Page 1014 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 30 March 2011
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I refer to the visual arts teacher allegations. Both the Chief Minister and I responded to the allegations from the former visual arts teacher in question time yesterday. I said yesterday, and I will repeat today, that those complaints around a child in fear of being raped and the use of language of “dirty, rotten whore” have not been raised with my office. Now that they have come forward, you can rest assured that they will be vigorously investigated and reviewed.
The Chief Minister referred to receiving a complaint from a teacher and the advice he sought as to whether it constitutes a public interest disclosure under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1994. As I have said, these allegations will be investigated thoroughly in a process that provides procedural fairness.
But let me make this point clear to the public: the matter of assault which has been raised is being fully investigated by the Australian Federal Police. My advice from the department is that other allegations have been made by this individual that may not have been made before.
I express a concern about the notion of continuing allegations relating to the management of Bimberi. It is important to note that many of the issues, such as staff shortages, have been identified in the media and in the Assembly. Those issues are known to the department, and they are being responded to. Other issues have been raised for the first time through these forums and are being dealt with immediately as they arise. I recognise that the issues should be of concern to all of us. We should not be afraid of these issues being raised, but it is about how we then process those. There are inquiries with the human rights commissioner, independent bodies and the Commissioner for Children and Young People. They have full terms of reference, are in the middle of those inquiries, and those inquiries should and must be left to run their course.
The government is working hard to improve the services for young people at Bimberi. It has come a long way since the days of Quamby. Bimberi is a high risk environment which requires ongoing, sustained vigilance to ensure practice and procedures are appropriate, in place and monitored.
My department acknowledged this when they implemented a change management quality plan in November of last year, and this continues. The change management process has been achieved. The change management process addresses five priority areas. Achievements have been made, and many more are underway. If those opposite chose to speak to the Official Visitor and to the Public Advocate, they would note that positive changes have been made. But they choose not to talk to those people, because that is when they will hear stories of positive change. Challenges recognised still lay ahead, but positive changes have been made.
Communication has improved, service delivery standards have been reviewed with new debriefing practices introduced, more training on crisis intervention, improved access for children to mental health services and an increasing number of case conferences, with eight conferences held just last week. Training requirements for staff have been reviewed to ensure that all staff are, indeed, trained.
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