Staff at Bendigo Special Developmental School report having received pressure point training from Mr Sumarac and have been observed to use that on students with disabilities. ‘technique’ Using masking tape around the wrists is documented as a strategy to stop a student removing his clothing in a Bendigo SDS behaviour plan. All behaviour strategies included in plans are signed off by the Principal. A parent at Marnebek School observed a child being rolled up in a blanket and dragged down a corridor in response to non-compliance. It difficult to know just how long the Martial Arts Program ‘Therapy’ ("MAT") has been running using MAT Support Officers ("MSOs") to work with children with moderate to severe challenging behaviours. It is important to understand that this is not describing a program that teaches students martial arts. MSO’s are trained in "safe restraint techniques". It is not clear whether martial arts experts are training these personnel, but given the name of the program, it is likely. Once again, this is a program being advertised by Eastern Metropolitan Region of DET in place of any formal training occurring in Behaviour Analysis. It was as recently as August 2014 that Anzuk, a recruiting agency, were advertising for the position of Martial Arts Therapy Aides to work "in a range of special needs and primary schools in Melbourne's eastern suburbs". As is consistent with the use of euphemisms by DET to distract parents from the real nature of such "supports", DET choose to put the word "therapy" after the words "Martial Arts" in order one assumes, to soften the description. A component for those who wished to apply, was working previously in a special need setting or school. This, one can infer, is because the focus is on using martial arts rather than having any expertise in educating children with disabilities. DET includes in the key selection criteria for such staff, "a caring and enthusiastic nature". Research and evidence seems to have passed DET by in relation to the fact that restraint causes injury, death, and trauma. This advertisement was withdrawn as soon as a story in The Age newspaper appeared discussing the advertisement. Reports continue to be made in relation to restrictive practices used against students with disabilities in schools. Every year that DET refuse to prohibit seclusion, one can only assume that it is being used. Indeed special schools continue to be built with such purpose-built rooms. The result of the failure by DET to use evidence based psychological behaviour interventions to respond to challenging behaviours
Staff at Bendigo Special Developmental School report having received pressure point training from Mr Sumarac and have been observed to use that ‘technique’ on students with disabilities. Using masking tape around the wrists is documented as a strategy to stop a student removing his clothing in a Bendigo SDS behaviour plan. All behaviour strategies included in plans are signed off by the Principal. A parent at Marnebek School observed a child being rolled up in a blanket and dragged down a corridor in response to non-compliance. It difficult to know just how long the Martial Arts ‘Therapy’ ("MAT") Program has been running using MAT Support Officers ("MSOs") to work with children with moderate to severe challenging behaviours. It is important to understand that this is not describing a program that teaches students martial arts. MSO’s are trained in "safe restraint techniques". It is not clear whether martial arts experts are training these personnel, but given the name of the program, it is likely. Once again, this is a program being advertised by Eastern Metropolitan Region of DET in place of any formal training occurring in Behaviour Analysis. It was as recently as August 2014 that Anzuk, a recruiting agency, were advertising for the position of Martial Arts Therapy Aides to work "in a range of special needs and primary schools in Melbourne's eastern suburbs". As is consistent with the use of euphemisms by DET to distract parents from the real nature of such "supports", DET choose to put the word "therapy" after the words "Martial Arts" in order one assumes, to soften the description. A component for those who wished to apply, was working previously in a special need setting or school. This, one can infer, is because the focus is on using martial arts rather than having any expertise in educating children with disabilities. DET includes in the key selection criteria for such staff, "a caring and enthusiastic nature". Research and evidence seems to have passed DET by in relation to the fact that restraint causes injury, death, and trauma. This advertisement was withdrawn as soon as a story in The Age newspaper appeared discussing the advertisement. Reports continue to be made in relation to restrictive practices used against students with disabilities in schools. Every year that DET refuse to prohibit seclusion, one can only assume that it is being used. Indeed special schools continue to be built with such purpose-built rooms. The result of the failure by DET to use evidence based psychological behaviour interventions to respond to challenging behaviours
Submission-Senate-Inquiry-Educational-Attainment.docx