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February 11, 2005
Teachers union won't back mandatory child abuse reporting
February 11, 2005 [Australian Broadcasting]
The Australian Education Union (AEU) says it does not support the introduction of the mandatory reporting of child abuse in Western Australia.
The issue has been raised by the Coalition following revelations a nurse at Princess Margaret Hospital was investigated last year after being accused of inappropriately dealing with a patient.
Police dropped the matter because of a lack of evidence and the nurse was allowed to return to work, but later resigned.
The union's Mike Keely says schools presently contact the Department of Community Development if they believe a student is being abused.
He says making it a legal requirement for teachers to contact police would deter children from coming forward.
"I understand fully the reason why people would think that legally required mandatory reporting would be more effective," he said.
"That's not our understanding and until we have demonstrated proof that that's a better way of doing it then we would keep on doing it the way we're doing it now."
Posted by Nancy at February 11, 2005 03:32 PM