Parents face fines up to $10,000 for ‘bullying’ social media posts complaining about kids’ schools

Schools will have the power to ban aggressive parents from school grounds from the beginning of the next term in changes to the law that will allow principals to crack down on ‘bullying’ mums and dads.

The new Victorian laws, which come into effect on June 28, empower principals and other authorised people to issue School Community Safety Orders to carers and parents who engage in threatening or abusive behaviour related to the school, including online posts.

The laws allow schools to ban parents who bully their children’s schools in social media posts and potentially fine them more than $10,000.

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Victorian Education Minister James Merlino (pictured) said the new rules, allowing schools to ban poorly behaved parents were introduced to protect staff, students and families

Educational institutions will also be able to impose requirements on the way parents and carers behave while on school grounds and other places where school events are happening, such as swimming pools during sports carnivals.

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino expressed disappointment that the laws were required in the state.

‘No one should be threatened or intimidated at work or at school – that’s why we’re introducing these new laws to protect staff, students and their families.

‘These vital new measures will empower our senior school leaders to take necessary actions when inappropriate behaviour is being levelled towards people in the school community’ he said.

Educational institutions will also be able to impose requirements on the way parents and carers behave while on school grounds and other places where school events are happening 

High schools will have to make sure banned parents are still able to communicate with the school and remain informed about their childrens’ education

The laws come in response to incidents in recent years in which some Victorian parents have become involved in fighting and bullying Victorian teaching staff.

Schools will have to ensure people issued with the new orders are still able to communicate with the school and are informed about the child’s education. 

The new safety orders regime is designed to stop dangerous and abusive behaviour which doesn’t meet the requirements for a full intervention order. 

Where the orders are broken, schools can make an application to the Magistrate’s Court for an order requiring compliance and a civil penalty of up to 60 penalty units – or $10,904.40 – or any other order that the Court considers appropriate. 

The set up will include complaints procedures including a merits review and an external review at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal if the person doesn’t agree with the outcome.