IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN EDUCATION

The Malinauskas Labor Government has introduced a bill in Parliament to address the increasing issue of abusive behaviour from parents, caregivers or carers towards school staff in South Australia.

The amendment will include increasing penalties for offences posing safety, wellbeing or disruption issues in the working/learning environment from $2,500 to $7,500 and increasing the barring powers for schools beyond the school yards and into all school activities.

While Member for Parliament Tony Piccolo MP voiced his support for the bill and the further protective measures being put in place for the entire schooling community, he raised concerns about the long-term impact of conflicts between parents and schools.

“Even though the conflict may be between the parents or the caregivers and the school, it is the child's wellbeing that actually suffers the most,” said Mr Piccolo.

“I have seen children withdrawn from school and not being in some school setting - that is not a good outcome.

“The relationship between the school, the parent, and the child underpins the success or otherwise of the child's wellbeing, growth and education.

“What we need to do is ensure that there is a positive relationship between the school—whether it is the principal, the teachers or whoever represents the school—the parents or the caregivers of the child and the child themselves.”

Mr Piccolo emphasised the need for mechanisms and resources to understand and address the root causes of inappropriate behaviour.

“We need to get a better understanding of what is driving that behaviour to see if we can actually intervene in different ways to address that behaviour," said Mr Piccolo.

“Ultimately the beneficiary of that better outcome is the child themselves.”

Minister for Education, Training and Skills, the Honourable Blair Boyer, said there has been a significant rise in abusive behaviour over the past five years, with a 200% increase in barring notices issued by public schools and a 250% increase in other operational responses such as formal warning letters.