When I was bullied at work, seven of my fellow teachers went to the bully and told her that she was "making a mistake". I will always appreciate their courage. Unfortunately the bully just bluffed her way out of it. I understand that my bully told the teachers that there were "secret reasons" why I had to be punished and that they would get into "very serious trouble" if they talked to me about the situation.
This all happened in 2000. To this day the Department of Education refuse to tell me why my health and my career had to be destroyed. Huge numbers of public servants have "lost" my letters or "misunderstood" my complaint. What really disgusts me about the situation is that it is union members who are doing this to their fellow union members. But I now realise that any public servant who allowed themselves to "know" what was going on would be destroyed themselves. So hours of public service time are spent "not knowing", "losing" and "not understanding". I describe this official process of "not knowing" about what a layperson would call corruption in http://www.badapplebullies.com/investigations.htm
This is not what I was expecting of my life, but it has been an interesting experience. I would not recommend a career as a Queensland teacher to any intelligent person.

Great article Kim, but don’t we already have world best standard whistleblower legislation in place?

From my observation it works as well as intended by the legislators. All matters reported to the relevant authorities are dealt with by stealth, the whistleblower is threatened and discredited sufficiently to render the whole case irrelevant and should he/she be stupid enough to persist there is always the law. to be used against them. What more can a justice system provide.

In the case of Alan Didak feeling threatened, all whistleblowers are placed in the same position perhaps only the gun missing in most, but certainly not all cases. Is the Australian culture perhaps a throw back to the convict-overseer days which also started our unique “tall poppy” syndrome – the group being punished for the actions of a single member. We are not “laid-back” without a reason.

Stan van de Wiel is a victim of whistleblowing in the case of “compulsory aviation incident reporting which revealed that CASA officials and the Minister were aware for a period of 2 years, of a banned additive being used in Aviation fuel and assisting in covering up this serious matter.

An associated source http://www.casa-x.org

"Dealing with the Mob", I understand your reticence to recommend teaching as a vocation , whatever you do don't move to Vic ; You would be moving from the frying pan to the fire . The Vic Edu Dept has no ethics , no regard for children or their families .
Parents are totally disenfranchised in their Students education .
Woe betides all who object ; The Edu. Bureaucracy will totally crush anyone who dissents , Teachers , Parents , Citizens or Students .
How this situation was allowed to develop in the first instance and allowed to continue today is an affront to democracy .

A terrific fight has developed in Western Australia an org. called PLATOWA is leading the fight to return decency , freedom and justice to Education : www.platowa.com another is : www.bgonews.com , look in Forum ; Education .

Citizens and Parents have met with Teachers here in Bendigo , in secrecy at night , parking our cars away from the venue to preserve the integrity of secrecy ; I thought the Teachers paranoid until I later learnt how people can use the anonaminity of the net to destroy people and reduce their children to psycholigical orphans .

every australian i've talked to is satisfied with oz culture. being a whistleblower in such a society isn't public spirited, it's suicidal. just keep yer head down, sheep, and do what the dogs tell you.

Do not ever even think about it.
While I am full of pride in my job I have now, informing of theft, contractors who buy the most grog getting the work, whole stockpiles of great value being sold as a private deal for cash.
Knowing a boss was drunk at work, and employed his mates, no never tell.
NEVER my 22 years in the one job ended and cost me an extra $350.000 in super alone.
The criminals are still at work I am doing more for my people but for far less money.
KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN
you can not win.

Dont bother going to the NSW Education system unless you want your head chopped off. THE Department of Education in NSW is biased and corrupted and most of all cruel.

In the Year 2000 I, as a parent, brought up some concerns about the neglect of the education of intellectually gifted children and I made some complaints and boy have my 4 children and family paid the price.

I have made numerous formal serious allegations of systematic bias, vilification, victimisation, bullying, neglect and misconduct against the Department of Education, allegations that include a a conspiracy to cover up and that come supported with documentary evidence. Instead of addressing the complaints my family has been targeted, vilified and ignored and the treatment that we are recieving from the Department invites people to ostrasize us and turn against us. People in the Department of Education have colluded to further victimise my children by either helping achieve that end or by agreeing to turn a blind eye.

Just about everybody turns their back.

No matter how many people I ask to help, be it Politicians, School Principals or Investigatory bodies - nobody seems to be in a position to do anything to help or protect the children.

Those employed by the system have to be loyal to the system as per their contract. There is also Legislation in place that prohibits the asking of questions in relation to corruption and misconduct. This leaves our children vulnerable to abuse.

It is time that the people rebelled. Our children are not protected.

Education - Keeping them Honest
http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/education/
Our Children deserve better