Thank you for your support and affirmation in seeking to protect our children at Brindabella!!  The site has been viewed almost 7,000 times and signatures now reached almost 900!
 
Please follow the link in this update to see today’s reporting by The Riotact on the situation at BCC and the news about the Federal Minister's concerns.
 
Update
 
Following recent lawyer review and advice to the Jayatilaka’s, at this stage they have decided not to pursue the matter further due to the likelihood of excessive legal costs and the length of a trial. Unlike the treatment their family received at the hands of the BCC Board, they have decided to put the interests of their children first, even if it means not pursuing a fair hearing in the courts at this time.
 
Federal Education Minister, Dan Tehan has recently responded to the concerns raised by the Jayatilaka’s and a few other parents, advising they are now reviewing the compliance of Brindabella with state and federal regulations and working with the ACT Directorate in this regard as appropriate. 
 
The ACNC won’t give any comment on the handling of complaints to parent’s regarding the school due to strict secrecy and privacy laws.  The Australian Independent Schools Association has failed to help or respond in any way to the Jayatilaka’s written queries and Christian Schools Australia (CSA) has advised the matter has been reviewed by their National Council and they are working with the school within the scope of their membership.
 
In the media recently we have also seen some prominent individuals speak to the essentials of an education:
 
Tanya Pleberseik on Q & A, ABC recently discussing Education in Australia stated the “child’s interests must always be placed above the institutions” in addressing the recent case of St.Kevins College abuse in Victoria, aired on Four Corners.
 
Director General, ACT Directorate Ms Katy Haire, recently announced “relationships are key to education” and emphasised the importance of students and parents remaining connected to teachers during this period as she responded to children being removed from school and studying from home due to Corona.
 
Brindabella must give consideration to these relationships and the child’s best interests in how it manages and administers the school. Forcibly breaking those relationships by terminating an enrolment contract which directly impacts the child is not just an unkind act, it is harmful to the child and brings immediate loss and pain that is difficult for children to understand or process when they themselves have done no wrong.  What kind of a role-model is the Board and School providing to our children through these actions? 
 
The National Principles of Child Safe Organisations, now the highest authority on ensuring child welfare in Australia (following the Royal Commission into Institutional Abuse), states the child’s best interests must ALWAYS be first and foremost in ALL interactions.  The Human Rights Commission (HRC) recently asked the school to explain how, when making a determination about the expulsion of the Jayatilaka children, they took into account these principles.
 
The school has chosen to ignore the request by the HRC for an explanation of reasons for terminating the boys’ enrolment and how they upheld the National Principles of Child Safety in the process.  The Commissioner will now be making her own determination and recommendations regarding the matter.
 
In a Christian School setting, Brindabella acknowledges the Biblical role of parents as having the ultimate authority over their children and claims to partner with them in the training and teaching of children.  The enrolment contract engaged in with parents is relational in style, yet multiple parents are being exposed to litigation from the Board when a complaint or difference exists between parties.
 
Again, it was never the desire of the Jayatilaka’s to remove their children from the school and on several occasions they sort mediation with the Board and school, with the best interests of their children in mind.  Unfortunately, the Board’s heavy-handed legal approach to addressing any problem or issues raised has resulted in a high cost for their children and for other Brindabella families who have simply tried to raise their concerns about governance at BCC. Please pray that eventually the Board will realise that their approach is only damaging the school’s reputation and quality of education for all our children.