Margaret of Melbourne: Reader's Comment 13 of 13, Teacher seeks bullying payout, John Masanauskas, The Herald Sun, 20 July 2010: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/teacher-seeks-bullying-payout/comments-e6frf7kx-1225894301900 Historical link preserved from the original page.
Werribee Secondary College, Victoria: several teachers have lodged compensation claims over alleged bullying by senior staff.
In December 2009, four teachers from Werribee Secondary College were allegedly taking legal action for what they claim was psychological damage resulting from bullying and harassment by senior staff.
The teachers had collectively spent several years on paid leave, accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars in WorkCover payments.
A former Werribee SC teacher, who has not taken legal action but left the college "out of exasperation" several years ago, said WorkCover payments were an easy get-out clause for schools whose staff complained about bullying and favouritism.
"Who cares? They don't. It's a drop in the ocean and (the school) doesn't have to pay, " she said.
A recent WorkSafe study shows two in every five Victorian teachers report being victims of occupation bullying - double the state average.
Worksafe inspectors visited Werribee Secondary College late 2009 and again in May 2010 over issues relating to health and safety and occupational violence involving students.
A worksafe spokesperson said yesterday that after the May visit, the school complied with a notice to improve procedures for yard duty by staff.
On Friday 14 May 2010 a student hit a male teacher over the head with a garden stake. The teacher needed stitches.
Two weeks earlier a female teacher injured her arm after trying to break up a fight between students.
And in 2009 a Werribee student punched a teacher in the nose after ignoring a request.
Also in 2009 Werribee Humanities teacher Paul Unsworth was awarded up to $140,000 by a magistrate who ruled that his depression and stress were aggravated during a performance review at the school.
Paul Unsworth claimed he was bullied and harassed by the principal and other senior staff at Werribee Secondary College over a period of three years.
He sued the Education Department over the alleged culture of punishment and retribution at the school.
Two other teachers also had WorkCover claims against Werribee Secondary College over similar issues, Mr Unsworth told Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday
An email from western region director Brett New that was accidentally sent to Mr Unsworth and the two other teachers offered full support for Werribee principal Steve Butyn's disciplinary actions.
"My perception was that I had no chance of getting a fair hearing, " Mr Unsworth said.
Paul Unsworth will receive up to $140,000 after a magistrate accepted on May 4 2009 that Mr Unsworth's depression and stress were aggravated during a performance review at Werribee Secondary College.
Werribee principal Steve Butyn told the court that the troubles were caused by Mr Unsworth.
But deputy chief magistrate Peter Lauritsen yesterday found in Mr Unsworth's favour.
Mr Unsworth's barrister, Malcolm Gray, said Mr Unsworth could expect to get up to $140,000 over 130 weeks period if his medical status remained the same.
Any payments after that would depend on further medical assessments.
Mr Lauritsen also ordered the department to pay Mr Unsworth's costs.
Liberal education spokesman Martin Dixon said Premier John Brumby didn't care about the welfare of teachers in Victorian schools.
Teacher savagely attacked with a garden stake at Werribee school, John Masanauskas, The Herald Sun, 21 May 2010: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/teacher-savagely-attacked-with-a-garden-stake-at-werribee-school/story-e6frf7kx-1225869369183 Historical link preserved from the original page.
Teacher seeks bullying payout, John Masanauskas, The Herald Sun, 20 July 2010: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/teacher-seeks-bullying-payout/story-e6frf7kx-1225894301900 Historical link preserved from the original page.
Teachers sue over bullying, Evonne Barry, Sunday Herald Sun, 27 December 2009.
Paul Unsworth wins compensation case, John Masanauskas, The Herald Sun, Tuesday 5 May 2009.
Teacher sues over bullying claims, John Masanauskas, The Herald Sun, Tuesday 28 April, 2009
I graduated as a teacher in Victoria five years ago and I have only ever had one full-time teaching job - all the rest have been casual or part-time.
I graduated as a Victorian secondary teacher 5 years ago, and have only had 1 full-time teaching job - all the rest have been casual or part-time.
How come I, and other teachers I know, are finding it so hard to get a job during this 'teacher shortage'?