Resolved complaint (187) about victimisation in education

About the complaint

The complainant’s three and a half-year-old son has Level 2 Autism Spectrum Disorder and attended the respondent childcare centre. The complainant alleged the childcare centre declined her requests for adjustments to accommodate her son’s disability, such as a behaviour support plan, ability to bring his own food and time to transition between different rooms. She alleged the childcare centre often sent her son home and ended his enrolment three weeks after being informed of a formal diagnosis. The complainant alleged the childcare centre was hostile toward her because she advocated on behalf of her son.

The childcare centre denied discriminating against the complainant or her son.

The complaint was resolved by conciliation with an agreement that the childcare centre write to the complainant apologising for her experience and pay her $1,000. The childcare centre also undertook to review its policies and processes with regard to the inclusion of children with disability in consultation with an external party.

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