parents allege that the glass did not meet appropriate safety requirements, and left the young man with a multitude of physical lacerations, and adverse affects on his mental health.
By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
SENDING your kids to school shouldn’t be an issue, but the parents involved with Voices for Special Needs (VFSN) recount harrowing cases of misconduct towards their children with disability.
Giving evidence to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the state education system in Victoria, VFSN alleged that the group, made of victims, their families and whistleblowers, had uncovered 60 students who have reported accounts of school misconduct.
Late last year, Latrobe Special Developmental School was included in a list featuring 44 Victorian schools where students with disabilities have suffered seclusion, neglect and abuse dating back to incidents from 2015.
Aboriginal student with disabilities denied Graduation
Adjournment
LATROBE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENTAL SCHOOL
Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (21:59): (1678) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Education in the other place, and it relates to a boy called Tahj, his mother, Nicole, and his father, Paul. Tahj is 17 years old, and his 18th birthday is in March next year. Tahj has an intellectual disability—autism—is largely non-verbal and is of Aboriginal descent. Tahj has been at a school in my electorate called the Latrobe Special Developmental School all his educational life. He has been there for 11 years. Tahj and his mother and father have decided that it is time for him to move on to an adult educational school, a daily living program for moving him towards independence.
Tahj’s mother contacted me because I have worked with people with disability and their parents and this school before, to highlight her very real distress at the fact that when the request was put by her and Tahj’s father for Tahj to be able to graduate with the five other students that are graduating, who are 18, he was rejected. He was rejected by his teacher. I suggested that he contact the principal and ask for a rationale and ask for that to be overturned. The principal came back and said, ‘No, we still do not want him to graduate…
12 Students have left Latrobe SDS since Jan 2020
DRA has been liaising with former parents whose children have left LSDS due to serious concerns for their safety, wellbeing, learning and development. To date, DRA is aware that since January 2020, 12 students have left this school. In a special school this is equivalent to 2 classrooms of students. The parents at present choose to remain anonymous as they are currently liaising with authorities and commissions in relation to…
WARNING Latrobe SDS How many victims of neglect and abuse from Latrobe SDS are out there?
Sexual Assault at Latrobe SDS
Adjournment
My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for
Education, the Honourable James Merlino in the other place, and it is quite a serious matter. It relates to a Worklogic investigation of alleged incidents at the Latrobe Special Development School and a broader range of issues regarding accusations of unacceptable culture at the school.
‘Let’s put disabled kids in cage fight’
School inquiry launched as claims of misconduct surface
Cher Jimenez
Authorities have declared they are investigating allegations of misconduct that have been levelled against staff at Traralgon’s Latrobe Special Developmental School, The Express can reveal.
The Victorian Department of Education and Training confirmed it was investigating allegations, which include the manhandling of students with disability, alongside WorkSafe and Morwell police.
“We are aware allegations have been raised about inappropriate behaviour towards students at Latrobe Special Developmental School,” a government spokesperson said.
Parents speak of ‘deep’ trauma
Cher Jimenez
Parents of students impacted by alleged staff misconduct at Traralgon’s Latrobe Special Developmental School have expressed concerns for their children’s welfare.
The parents, and some other individuals concerned about the students, have formed a group called Voices for Special Needs, which is currently working with authorities investigating the claims. The group spokesperson said the children, aged between five and 18 years old, had been exhibiting disturbing behaviours following revelations of alleged manhandling occurring at the school.
About Us
‘Voices for Special Needs’ was founded by families whose children with disabilities experienced trauma and mistreatment at school, alongside staff affected by challenging and often distressing workplace conditions. As we connected with others, we discovered these experiences were far more widespread than we had imagined.
We listen, support and advocate for people with disability, their families and community, giving a voice to those who can not speak up and for those who feel intimidated. Although the Disability Royal Commission has ended, we continue.
We have all felt alone, vilified, dismissed, ridiculed, deceived and victimised; yet as a consortium we have come to realise we are not alone, we resonate with each other and share our concerns, trauma and grief as a team.
Fundamentally, ‘Voices for Special Needs’ wants change to occur and we especially want to see the eradication of manhandling and abuse in the school environment. We also seek independent investigation into serious incidents and systemic concerns, where required, to ensure transparency, accountability, and trust.
We want to see strong leadership in areas of due process, duty of care, policy and procedure implementation, occupational health and safety standards, inclusiveness and participation, best practice learning and development principles and structures to support complex students. We furthermore want a school that engages in honest and open dialogue and collaborative communication with parents and recognises when external expertise are needed to be brought in to address sensitive issues.
If you are in need of support or would like to contribute please use the contact form below.
Contact Us
We listen to families and communities across all schools in, the Latrobe Valley, and the wider Gippsland region in Victoria, including feedback and concerns from the Latrobe Special Developmental School community.
If you need support contact Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 (24 hours /7 days) Provides free, immediate, short term counselling, advice to anyone in Australia via telephone, web chat or email
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
