130 Days of Education Missed - The Department of Education doesn't care about our disabled son

Austin has now been home from school for 130 days.

We have kept our completely non-verbal, highly vulnerable son out of school because we no longer believe the current arrangements are safe for him. When incidents happen, Austin cannot tell us what occurred and too often the staff around him have not been able to clearly explain it either.

We have offered a simple solution: let Austin return with our own trained, trusted and appropriately screened 1:1 support person, paid for entirely by us. Yet months later, the Department still has not identified the specific policy or legal basis it relies upon to reject that arrangement.

The reality:

130 days since Austin last attended school
43 emails sent by me to Yarrabah and Department of Education addresses
39 emails since his attendance was formally paused
Escalated through Regional Office, Central Office, Complaints and Disability Inclusion
609 petition supporters

And still no clear answer!

Meanwhile, Austin remains enrolled and his significant disability needs attract additional disability funding to his school. We continue paying our taxes into the public education system while also paying privately for Austin’s care and supervision at home so Peter and I can keep our family, work and businesses functioning.

The cost is not only financial. Austin is losing routine, friendships, communication opportunities, independence and socialisation. Peter and I have lost countless hours to emails, evidence, calls and chasing responses  and it has affected our work, our family and our life as a couple.

Austin is 11. His childhood and education are happening now. We are ready to fund the support that would help us feel safe sending him back. After 130 days, we are still waiting for a clear pathway forward.

Please sign and continue to share Austin’s petition and help be his voice.

Thankyou 🙏🏽

Autin’s mum 💕