1. Where are we now?
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission 2012 & 2017
Victorian Auditor General’s Office 2012
Federal Senate Community Affairs References Committee 2015
Federal Senate Education and Employment References Committee 2016
Department of Education and Training (PSD Review) 2016
Victorian Senate Family and Community Development Committee 2017
New South Wales Ombudsman 2017
Education of Students with a Disability or Special Needs in New South Wales 2017

2. Who has the power?
Minister
Secretary

3. Are we moving forward?
The power of the glossy brochure.
The reality.

4. Smoke and Mirrors The Brochure
Principles for Reduction and Elimination of Restraint and Seclusion In Victorian Government Schools

5. The Reality Regulation 15
Regulation 15
A member of staff of a Government school may take any reasonable action that is immediately required to restrain a student of the school from acts or behaviour that is dangerous to the member of staff, the student, or any other person.

6. Case Studies As We Speak
Adelaide
Eight Schools
General Inability to support academically and behaviourally

7. Melbourne John For six years Goal - making a mark on a piece of paper;
Goal -        match colours;
Goal -        match letters to his name;
Goal -        make noises and smile
Six years-no communication method

8. Country Victoria
Cages at Bendigo Special Developmental School

9. Advocacy Cup of Tea Advocacy Equal Opportunity Act
Disability Discrimination Act
Media
Convention of the Rights with a Person with a Disability
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Ombudsman
Ombudsman/senate/human rights commission reports

10. Litigation - eliciting genuine responses
Not a reasonable adjustment
Student Support Groups
Behaviour Plans
Individual Education Plans
Behaviour Assessments
Protection from bullying
Invisible individual education plans, invisible behaviour plans, restraint, seclusion

11. Queensland
Physical Violence
Seclusion

12. Outcomes of litigation
Positives
Vindication for families and students
Media
Negative
Confidential settlements
Little systemic change
Millions of dollars spent 

13. Why?

14. Attitude-general view that people with disabilities are not important?
Reluctance to spend money?
General educational incompetence across the board?
Too hard?

15. What needs to happen next?
The pace of change
- how many more people should be sacrificed

16. While we wait ……. suicide attempted suicide
acquisition of mental illness
leaving school without an education
leaving school without communication
forced home schooling
forced Distance Education

17. Thoughts
Unity
Strength
Targeted civic action