Resolved complaint (81) about disability discrimination in education
Learn how a complaint (81) about disability discrimination in education was resolved through conciliation.
Summary
- Year: 2024
- Relevant Act: Disability Discrimination Act
- Grounds: Disability
- Area(s): Disability Standards; Education
- Settlement terms:
- Apology - private
- Compensation
- Education
- Settlement amount: $5,000
About the complaint
The complainant's son has a rare chromosomal disorder and is non-ambulatory and non-verbal. She alleged the respondent private school declined her son's application for enrolment on the basis that it considered his disability could not be accommodated in a mainstream environment.
The school denied any discrimination and indicated a willingness to try to resolve the complaint by conciliation.
The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the school pay the complainant $5,000 as general damages. The school apologised to the complainant for her experience and agreed to convey the complainant's concerns about the nature of communications between the school and parents seeking to enrol children with disability as a senior leadership meeting.
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This is a summary of a selected complaint that has been resolved through our conciliation process. It's designed to help people better understand how complaints might be resolved and what outcomes are possible.
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Please note:
- all complaints are de-identified
- complaints are resolved on a 'without admission of liability' basis
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