Archive · Issues · Whistleblower retaliation or payback

Issue 20 unique stories

Whistleblower retaliation or payback

Stories where the account links adverse treatment to reporting wrongdoing, raising safety concerns, speaking to media, or other whistleblowing.

This archive preserves historical reporting, personal accounts and commentary from the former Bad Apple Bullies website. Inclusion or classification does not establish that every allegation is correct. Readers should consult original decisions, official records and contemporary reporting where available.

Stories (20)

Filters work in the browser; all matching stories are listed below for no-JS use.

Staff and students at Australian universities allege that they are being bullied

Universities & TAFE2010Unresolved or unknownhub_extractWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsMental and physical harm to teachersDiscrimination

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Staff and students at Australian universities allege that they are being bullied. - Bad Apple Bullies Australian universities: bullying of staff and students. There have been many complaints about wor…

882 words · 4 min read

The Scientist, Reader's Comment, Fee-paying uni students bully academics for goo

Universities & TAFE9 March 2010Unresolved or unknownhub_extractWhistleblower retaliation or payback

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

The Scientist, Reader's Comment, Fee-paying uni students bully academics for good marks, Tracey Spicer, The Punch, 9 March 2010: http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fee-paying-uni-students-bully-acade…

234 words · 1 min read

My own true story

Queensland2000Dismissedpersonal_accountDismissed, forced out or career endedWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failureDiscrimination

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

A Queensland teacher's true story of workplace bullying, mobbing, harassment, defamation, victimisation, 'payback', falsification of my official Department of Education records and the Queensland Labo…

5,046 words · 25 min read

Editor: This is the first time that I have heard of the police arresting a perso

New South Wales30 July 2010Suspendedhub_extractDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsMental and physical harm to teacherscontent warning

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Editor: This is the first time that I have heard of the police arresting a person for making false allegations against a teacher. Well done, NSW police! It is far, far too easy for a classroom…

1,744 words · 9 min read

Gapuwiyak School in Arnem Land: Stephen Ferguson, teachers' union representative, asks the……

Northern Territory24 January 2012Transferredhub_extractDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or payback

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Gapuwiyak School in Arnem Land: Stephen Ferguson, teachers' union representative, asks the school principal to stop pestering the teachers for money. The principal threatens to spear him and burn his …

289 words · 1 min read

SA Coober Pedy story

South Australia2010Multiple outcomes reportedpersonal_accountDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or payback

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Coober Pedy Area School, South Australia. - Bad Apple Bullies Coober Pedy Area School: a 'tough gig' for principals. Sue Burtenshaw joined Coober Pedy Area School in 2008 on a five-year tenure, after …

1,428 words · 7 min read

Australian teachers: their stories of classroom violence, workplace bullying, harassment, etc……

National / generalLeft teachinghub_extractDismissed, forced out or career endedWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportDiscrimination

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Australian teachers: their stories of classroom violence, workplace bullying, harassment, etc. - Bad Apple Bullies A teacher's story: Victoria Help Robina Teachers' Stories: Australian teachers talk a…

440 words · 2 min read

And now

National / generalMultiple outcomes reportedhub_extractDismissed, forced out or career endedWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewal

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

I have been suspended indefinitely without pay pending the outcome of an enquiry into allegations of "misconduct" in my role as a relief teacher with the Education Department. The suspension order was…

451 words · 2 min read

A Reader's Comment: A little respect: attracting top teachers is not rocket scie

National / general4 October 2012Transferredhub_extractDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersAccounts alleging institutional gaslighting or narrative reversalWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersDiscriminationcontent warning

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

A Reader's Comment: A little respect: attracting top teachers is not rocket science, Jane Caro, The Drum, Opinion, ABC, 4 October 2012: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4293550.html Graeme Sleeman, for…

1,773 words · 9 min read

The Bad Apple Bullies webmaster comments

National / general2008Multiple outcomes reportedhub_extractDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWhistleblower retaliation or paybackStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failurecontent warning

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

I taught in Sydney primary schools during the 70's and 80's. Children simply were not disruptive and violent in those days. I began teaching in Queensland at about the time that the cane was banned in…

2,526 words · 13 min read

NSW Ex-teacher" emailed The ABC

National / general2007Dismissedhub_extractDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewalDiscrimination

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

He got out of the NSW system the day he turned 55. He doesn't get much in the way of superannuation but he is a lot healthier and a lot happier. At his last school, the…

2,342 words · 12 min read

The Coober Pedy story

South Australia2008Multiple outcomes reportedpersonal_accountDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or payback

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Coober Pedy Area School, South Australia. - Bad Apple Bullies A teacher's story: Victoria Help Robina A message for Coober Pedy Area School principal Sue Burtenshaw and all South Australian public ser…

1,723 words · 9 min read

The falsified records

National / generalMultiple outcomes reportedpersonal_accountTeacher improvement and performance plansDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersAccounts alleging institutional gaslighting or narrative reversalWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failureCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewalDiscriminationcontent warning

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

How your Education Queensland "official records" can be extensively falsified. And how decisions concerning you can be based on these falsified "records". An abusive school principal can "edit" the do…

62,486 words · 312 min read

The librarian’s story

New South Wales2010Unresolved or unknownpersonal_accountWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsMental and physical harm to teacherscontent warning

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

A New South Wales Teacher-Librarian's Story. - Bad Apple Bullies A teacher's story: Victoria Help Robina A New South Wales High School Teacher-Librarian's letter to his school P and C Association. The…

3,987 words · 20 min read

The Preshil story

Victoria9 March 2011Dismissedpersonal_accountDismissed, forced out or career endedWhistleblower retaliation or payback

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Preshil, Melbourne's oldest and most prominent ''alternative'' school, is the creation of two extraordinary educators — its founder Greta Lyttle, and her niece Margaret Lyttle, who was principal for 5…

873 words · 4 min read

The Walgett College story

New South Wales23 April 2015Unresolved or unknownpersonal_accountViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackUnion, regulator or departmental failure

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Walgett is a northern New South Wales community of about 2300. More than 98 per cent of Walgett Community College's primary and secondary students are indigenous. More than 90 per cent of the students…

1,513 words · 8 min read

The Werribee story

Victoria28 April 2009Unresolved or unknownpersonal_accountViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackMental and physical harm to teacherscontent warning

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

28 April 2009: Werribee Secondary College Humanities teacher Paul Unsworth sued the Victorian Education Department. In 2005 Werribee Secondary College Humanities teacher Paul Unsworth became depressed…

2,731 words · 14 min read

Victorian Preshil notes

Victoria9 March 2011Dismissednamed_caseDismissed, forced out or career endedWhistleblower retaliation or payback

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Preshil, Melbourne's oldest and most prominent ''alternative'' school, is the creation of two extraordinary educators — its founder Greta Lyttle, and her niece Margaret Lyttle, who was principal for 5…

873 words · 4 min read

Grad Teacher of Melbourne, Reader's Comment, Teachers seeing no future in state

Victoria30 May 2012Unresolved or unknownhub_extractViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or payback

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

Grad Teacher of Melbourne, Reader's Comment, Teachers seeing no future in state system, Jewel Topsfield and Bianca Hall, The Age, 30 May 2012: http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/teachers-seei…

317 words · 2 min read

What did they do?

Queensland2000Unresolved or unknownpersonal_accountWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsMental and physical harm to teachersDiscriminationcontent warning

The account states / reports themes reflected in the archive text.

During the ten years since November 2000, I have disclosed / whistleblown to hundreds of Queensland public servants, Queensland government departments and Queensland Members of Parliament - the advice…

668 words · 3 min read

Background material

Research, guides, hubs and commentary — not counted in the unique-story total above.

Australian university stories (hub)

Universities & TAFE18 July 2011hubWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or payback

Background or process material in the archive.

Staff and students at Australian universities allege that they are being bullied Staff and students at Australian universities allege that they are being bullied. - Bad Apple Bullies Australian univer…

315 words · 2 min read

About Bad Apple Bullies

National / general23 June 2002Multiple outcomes reportededitorialTeacher improvement and performance plansDismissed, forced out or career endedAccounts alleging institutional gaslighting or narrative reversalWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewalDiscriminationcontent warning

Background or process material in the archive.

Australian teachers are being bullied into ill health and out of work. - Bad Apple Bullies Bad Apple Bully school principals and departmental officers can bully Australian teachers into ill health - a…

2,144 words · 11 min read

Bullyproof yourself

National / generalMultiple outcomes reportedguideDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersAccounts alleging institutional gaslighting or narrative reversalWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failureCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewalDiscriminationcontent warning

Background or process material in the archive.

How can Queensland teachers protect themselves against workplace bullying, harassment, mobbing, victimisation, and discrimination? Are you at risk of being bullied at work? Sue Bushell writes that the…

6,431 words · 32 min read

Changing the culture

Queensland16 July 2004Forced retirementguideDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failureDiscrimination

Background or process material in the archive.

It is not sufficient simply to run are-training course and hope that Bad Apples will change their behaviour. Bad Apples do not understand their own behaviour. That is the problem. Any re-training cour…

1,401 words · 7 min read

Discrimination

National / general2000guideViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsMental and physical harm to teachersCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewalDiscrimination

Background or process material in the archive.

I did not want to work at Lynch-Mob State School in 2000. FOI Document 2733 File G Administrative Law Services Branch documents 49-51 (using the numbers at the bottom of the page) are copies of my…

2,103 words · 11 min read

EQ discipline files

Queensland2000guideTeacher improvement and performance plansViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failure

Background or process material in the archive.

What happens when you try to make a Public Interest Disclosure (PID) to the CMC Liaison Officer in Education Queensland Head Office? The CMC Liaison officer may not respond to your email. The people t…

3,508 words · 18 min read

Get legal advice

National / general2006Multiple outcomes reportedguideTeacher improvement and performance plansDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failurecontent warning

Background or process material in the archive.

The Bad Apple Bullies webmaster has come to the conclusion that what teachers who are dealing with workplace abuse really need is good legal advice. Teachers - you need good legal advice right from th…

2,379 words · 12 min read

Internal review

National / generalguideTeacher improvement and performance plansWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failureDiscrimination

Background or process material in the archive.

What happens if Education Queensland tell you that they are going to have an "internal review" of your complaint? Watch the wording that the Education Queensland officers use very carefully. An "Inter…

5,389 words · 27 min read

Letters

National / general23 June 2002Multiple outcomes reportededitorialTeacher improvement and performance plansDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failureCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewalDiscrimination

Background or process material in the archive.

In Dangerous Liaisons Robert Needham has reminded us of the words of Aldous Huxley - "the means employed determine the nature of the ends produced". If I were invited to speak to the APSACC conference…

27,082 words · 135 min read

Ministerial briefings

Queensland17 October 2006Multiple outcomes reportedguideTeacher improvement and performance plansDismissed, forced out or career endedWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failure

Background or process material in the archive.

by senior officers of Education Queensland seems to encourage Queensland school principals to abuse the MUP and Grievance policies - and to drive good Queensland classroom teachers into ill health and…

9,701 words · 49 min read

Other ways

National / general2004Multiple outcomes reportedguideDismissed, forced out or career endedWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsUnion, regulator or departmental failureDiscrimination

Background or process material in the archive.

The Queensland public service cannot be held to account. Find another way to get justice. - Bad Apple Bullies A teacher's story: Victoria Help Robina Mark Lauchs: there is no real transparency or acco…

4,132 words · 21 min read

Verifact investigations

National / generalDismissedguideTeacher improvement and performance plansDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackFalse, secret or defective investigationsStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersUnion, regulator or departmental failureCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewalDiscriminationcontent warning

Background or process material in the archive.

What happens if Education Queensland appoint a Verifact Investigator to investigate your complaint about workplace bullying or harassment? Verifact investigation records are excellent. You can underst…

28,942 words · 145 min read

KH of Perth, Reader's Comment 67 of 97 Special Report: Teachers reveal why they

Western Australia19 February 2011hub_extractWhistleblower retaliation or paybackStudent behaviour and lack of administrative support

Background or process material in the archive.

KH of Perth, Reader's Comment 67 of 97 Special Report: Teachers reveal why they walked, Yasmine Phillips, Education reporter, Perth Now, 19 February 2011: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-austr…

256 words · 1 min read

Whistleblowing in Queensland

Queensland21 August 2017SuspendedguideDismissed, forced out or career endedViolence against teachersAccounts alleging institutional gaslighting or narrative reversalWorkplace bullying, mobbing and isolationWhistleblower retaliation or paybackStudent behaviour and lack of administrative supportMental and physical harm to teachersCasualisation, insecure employment and non-renewalcontent warning

Background or process material in the archive.

Teachers who have tried to report misconduct and corruption in Queensland schools. - Bad Apple Bullies Bad Apple Bully school principals and departmental officers can bully Australian teachers into il…

706 words · 4 min read