ID :
111041
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 20:34
Auther :

Bullied student compensated $290,000



More claims for compensation are likely from parents at a Victorian high school
after a bullied student was awarded $290,000 from the state government.

The student's lawyer said he had already received calls from other parents from
Kerang Technical High School in the state's northwest with complaints of bullying.
"Some concerned parents have rung me today in the wake of this," lawyer Kim
Bainbridge told AAP.
"I think it obviously sends a very strong message to the government."
The student who received the payout was allegedly bullied at the school from Year 7
in 2006 until mid-2007 when a student allegedly threatened to bring a gun to school
and shoot her.
"The significant part of this is that it went on so long without intervention from
the school. It wasn't just one incident in the schoolyard," Mr Bainbridge said.
He had also received calls from other parents in the region with bullying claims
before the out-of-court settlement was reached with the education department earlier
this month.
The victim's parents removed her from the school, and were forced to sell their
house and business and move to another town.
Until then, they had to drive their daughter to and from school, pick her up each
lunch time and return her to school after lunch.
The teenager, now 17, is still undergoing treatment for depression as a result of
the alleged bullying, which included having chairs thrown at her, her locker emptied
and the theft of her school bag on a daily basis.
She suffered severe psychological damage, agoraphobia, a panic disorder, insomnia
and an eating disorder as a result of the alleged abuse.
Kerang Technical High School principal Lloyd Lewis said the settlement was made
without any admission of liability.
"As the principal it is a matter of great concern personally and professionally," he
said.
"I believe I haven't acted improperly and that I haven't failed in my duty of care
... if I did I would be culpable."
Education department regional director Ron Lake said although he was made aware
there was an "incident" at Kerang in 2006, he only received details of the case on
Thursday.
Despite saying he did not know any details until briefed by his department after the
story broke on Thursday, Mr Lake supported the school.
"I'm confident the school did everything in their power," he told AAP.
While psychologists and social workers are available to government schools Mr Lake
said he was not aware that they were used in this case.
One parent who did not want to be named said both her children who attend Kerang
Technical High School have been bullied.
Her daughter in Year Nine is still having problems.
"I've had trouble even getting her to go to school," she said.
The mother has spoken with Mr Lewis, the vice principal and chaplain but a meeting
between her daughter and the bullies has failed to stem the verbal abuse and
occasional cyber bullying.
"I don't think anything's really improved," she said.
"One of my friend's daughters is not going to school at the moment because she's
been bullied, she's off for a few weeks."
But she said the bullying was probably "no worse than any other school".
"I think some of the students need a bit more discipline," she said.
Premier John Brumby refused to comment on the large compensation payment.



X