Adriaan Roodt’s family commemorated five years since his death last week. Photo: Supplied.
Five years after Christiaan Adriaan Roodt was killed while playing Capture the Flag on a school trip at Mount Ainslie, the government has delivered its response on how it’s strengthening protections to make sure children are safe at school.
An inquest into Adriaan’s death was completed by the coroner earlier this year. It found his death had been entirely preventable.
The coroner made six recommendations in his report, many of which have already been implemented by the Education Directorate.
The government gave its official response to the recommendations on Wednesday (October 25), stating it was committed to enhancing the systems and policies to support the safety and wellbeing of ACT public school students and staff.
“Nothing is more important than keeping our children and young people safe at school,” Education Minister Yvette Berry said when presenting the government’s response.
“Coroner Stewart … made six recommendations [relating] to professional development, physical activities policies, and work health and safety training and compliance, [and they] are welcomed and supported by the ACT Government.”
Five of the recommendations have been agreed to, with one noted.
The government agreed that cohorts of teachers should be prioritised for risk assessment professional development, as well as on relevant policies and procedures; the Education Directorate should evaluate the success of implementing the Health and Physical Education Taskforce’s recommendations and publish the evaluation; the directorate should review its policies on physical activities and excursions and report to the Attorney-General whether they are compliant; and the directorate should both develop and implement policies to foster ongoing work health and safety training and compliance.
It has noted the recommendation that the Attorney-General review the operation and application of WHS law to the Education Directorate.
“The ACT Government will continue to monitor and ensure the WHS Act is appropriate for education settings, and make any necessary amendments accordingly,” the response stated.
“The Education Directorate is focused on ensuring compliance with the WHS Act and WHS policies through the work of the Safe at School Taskforce. This work includes the development of an overarching safety and wellbeing strategy to drive improvements in safety compliance, leadership and performance in ACT public schools.”
Since Adriaan’s death, Campbell High School has ceased playing games at Mount Ainslie, with such activities now played on school grounds in areas such as the oval, gym or outdoor courts.
An internal review of the management of all health and physical education (HPE) activities in all ACT public schools was held following Adriaan’s death, with an HPE Taskforce established to implement agreed findings from that review.
The new Excursions Policy and Procedures and Physical Activities Policy were published in April 2021.
“The Excursions Policy clearly outlines that all excursions require a risk assessment. Physical activities that include contact and activities at a height above 1.5 metres on the school site require a risk assessment,” the report stated.
“Specific professional learning on the development of risk assessments has been regularly delivered to support schools in physical activities and excursions.”
A Health and Safety and Wellbeing Training Procedure was published in 2019 that mandated all Directorate employees undertake online learning modules and enable training to be conducted within three months of a new staff member joining the Directorate.
The Education Directorate has since moved to deliver online mandated training, including WHS training, which has to be completed by all employees every two years.
A $1.14 million Safe at Schools Taskforce was established in the 2022-23 ACT Budget, with another $1.851 million allocated in the 2023-24 Budget.
“A key component of the Safe at School Taskforce was to deliver a safety review that would inform the very best practice in health and safety systems in ACT public schools,” the report stated.
“This review delivered seven recommendations earlier in 2023, and the Education Directorate is prioritising work to move swiftly to their full implementation.”
This review is expected to be published early next year, along with an assessment of the compliance of the policies as part of the Education Directorate’s 2023-24 Audit and Assurance program.
The government also used its response as a chance to again extend its condolences to Adriaan’s family.
“This tragic loss undoubtedly leaves an indelible impact on Adriaan’s family, friends, fellow students, staff at Campbell High School and the broader school community,” it stated.
A further update will be provided to the Legislative Assembly in early 2024.
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