The Legislative Assembly’s committee inquiring into bullying and violence in ACT schools has invited submissions from the public.
Chair of the Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Youth Affairs, Michael Pettersson said the matter, and terms of reference, was referred to the committee by the Legislative Assembly on 4 April.
“The committee is required to complete its inquiry and table its final report by 24 October,” Mr Pettersson said.
The terms of reference require the committee to have regard to the societal context of bullying and violence as a whole-community issue, as well as the Government’s existing work on responding to students with complex needs and challenging behaviour, and management of occupational violence.
Mr Pettersson said it was also required to consider the potential negative consequences for individual children, their families, staff and schools of being identified in evidence or during hearings and the public attention that could arise from that.
He said other documents to be considered include the report of the School Education Advisory Committee established by the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development to look at safe and supportive schools, and the petition about violence in ACT schools received by the Assembly on 21 March.
The Committee intends to hold public hearings in May, while written submissions must be made by 16 May.
Submissions can be sent to the Committee Secretary, Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Youth Affairs, Legislative Assembly for the ACT, GPO Box 1020, Canberra ACT 2601.
