NSW schools using restraints and isolation against guidelines, Ombudsman finds

students at their lockers

A new Ombudsman's report finds that the use of isolation, physical restraints
and suspension or expulsion for students with behavioural problems is
prevalent in NSW schools. Photo: Tamara Voninski TVZ

Pallavi Singhal ​

A primary school student with autism was restrained by teachers and locked in a time-out room for more than an hour, during which time the student wrapped an electrical cord around their neck, a NSW Ombudsman's report reveals.

A teacher standing outside the room ignored the student during the isolation, despite instructions that the student was not to be restrained and was to be checked on after three minutes if placed in time-out.

Probe ordered into claim primary school held student with autism in small plywood room

portrait of Emily Dive

Transcript

LAUREN DAY: For Lachlan Murrell's family, every day is a battle. 

EMILY DIVE: Do you want us to wait inside while you head outside? 

LACHLAN MURRELL: Go away. 

LAUREN DAY: But the daily struggles are nothing compared to the bigger fight on his mum's hands. 

How would you describe your experience of trying to get him an education? 

EMILY DIVE: It is the hardest thing that I have done for him and I didn't think that it would be as much of a battle as what it was or still is. 

Hanson's view of autistic children is simply Australian law

Submitted by bobb on

The disability sector in Australia strongly condemns Senator Hanson for her recently expressed view that schools should "get rid" of autistic students from mainstream classrooms; see Pauline Hanson says autistic kids should be removed from mainstream classes and Senator Hanson needs to go back to school.

However, people should understand this issue better.

Senator Hanson needs to go back to school

Media Release

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations today condemned comments by Senator Pauline Hanson who suggested that children with disability should be removed from mainstream schools.

Senator Hanson told the Senate this morning that children with disability did not belong in mainstream classrooms because they were disruptive and, as a result, teachers spent too much time with them at the expense of other students.

Senator Hanson suggested that students with disability should instead be segregated in “special classrooms”. 

Pauline Hanson says autistic kids should be removed from mainstream classes

Matthew Killoran

ONE Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson announced this morning that her party will back the Federal Government’s $18.6 billion school funding package.

But she also said “we need to get rid of” autistic children from mainstream classrooms, arguing teachers had to spend too much time with them at the expense of other students’ education.

She said parents and teachers had raised the issue with her of children with disabilities or autism in mainstream classrooms.

Tasmania: Northside beds closed, autistic teen 'distressed' in adult unit

Carly Dolan

The parents of a severely autistic teenager, who is being housed in Launceston General Hospital’s acute mental health unit, say the experience has been “excruciating” for the family and staff.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been at Northside Mental Health Clinic for nearly 12 weeks, which has resulted in beds being closed to other patients. He is due to be moved into accommodation at Latrobe next week.

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