South Australian schools are poised to gain more authority to address abusive and violent behaviour by parents and visitors with a new bill introduced to the State Parliament. Premier Peter Malinauskas announced that the Education and Children’s Services (Barring Notices and Other Protections) Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to significantly enhance the powers of school principals and leaders to enforce barring notices against individuals displaying threatening or disruptive conduct.
The call for increased protective measures came after statistics revealed a sharp rise in the instances of parental abuse directed at school staff. Over the last five years, there has been a 200% increase in the number of parental bans issued in public schools. Similarly, measures including the issuance of formal warning letters and reminders for respectful behaviour have soared by over 250%.
Data from the Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing survey in March 2024 highlighted concerning trends regarding the sources of bullying and harassment within schools. Parents and carers figured prominently in reports involving bullying (57.9%), cyberbullying (88.5%), gossip and slander (65.1%), and sexual harassment (39%).
Under the proposed legislation, barring orders can now also be applied to any individual engaging in vexatious communication online with school staff, providing protection beyond physical school grounds. The directive also extends to barring individuals from harassing staff at off-site school activities such as camps and excursions.
The legislation also increases the maximum barring period from three months to six months, with fines for breaches escalating from $2,500 to $7,500. Importantly, children of barred or directed individuals will still be permitted to attend school normally, ensuring their education is not disrupted by the sanctions imposed on their guardians.
Premier Malinauskas emphasized the importance of implementing such measures to ensure school environments remain safe and conducive to learning: “Introducing this Bill fulfills a commitment we made to give schools and preschools more power to stop abusive parents in their tracks. Educators and the wider community expect schools and preschools to be safe and supportive learning environments where there is no place for violence or intimidating and threatening behaviour.”
Education Minister Blair Boyer voiced his concerns regarding the increasing harassment faced by educators, stating, “Our principals and teachers are being subjected to a growing level of harassment – this is completely unacceptable. Most people behave respectfully when communicating with staff, but we have heard from our educators that some parents and caregivers’ behaviour has worsened and I will not sit on my hands and do nothing.”
This legislation is designed not only to empower school leaders but also to serve as a significant deterrent against future abuses. By enhancing the scope of protective measures for educational professionals, the government aims to foster a safer and more respectful environment conducive to learning and teaching.
The bill applies to all sectors including public, Catholic, and independent schools, showing a unified approach towards safeguarding educators and enhancing the educational experience across South Australia.
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