All children in Queensland have a right to be safe and protected from harm. The blue card system regulates activities essential to children's lives, including education. The system creates safe environments for children when employers follow governance.
The blue card system is regulated by two (2) pieces of legislation: the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (the Act) and the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Regulation 2020.
The blue card system contributes to creating safe service environments for children in various ways. Just as each jigsaw piece comes together to make a complete picture, the same applies to the blue card system. The different parts all play an essential role in keeping children and young people safe, and it works best when all the parts work together.
So why did the Anglican Schools Commission hire Mr Simon Gipson OAM and have him work on-site at St. Paul's since the 3rd of October without a blue card?
Let's be clear right now. We are not inferring anything regarding Mr Simon Gipson. We are highlighting a failure in governance by the Anglican Schools Commission concerning child safety and protocols. We are highlighting a breach in regulations by the school's governing body.
On the 14th of September 2023, the parent body was notified by the Chair of the Anglican Schools Commission, Bishop Jeremy Greaves, that Mr Simon Gipson OAM would be the interim Principal for St. Paul's. However, details changed on the 25th of September, when Bishop Administrator Cameron Venables wrote to parents outlining that Suzanne Bain would step in as Executive Principal, John O'Sullivan Williams would be Acting Principal, and Simon Gipson would be an Educational Consultant on-site.
The change in process would make sense, given that Simon Gipson is not registered with the Queensland College of Teachers (QcoT) as he is a registered Victorian teacher. Queensland does not recognise working with children checks conducted outside of Queensland. Therefore, Simon Gipson must apply for and obtain a Blue Card or be registered with QCoT before being on-site at a school or working around children.
This did not occur!
When questioned on record at a parent forum on the 13th of October 2023 regarding Simon Gipson's blue card status, Mr John O'Sullivan Williams admitted that Simon did not hold a blue card at the current time, but the application had been submitted. Mr Simon Gipson should not have been allowed on-site until his Blue Card had been obtained.
At the writing of this update, a complaint has been lodged with Blue Card Services against the Anglican Schools Commission regarding breaches of the Blue Card system, which ultimately means the ASC as a school governing body is also non-compliant from a Non-State Schools Accreditation perspective, particularly in regards to the safety and well-being of children.
Ironically, at 9:56 a.m. today, St. Paul's parents were sent an email from the Executive Principal regarding Child Protection to provide them with the most up-to-date information about the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland's commitment to Child Protection.
St. Paul's has a dark history whereby the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland and the Anglican Schools Commission failed to protect and protect children within their schools. The safety of Queensland's children should always be a top priority. Yet, the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland and the Anglican Schools Commission continue to dodge their responsibility, potentially jeopardising the well-being of our most vulnerable. It's time for accountability, transparency, and a commitment to stringent child safety regulations, ensuring that every child in our community is protected and cherished.