Complaints of disability discrimination in West Australian schools are increasing at a higher rate than in other states and territories, despite there being fewer students in WA.
Data obtained under Freedom of Information laws has revealed that between 2019 and 2024 there was a minimum of 23 complaints filed against the state’s Department of Education.
Advocacy group Square Peg Round Whole WA requested the data, and also obtained the number of complaints recorded between 2017 and 2022.
The number recorded in WA has jumped by a minimum of 20 per cent when compared to the older data.
Due to the way the information has been distributed, it is not possible to determine the exact percentage increase, or see a breakdown by year.
The advocacy group’s branch coordinator Symone Wheatley-Hey said the only other state to record an increase over the same period was Queensland, which recorded a smaller increase.
She said all other states recorded a decline in reports.
Wheatley-Hey said many individual cases required non-disclosure agreements when they were settled, so she could not discuss any specifics.
But she said the majority of parents she helped were making complaints against restraints and restrictive practices, or schools either refusing to implement or improperly implementing individual education plans, often because of a lack of resourcing or understanding.
Wheatley-Hey said the numbers sent under the information request did not reflect the number of stories she heard working as an advocate, due to an inaccessible reporting process that involved dragging cases through the courts.
“The process is imbalanced and intimidating,” Wheatley-Hey said.
“Many families do not have financial capacity to afford a lawyer and whilst the process facilitates self-representation, the departments are always represented by their legal team.
“An accessible and culturally safe independent body for people to address violations of their human rights outside the court system is essential.”
However, she said she was hopeful recent changes made by the state’s Department of Education, including a review of the School Education Act, would soon take effect in classrooms, meaning cases would hopefully be seen to have declined in five years’ time.
“We have a minister who has recognised things need to change,” Wheatley-Hey said.
“We are hopeful and optimistic about the work being done presently and in our experience WA is leading the way across the country as things stand. We have just been slower on the uptake.”
Department of Education deputy Director General Jim Bell said the disability Royal Commission recommendations and the review of the School Education Act were important steps forward in creating inclusive schools where every young person’s strengths were recognised and their needs addressed.
“The department takes complaints from parents very seriously and uses this feedback as an opportunity to learn and improve our service,” he said.
“As part of our efforts to support parents and carers when they hold concerns for their child’s education, a parent liaison office has been established to act as a liaison between parents and carers, schools, education regional offices, central services, and members of the school community.
“They explain complaint and education system processes and provide support to work toward resolving concerns. More information about how parents can raise their concerns is available online.”
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