Media release – AEU Tasmania, 23 August 2024

College violence demands budget fix

Teachers and staff in Tasmania’s colleges are suffering from violence and assaults as students are left without specialised engagement and support programs after Year 10, the Australian Education Union said today.

Educators are calling for an urgent expansion of alternative education programs which support the most disengaged students in high schools, called Tier 4 programs, to Years 11 and 12.

“We are very concerned that students excluded from school and engaged in a Tier 4 program at the end of Year 10 are automatically returning to campus-based learning in Year 11, potentially even in the same school, despite known risks to the safety and wellbeing of other students and staff,” said college teacher Peta-Maree Revel-Cook.

“Making attendance compulsory to the end of Year 12 needs to be backed by funding for programs that ensure disengaged students can still learn without endangering the safety of others.”

College teachers and staff have reported dangerous incidents, including staff being pinned up against a door, smacked about the head, spat on, physically assaulted, verbally assaulted, and receiving death threats. College students have also experienced assaults.

“The Government needs to urgently fund Tier 4 programs for disengaged students in colleges, as well as infrastructure funding to ensure fit-for-purpose facilities are available for programs that require off-campus engagement with students, and flexible learning spaces in the school or college,” said teacher and AEU Tasmania Colleges President, James Broad.

“Teachers are passionate about ensuring every child’s right to an education is fulfilled, but we cannot be safe or ensure the safety of other students without adequate resources and specialised programs in place, right through to the end of Year 12.”

“Students entering Year 11 who may have been excluded in Year 10, can be more physically mature and intimidating to some staff, presenting with volatile behaviour, especially if drug affected.”

Tier 4 program providers are currently only funded to support students in Years 7-10, despite strong need in colleges, and in primary schools statewide. Regional areas are also disadvantaged, with a complete lack of specialist programs in areas such as the west coast.

“Primary school students with a range of a learning and behavioural issues need intensive and alternative programs to remove barriers to their success,” said Mr Broad. “The Government doesn’t fund programs to support students below Year 7 who have high level behavioural issues but do not meet criteria for funding related to disability or trauma.”

“Schools in areas like the West Coast do not have access to alternative settings for those students who may require them to remain engaged with school and at the same time ensure that their behaviours do not significantly impact on other students or school staff.”

Schools and colleges also report that funding for Tier 3 programs, where students receive intensive support on-site, is also inadequate to address student need.

Cuts to education funding in the upcoming State Budget, misleadingly labelled ‘efficiency dividends’, could harm the tiered programs and the out-of-school supports that disengaged students rely on to continue their education.

“The Education Minister’s claim that education budget cuts will not affect schools rings hollow when it is off-campus programs that we need and additional investment in out-of-school support that our students urgently require,” concluded Mr Broad.

  • Tier 1 support = support given to every student
  • Tier 2 support = supplementary & targeted support (eg. taking students out of class to build their literacy skills)
  • Tier 3 support = substantial support (eg. individualised learning program, highly structured adjustments, small classes, support from specialised staff)
  • Tier 4 support = extensive support (for students who are not suitable for a mainstream classroom environment)