Express Monday 2 November 2020

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UNDER INVESTIGATION

School inquiry launched as claims of misconduct emerge By CHER JIMENEZ

AUTHORITIES have declared they are investigating allegations of misconduct that have been levelled against staff at Traralgon’s Latrobe Special Developmental School, The Express can reveal. The Victorian Department of Education and Training confirmed it was investigating allegations, which include the manhandling of students with disability, alongside WorkSafe and Morwell police.

“We are aware allegations have been raised about inappropriate behaviour towards students at Latrobe Special Developmental School,� a government spokesperson said. “We encourage any families who are aware of inappropriate behaviour to come forward so we can manage this appropriately and provide support to those who need it.� WorkSafe Victoria also confirmed it was investigating the allegations, while the Morwell Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team said it was aware of the alleged offending.

A consortium of concerned people including parents of Latrobe SDS students called Voices for Special Needs are working with all three authorities. A spokesperson for the group alleged the school had failed to implement standard procedures of child protection and safety “for a very long time�. She alleged there had been numerous instances involving inappropriate staff behaviour towards students and of students against other children.

“We as a collective feel that the school is not being run and hasn’t been run under leadership for some time to the standard of child protection (and) child safety,� the spokesperson said. “We have evidence to support the ... due process is not occurring in that school environment. There’s a culture there that’s become ... it’s immoral, it’s unethical, it’s secrecy, it’s divisional among staff. Continued on page 3

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