Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Teacher misconduct

Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Education. There are hundreds of registered staff facing serious allegations of misconduct who the Victorian Institute of Teaching has failed to place on interim suspension. How can students be safe with these teachers still in the classroom?

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:24): I ‍thank the shadow minister for her question. This is a very serious matter. I want to make it very clear to all members that we take the safety and wellbeing of our students incredibly seriously. Indeed I met with the head of the Victorian Institute of Teaching this morning as soon as I saw that article that appeared, and I want to reassure all our families that safety of children across our education system is our priority. I also sought assurances from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. There is no teacher currently out there that we have any concern about.

Specifically in relation to the question asked, in 2017 there was a review by the Victorian Institute of Teaching headed by a well-known public servant Penny Armytage. Our government acquitted every single recommendation of that review. Indeed it was our government that introduced the reportable conduct scheme, which has seen a big increase in teachers being reported. That is why I sought assurances today that the Victorian Institute of Teaching is adequately resourced. It has a bigger budget and more staff than ever before, making sure that our education system is the finest in the nation. But can I say there is also a case prioritisation list, where most of the serious cases are prioritised and dealt with over six months.

The opposition should know better too. We know when you are dealing with legal proceedings it takes time; it takes time to get the evidence. That is what has occurred in a handful of cases where there have been judicial proceedings underway, and the Victorian Institute of Teaching has worked alongside that, and we are getting on with making sure that it is competitive and making sure that our Victorian Institute of Teaching continues to be well resourced and well funded. That is what I sought today from the head, and it is what I believe. We are getting on with the job of making sure –

Members interjecting.

Ben CARROLL: The only risks are to your leadership. We are getting on with the job of making sure that we invest in the Education State and that the Victorian Institute of Teaching, which our government has funded and resourced, continues to be the overseer and the regulator of teachers and making sure that every student in particular and everyone can be very, very safe and that every teacher is fully registered. We also put conditions on our teacher registrations when they come up for renewal, and we will continue to do that to make sure.

Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:26): Will the minister commit to an immediate independent audit of the backlog of misconduct allegations concerning Victorian teachers?

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:26): As I said in my primary answer, the Victorian Institute of Teaching, which I met with today, is getting through all of the case management. The most serious cases –

Members interjecting.

Ben CARROLL: Just listen for one tick, if you can. In the most serious cases where there might be an allegation of misconduct, whether it be an assault or a sexual assault, they are dealt with very quickly. The majority of cases, which often concern when a teacher has had contact with a student outside of school hours, have taken a bit more time because they need evidence and they need different resources.

We are getting on with making sure that we have an adequately resourced Victorian Institute of Teaching and, yes, that our schools are safe and there are no teachers where they should not be. We are getting on with ensuring that those teachers in question have been suspended and that while they are not in the workforce, as they should not be, we are getting on and making sure there is due process. I would have thought that is something the opposition leader would also want: due process.