Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:54): (1945) My constituency question to the Minister for Education relates to a teacher in my electorate deeply concerned by a situation at their school involving a 14-year-old year 8 student. Under the Department of Education’s mature minors and decision-making policy, this student was deemed a mature minor and allowed to change their name and pronouns at school without parental knowledge or consent. The teacher is distressed, as are colleagues, at being required to use a new name and pronouns while knowing the parents remain unaware. These are caring professionals who only want the best for their students, not to be placed in conflict between policy and conscience. Minister, the current rules allow schools to make such determinations without medical input or parental involvement. Will you review this approach to ensure families are included in these deeply personal decisions and teachers are supported to act with care, integrity and transparency?