Case Win: Supporting Teachers Dealing with Difficult Students

Dismissing Allegations & Addressing Workplace Safety Concerns

Teachers often find themselves dealing with difficult students. Trent, a member of the Teachers’ Professional Association of Australia (TPAA) Victoria branch, recently faced such a challenge when allegations were brought against him concerning his interactions with a difficult student. Concerned about the potential impact on his career, Trent turned to the TPAA for assistance.
Note: this case is unrelated to any child safety matter. 

Trent was assigned a case manager who provided comprehensive support. The case manager reviewed the details of the allegations and worked with Trent to draft a thorough and accurate response.

The employer initiated a formal investigation into the incident. The case manager’s helped Trent articulate his concerns and present a clear account of the events leading up to the allegations. This response highlighted Trent's actions in the broader context of the incident, and called attention to the existing workplace health and safety (WHS) issues that contributed to the situation.

The workplace recognised that Trent’s actions were driven by a legitimate concern for his safety and aimed at managing an immediate risk and addressed the matter accordingly, making changes to rectify the WHS issues. Thanks to the case manager’s support, he can continue teaching knowing his actions were justified and his professional reputation is intact.

How is the TPAA so effective in defending members during workplace issues and disputes? Our experienced and professional case managers use our unique RED™ case resolution system.

Why is the TPAA different? We believe that real change in education STARTS with empowering educators, not bureaucrats. 

If you are a member of TPAA and need assistance, please submit an Member Support Form on your dashboard, or contact us at hotline@tpaa.asn.au 

To find out more about TPAA and become protected today visit: https://tpaa.redunion.com.au/join 

The name of the member in this article has been changed for confidentiality reasons.