‘Unacceptable’ rise in complaints ranks WA schools among worst in nation
Dozens of West Australian families lodged school discrimination complaints with the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2025; this was the highest figure of any national state or territory outside NSW, despite having far fewer students.
Documents released following a Freedom of Information request by advocacy group Square Peg Round Whole revealed that 32 complaints were received between January 28, 2025 and January 27, 2026.
This compares with 13 in the same time period between 2021 and 2022, and just nine between 2022 and 2023.
Federal discrimination complaints are a last resort and are filed only after families have exhausted all available avenues at the school and department level, said Symone Wheatley-Hey, founder of Square Peg Round Whole.
“Behind each of these complaints is educational neglect and a harmed student, a family in crisis, and teachers trying to fulfill their legal obligations within a system that is actively working against them,” he said.
“Teachers often raise concerns internally long before complaints are made, but the system fails to resolve them.
“Once an issue reaches the federal level, the damage is often irreparable—trust is broken, relationships are strained, and the child at the center suffers the most as families and staff alike operate in crisis conditions created by structural holes.”
Wheatley-hey said WA produced “significantly more disability discrimination complaints per student” when adjusted for student population.
“WA is the worst performer in the country when we have the opportunity to provide guidance, and that should ring alarm bells,” he said.
He called on the state government to “step up” and enact all the recommendations in the School Education Act Review’s final report.
“The review represented a critical opportunity to stem the rising tide of exclusion, discrimination and systemic failure and identified legislative gaps,” he said.
“Application is treatment that has not yet been carried out.
“Parents and teachers don’t need more guidance documents or policies on paper; they need actionable legal clarity to ensure that engagement works in practice, not just in policy.”
Opposition education spokesman Liam Staltari said the figures painted a worrying picture as the government continued to move towards reform.
“Complaints have increased in the years since the government first announced the Education Act Review,” he said.
“Unfortunately [it] It did not commit to establishing a clear timeline or establishing an Independent Complaints Panel in response to the review.
“Students with disabilities, their families and teachers deserve trust and support. These figures are another wake-up call; it is time to act.”
Education Minister Sabine Winton said that the Ministry is examining the complaint, dispute and resolution processes and how these intersect with independent institutions such as the Equal Opportunities Commission, Ombudsman and Human Rights Commission.
“Consultation with parents, peak groups and educators will form a key part of the review,” he said.
“New resources are being developed to support parents and carers of students with disabilities to navigate complaints more smoothly.”
Winton said that ahead of the 2026 school year, the Ministry is providing schools with updated information on how to manage the enrollment process for students with disabilities.
“I have also requested that the Department assess existing training and support for teachers and support staff to identify opportunities to strengthen practice,” he said.
Holly Thompson is a journalist at WAtoday specializing in education and the environment.Connect with: X or email.
