Gavin Woods was born in Brisbane on 19 January 1965.

Gavin was the eldest of three children.

He spent his primary school years in Harrisville, west of Ipswich.

When Gavin was 13, his father was killed in a trucking accident.

Gavin's mother Donna later met Ray - a man Gavin described as his "biggest inspiration" - and the family moved to Sydney to start a new life with Ray and his sons Bill and Dean.

While at Heathcote High School, Gavin began to think of becoming a teacher, but he didn't have the confidence.

Gavin had an accident himself at age 20, spending a year rehabilitating from spinal injuries.

The injuries left him in pain.

Gavin needed to take pain-killers for the rest of his life. 

First Gavin studied at TAFE to complete Years 11 and 12.

Then he worked two jobs to put himself through university.

Gavin graduated in 1999 with the Griffith University award for academic excellence.

Inquest hears workplace bullying a factor in suicide, Rae Wilson, The Ipswich Advertiser, 23 July, 2013

 

After university, Gavin Woods took up a position at Dimbulah State School.

Dimbulah State School had no computers in those days, so Mr Woods scrounged around at garage sales and shops buying broken computers and parts so his students had the same opportunities as their city counterparts.

Gavin's computer skills were an asset to all of his schools.

 

 

 

 

Gavin met and fell in love with his partner Andrea Malfliet while he was at Dibulah.

                                                            

Coroner's inquest ordered into death of Burpengary State School deputy principal Gavin Woods, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 7 May 2012

In 2003 Gavin Woods was appointed teacher-principal at Irvinebank State School on the western Atherton Tableland - one of the smallest schools in Queensland.

Gavin Woods has been described as an inspirational teacher who went above and beyond his duty for students in positions as a teacher-principal at a number of small Queensland schools.

Mr Woods made successful attempts to re-engage challenging boys and get them back into the classroom.

One of their fathers traveled from North Queensland to Gavin Woods' funeral to say thank you for turning his son's life around.

Coroner's inquest ordered into death of Burpengary State School deputy principal Gavin Woods, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 7 May 2012

While at Mt Molloy State School, northwest of Cairns, where some students came from underprivileged backgrounds, Mr Woods brought in breakfast and lunch, while convincing Colgate to donate toothbrushes and toothpaste for his kids.

Coroner's inquest ordered into death of Burpengary State School deputy principal Gavin Woods, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 7 May 2012

Gavin Woods had been given straight "A's" for his work as a small school principal.

Whitfield State School principal Tony Constance had been on the panel that selected Gavin Woods to be deputy principal at Whitfield State School.

The Whitfield State School students "really loved Gavin" according to Mrs Bradford, his fellow Deputy-Principal.

Mr Constance felt that Gavin spent too long talking to poorly-behaved students, trying to understand their reasons for misbehaving.

Mr Constance felt that the children needed to be back in their classroom.

Mr Constance was also concerned that Gavin was not getting the teacher-aide timetables done.

Mr Constance showed Gavin how him to run teacher-aide meetings.

The teacher-aides had wanted to raise a union issue.

(I understood Mr Constance to say that another Deputy-Principal had also struggled to manage the teacher-aides, and that it was a difficult job.)

Robina Cosser says : As a teacher, I know that actually this 'cut and paste' from documents being used at other schools is very common. 

Schools do not have the time to write every document from scratch.

"It got to the stage where Gavin couldn't really go off and do anything by himself without feeling that Tony was watching over him all the time," commented Alison Bradford, a fellow deputy principal at Whitfield State School.

Ms Bradford said she believed the relationship between Mr Woods and Mr Constance "had quite broken down'' and that was the reason why Gavin took leave, because he possibly didn't feel supported by the principal.

Mrs Bradford said she had spoken to the Executive Director in 2010 to tell her she was concerned about the relationship.

 Andrea Malfliet said she feared for Gavin's health as the relationship between Gavin and his principal Tony Constance declined at Whitfield.

Ms Malfliet said that Gavin had an old-fashioned respect for his boss.

Gavin really cared if his boss criticised him.

Qld principal laments deputy's suicide, Miranda Forster, AAP, July 22 2013  

Gavin took stress leave.

He applied for a transfer.

 Qld principal laments deputy's suicide, Miranda Forster, AAP, July 22 2013  

Scott Rodgers emailed Gavin Woods.

Scott Rodgers told Gavin that he needed to give more information in his transfer application.

Andrea Malfliet had also requested a transfer in 2011.

Gavin's GP said that Gavin was reluctant to see a psychologist. 

Gavin told his GP that he knew him and he had faith in him.

Gavin was sleepy with Mogadon.

Mogadon is a tranquilliser.

The package instructions say that Mogadon should not be used by anybody with a psychiatric illness.

And it should be used with care by anybody suffering from depression or who has recently suffered the loss of a close friend or relative.

Gavin told his GP that he could not face work.

Gavin was not sure about WorkCover.

He knew that harassment claims were difficult to prove.

And it takes energy and perseverance to make a WorkCover claim and Gavin did not have it.

He was worried that his mental health would be affected by making a WorkCover claim.

Gavin told his GP that he was not suicidal, but his GP asked him to come back in three days.

.

Gavin told the psychologist that he was having difficulties with his boss.

The psychologist noted that Gavin was agitated.

He jumped from one subject to another.

He was shaky.

Gavin said he had no other problems, apart from his problems with his boss.

The psychologist thought Gavin had the symptoms of a major depressive disorder.

Gavin's return to work was a medical issue, so the psychologist spoke to Gavin's GP.

The GP and the psychologist discussed changing Gavin's medication.

But they agreed to wait to see how Gavin responded to the psychological strategies.

They knew that next school term (Term 4 2010) Gavin would be having a fresh start at a different school.

He was laughing.

Gavin now seemed to the psychologist to have an 'adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression'.

Gavin's GP and he agreed that he should avoid WorkCover because Gavin probably was not strong enough.

Gavin's GP told the court that he would never have pressed Gavin to return to work till he was ready.

Andrea had got her transfer for the next year.

But Scott Rodgers knew that Gavin Woods was off sick.

And Queensland teachers are not usually relocated if they are on sick leave - unless the Return To Work process is progressing well.

Gavin's GP filled in a Work Capability form.

This form seems to be part of the Return To Work (RTW) process.

Gavin's GP stated that Gavin could return to work with no limitations apart from his place of work.

He could not return to Whitfield State School.

Gavin was feeling stressed because Tony Constance had not signed off on his transfer application.

Gavin felt that he was being punished.

The psychologist suggested strategies to manage his mood.

The psychologist asked Gavin to try to think of other possible reasons why the principal may not have signed the form.

Gavin was also worried about his WorkCover claim.

Gavin was worried that Tony Constance would deny everything.

Gavin had to nominate witnesses.

He was worried that this would put other Whitfield teachers in a difficult position.

He was worried about repercussions for any teacher who was nominated as a witnesses.

The psychologist thought that the WorkCover claim process had made Gavin more stressed.

But Gavin did not seem to be suicidal.

Scott Rodgers visited the Cairns school where Gavin Woods was based in Term Four 2010.

He had a discussion with Gavin about his options for next term.

All options were on the table.

Scott Rodgers discussed the possibility of Gavin returning to Whitfield State School if his WorkCover claim was dismissed.

Scott Rodgers could see that Gavin was distressed at the idea of returning to Whitfield State School.

Gavin told Scott Rodgers that he was willing to drop a band to get a relocation.

Gavin told the psychologist that he was feeling very positive about his experience at the new Cairns school.

The principal treated him with respect.

He was not being micromanaged.

But Gavin's WorkCover complaint had been rejected.

Gavin believed the principal had lied.

He was upset.

This was the last appointment to be funded by Education Queensland.

But the psychologist had not worked with Gavin on relapse prevention.

Gavin was vulnerable to relapse, but was safe to return to a different workplace.

The psychologist discussed the possibility of getting medicare funding for more appointments.

The psychologist was not aware that Gavin had a family history of suicide.

Gavin still had anxiety and depression.

His doctor wondered if his medication should be changed, but decided not to change Gavin's medication because he wanted him to be stable.

The doctor was worried that Gavin might suffer very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Gavin told his GP that he had accidentaly stopped taking his anti-depressant.

Andrea Malfliet thinks that Gavin stopped taking his medication at the end of 2010 because he was feeling so much better at the second Cairns school.

But WorkCover would not investigate any new evidence during Gavin's appeal.

And Gavin was crying and upset by this decision. 

He wanted WorkCover to investigate the other Whitfield State School teachers who were off work.

This seemed like a good opportunity to change Gavin's medication, so his GP changed his anti-depressant.

Gavin was given a low dose of the new anti-depressant Lexapro at first.

Gavin's GP authorised 5 repeats of the Lexapro prescription.

The Lexapro website warns that Lexapro is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts.

Gavin's six-month prescription for Lexapro may just have run out at the time of his death in June 2011.

Could Gavin have been suffering from withdrawal symptoms?

Andrea Malfliet thinks not - the expert psychiatrist seemed to think that the problem was that the dose was too low.

Gavin Woods was not entitled to a transfer out of Whitfield State School.

It is the Queensland Department of Education policy that all teachers stay at their school for at least three years.

Even if they are not happy and do not get on well with the school principal.

The only way that Gavin Woods could escape from the situation at Whitfied State School was if his partner, Andea Malfliet, applied for a transfer.

Then Gavin could also request a "compassionate" transfer away from Whitfield State School.

So Andrea applied for a transfer.

And, when Andrea was given a transfer, that enabled Gavin to escape from the situation at Whitfield State School.

Andrea was granted moving expenses by the education department.

Gavin was not granted moving expenses because his move was "compassionate".

During the move, there was some damage to their furniture.

Fortunately this was convered by insurance.

Gavin's boat was also damaged in the move.

The boat had been delivered after dark and Gavin had signed for the delivery without checking for damage.

When he discovered the damage the next day, he was told that it was his responsibility to pay for the repairs because he had signed for the delivery without checking the boat for damage.

Gavin and Andrea rented a property, but it had been double-booked, and so they unexpectedly had to relocate after the first two months.

Gavin had to spend a lot of time on the phone, trying to sort out these various problems.

So Gavin's escape from Whitfield State School involved a lot of stress and expense for the couple.

By February Gavin had "maxed out" his credit cards and their financial difficulties were causing problems in their relationship.

And Andrea had moved away from her home, her friends and her family.

Gavin was a Band 6 Principal.

His position at Burpengary was actually for a Band 7 Principal.

Mrs Susanne Pearce, Executive Director School Improvement (now retired) told the Coroner's Inquest that the duties of a Band 6 principal and a Band 7 Principal were different.

Band 7 Principals take on more duties.

Burpengary State School was a "Trial School" for a new curriculum - the National Curriculum.

The school had been using the National Curriculum for a year.

Gavin Woods had no experience of the National Curriculum.

This was going to prove to be a significant problem.

Another Burpengary Teacher ('the first 2011 teacher') had complained to the Department.

Mr Ken Collier, Assistant Regional Director, North Coast Region, came to Burpengary State School.

Mrs Passi told the court that the first 2011 teacher was very confrontational.

The teacher had raised issues.

Mrs Passi said that Mr Collier gave her no advice.

Paula Passi told Mr Collier that she did not want to "go down the path of the previous year - it had made her ill."

Paula Passi rang Tony Constance, principal of Whitfield State School, to discuss Gavin.

Mrs Passi told the court that she rang Tony Constance because she had "reached the point of real concern".

She wanted to speak to somebody who had managed Gavin before.

Mr Constance said that the conversation lasted 10-15 minutes.

Paula Passi said that the conversation lasted 45 minutes.

Paula Passi said that Mr Constance told her that he knew she would ring him one day.

Mr Constance later told the coroner's inquest, via videolink from Cairns, that Ms Passi had rung him because Mr Woods was struggling with curriculum knowledge, student behaviour management and with internet use.

Mr Constance said he too had curriculum issues and had tried to coach Mr Woods through those, as well as problems with him managing teacher aides properly.

But when Ms Passi allegedly questioned whether Mr Woods was "power-tripping" with students, Mr Constance said he had the opposite problem.

Mr Constance said Mr Woods would take too long trying to find the root of a child's misbehaviour and kept the chidren out of class too long.

Gavin was unable to manage indigenous children - they lacked respect for him.

(But Gavin's fellow deputy at Whitfied State School, Ms Bradford, said that the Whitfield State School students really loved Gavin.)

Gavin tried to be the children's friend.

Mr Constance also told Paula Passi that Gavin "blocked the productivity of the other deputy".

And Mr Constance did not like the way that Gavin used the school as a delivery depot. 

Gavin would order gadgets such as ipods and have them delivered to the school.

Mr Constance believed that Gavin "lacked the intellectual capacity to do the job".

Mr Constance told Paula Passi he had advised the Education Queensland Regional Director, Far North Queensland, that he was going to put Gavin Woods in a Diminished Workplace Performance (DWP - now called Managing Unsatisfactory Performance or MUP)  process.

But Paula Passi told the court a slightly different version of this conversation - Mrs Passi had understood Tony Constance to tell her that the formal MUP process had not started, but he had advised Gavin Woods that he would begin the Managing Unsatisfactory Process, and that he had also advised the Regional Director, Far North Queensland of this decision.

And that Gavin had left the school that afternoon and he never saw him again.

Paula Passi asked Tony Constance how a person who was on the MUP could be given a transfer. (Teachers who are on MUP are not supposed to be moved.)

Tony Constance said it had been taken out of his hands.

Tony Constance told Paula Passi that Gavin had made a WorkCover claim.

(I understood Mr Constance to say that the WorkCover claim was made after he had told Gavin there were some issues.)

 Andrea Malfliet said Gavin worried that the phone conversations Ms Passi had with Mr Constance had clouded Ms Passi's view of him.

"He felt no matter where he would go Tony would poison people's view of him," she said.

"I kept saying you're not going back to that school next term, that's not an option.

"I can't say I told him to see someone. I should of, and I wish I had."

Ken Collier told the Coroner's Court that Paula Passi phoned him on 13 April to discuss her concerns about Gavin Woods.

Paula Passi told Ken Collier that she had spoken to Tony Constance.

Paula Passi told him that she had concerns about Gavin Woods' Curriculum skills and behaviour management.

Paula Passi wanted to put Gavin Woods on MUP after nine weeks at Burpengary State School.

Steve Cook, Regional Human Resources Manager for the North Coast Region, and Ken Collier, Assistant Regional Director, North Coast Region, met Paula Passi to discuss the Gavin Woods situation and the Code of Conduct.

Paula Passi told them that she knew about the WorkCover complaint that Gavin had made at Whitfield State School.

Mrs Passi told the Coroner's Inquest that the two men were "very deadpan".

She wanted clarification.

She wanted them to find out if Gavin was on the MUP.

Paula Passi told the Coroner's Inquest that she felt that this was a very unsatisfactory meeting.

She felt that Steve Cook and Ken Collier showed no concern for the job ahead of her.

Paula Passi told the Coroner's Inquest that after this meeting she felt fearful.

She felt that people were out to get her.

She felt quite desolate.

The MUP was the last thing that she wanted to do.

She had been through an 18 month Ethical Standards investigation.

Ken Collier and Steve Cook had a Duty of Care to her.

They should have known how stressful the MUP process was for principals.

Steve Cook told the Coroner's Inquest a slightly different version of this meeting.

Steve Cook told the court that Paula Passi told them that she was intending to put Gavin Woods on Diminished Workplace Performance (DWP).

And Paula Passi also told them that the Burpengary office staff suspected Gavin Woods of stealing some chocolate money.

Gavin should have a PDF - Performance Development Framework.

Steve Cook was concerned that Gavin's PDF had him working in a Learning Support Classroom.

Steve Cook did not think that working in a Learning Support Classroom should be part of the PDF for a deputy principal.

Steve Cook told the court that Paula Passi was told to bring her performance in line with the Code of Conduct. 

Mrs Passi told the court that "the events of 2009" (this seems to have been a previous investigation into a problem at burpengary state School) were on her mind after speaking to Tony Constance, Mr Cook and Mr Collier.

Mr Cook had told her that he expected the Professional Development Framework to precede the MUP process.

There was a need for something to judge Gavin's success or failure against.

Mrs Passi was very anxious to handle the situation using the correct protocol.

That is why she gave Gavin a copy of her concerns in writing.

The meeting with Gavin Woods to discuss Paula Passi's "List of Concerns" letter was to be in two weeks' time.

So Gavin would have worried about this meeting - and Mrs Passi's allegations - for two weeks before the meeting.

One day before the meeting, Paula Passi asked the Burpengary State School Queensland Teachers Union representative, Paul Woodrow, to attend the "List of concerns" meeting with Gavin Woods.

So Gavin had a 'support person' at the meeting, but Paula Passi had chosen his support person.

Paul Woodrow did not know Gavin Woods very well.

Gavin Woods gave Paula Passi a letter at the start of the meeting.

(I presume this was his written response to her allegations.)

Paula Passi said she would read Gavin's letter later.

Then Mrs Passi discussed her allegations -

The Burpengary Sports Day : 

Gavin wore football shorts on Sports Day.

He should have worn dress shorts, a tie and shoes instead of boots.

Mrs Passi said Gavin was very apologetic about his Sports Day clothes.

Robina Cosser says : As a teacher, I wonder if Gavin wore football shorts partly because it was sports day and he wanted to look suitably dressed for sport?

I wonder if the children liked to see Gavin dressed in this way - was Gavin a 'blokey' male role model for the children? 

Is this why the children liked Gavin so much?

And I also wonder if Gavin had to lift sports equipment about during the day, so good clothes would have been damaged.

Gavin put the Sports Day medals on the ground rather than on a table.

Why didn't Paula Passi get a table herself, or ask another teacher to organise a table?

Gavin did not introduce the P and C president.

Had Gavin been told that he should do this?

Had Gavin been given any information about what was expected of him as MC at his first Burpengary sports day?

Why not?

Surely this was not Gavin's failing, but Paula Passi's failure to properly organise the Sports Day?

Gavin handed out the awards himself rather than asking the P and C president to hand out the awards.

Robina Cosser says : Events like Sports Days take so much organisation, so much really hard work by teachers.

Surely there were things that went well on Sports Day?

Surely Mrs Passi could have thanked Gavin for his hard work on Sports day?

As a teacher, my heart goes out to Gavin when I hear this Sports Day story.

The Missing Chocolate Money :

Money collected from the sale of chocolates was kept in a security room.

Five office staff, Mrs Passi, Gavin and one other male teacher were the only people who had access to this security room.

Some chocolate money - (I understand it was $20-$30) - had allegedly gone missing.

The office staff said they had not taken the money. 

Gavin was alleged to have told another teacher that chocolates were kept in the security room.

Paul Woodrow - another Burpengary teacher who had access to the security room - was never questioned about the missing money.

No other teacher or office worker was given a formal letter about the missing money.

No other teacher or office worker was called to a formal meeting to discuss the missing money.

No other teacher or officer worker had to wait for two weeks with these allegations hanging over their head before they were allowed to say that they knew nothing about the missing money.

No other teacher or office worker was questioned about the allegedly missing money in front of a union representative.

No other teacher or office worker has any official record on their departmental file concerning the missing money.

Steve Cook and Ken Collier were told that the office staff suspected Gavin Woods of stealing the chocolate money. You may think that Gavin Woods was being denied natural justice and defamed by this gossip.

The police were not called to check fingerprints, etc.

Roxie Borserini was present at this meeting.

Roxie Borserini told the coroner that Mrs Passi talked to Gavin Woods about the missing chocolate money and then asked Gavin if he could tell her anything about it.

Gavin made no comment.

He just stared ahead.

Roxie Borserini said that she did not think this was an unusual reaction.

She presumed that Gavin was just thinking it through.

But Gavin had already had two weeks to think through - and worry about - this allegation.

Then Gavin said "I don't know anything about any missing chocolate money".

Paul Woodrow said Mrs Passi was forthright and straight to the point when she discussed the allegedly missing money.

Paul Woodrow said Gavin was a little indignant.

Gavin said his good name was being blackened.

He asked for an apology.

Gavin was upset by the allegations.

Mrs Passi did not apologise.

She said there was "no evidence, as such" and "it was inconclusive".

She said it was "closed".

But, of course, the allegations would always remain on Gavin's official records.

Internet use :

Gavin used his computer during school hours.

Mrs Passi had asked for a print out of Gavin's internet use records.

Paul Woodrow, the Burpengary QTU representative and a technician were asked to prepare this print-out. 

Other Burpengary teachers had used the internet more than Gavin.

Paul Woodrow said that, in his opinion, Gavin's internet usage was not overly excessive, but it was more than the other Burpengary deputies.

The technician did not think that Gavin's internet usage was excessive.

You may think that setting Burpengary teachers and technicians to spy on a deputy principal was unpleasant and unprofessional.

Gavin said he would cut back on his internet usage.

Paul Woodrow was instructed to limit Gavin Woods's internet usage.

You might consider it to be inappropriate for a subordinate to be instructed to limit a deputy-principal's internet usage.

Paul Woodrow had never been instructed to limit anybody else's internet usage. 

Was this why Gavin's personal phone bill was so high?

Paula Passi told Gavin that she wanted him off the computer and out and about around the school, spending time with the students.

Terry Evans, the QTU organiser, told the Coroner's Inquest (that he understood) Paula Passi had told Gavin that he was not to be at his desk (or use his computer) 9.00am-3.00pm.

Mrs Passi later sent Gavin's internet use records to the Department of Education Ethical Standards Unit to see if Gavin's internet usage was in breach of departmental policy.

Gavin seemed to be using the computer for private purposes. 

But I understood Mrs Passi to tell the Brisbane Coroner's court that over 90 per cent of Gavin's internet usage was private.

Mr Woodrow agreed during questioning in court that Mrs Passi had not raised her voice during the meeting.

He said Mrs Passi had been forthright and had followed protocol - although he said someone on the receiving end of all the information could have found it humiliating and intimidating.

Mr Woodrow said Mr Woods seemed to have "hit the wall" after this meeting.

Robina Cosser says : Burpengary State School had a policy that children who were going to be told off had to be 'spoken to' in a room on their own, so that the children did not feel humiliated in front of the other students.

But Gavin Woods was spoken to by Paula Passi in front of another deputy-principal and the QTU rep - who was actually Gavin's subordinate.

Qld principal laments deputy's suicide, Miranda Forster, AAP, July 22 2013

Andrea Malfliet said the letter (that seemed to) accuse Gavin of stealing chocolate money from the school and excessive internet use sent him over the edge.

Ms Malfliet, a trained psychologist, broke down as she said she should have recognised the signs when Gavin went into a downward spiral after the meeting with principal Paula Passi.

"It was like a rug was pulled from under him," she said.

"He was called a thief and he couldn't explain it.

"Looking back now it was obviously getting worse.

"I think what happened is I'd become a bit complacent.

"We got through (Whitfield) ... and I thought "this will be the same".

"Because that had been an ongoing thing that had gradually built up, and this was so fast maybe I wasn't paying enough attention.

"I didn't believe Gavin was suicidal, that he couldn't be left by himself."

"I don't quite know how things could have gone downhill so fast and why Gavin ended his life when there were so many other options."

"I believe it all got too hard for Gavin, that he felt he'd let everybody down and that somehow we would be better off without him."

"Nothing could be further from the truth. But that dark place is not rational."

Paul Woodrow contacted the Queensland Teachers Union and said that a member was having difficulties.

Mr Woodrow gave the QTU Gavin's phone number.

Gavin asked Terry Evans to check his response to Mrs Passi's list of allegations.

Gavin's demeanor seemed normal to Terry.

Gavin seemed to be concerned about the allegations.

Terry told the Coroner's Inquest that Gavin's letter in response to the allegations was good - detailed and matter of fact.

Gavin told Terry Evans that after the meeting with Paula Passi to discuss her allegations, his role had been changed - he was helping out with special needs.

Terry Evans was concerned about this because special needs was not part of Gavin's role at the school.

Terry Evans advised Gavin to speak to Human Resources.

Gavin did not appear to be anxious about talking to Human Resources.

Gavin told Terry Evans that he felt he was being judged too soon because of the conversation between Tony Constance and Paula Passi.

Because Paula Passi and Tony Constance had talked about Gavin, the QTU asked for a meeting with Steve Cook.

Gavin Woods phoned Bruce Elliot of Human Resources.

At this stage Gavin had been told that his position at Burpengary State School was permanent.

They discussed the Complaint Management Process.

Bruce Elliot knew there had been a discussion with Paula Passi about the use of Professional Development Plans.

He knew there were some problems with the culture of the school.

He knew there was a training plan in place for the principal to prevent abuse of the PDF framework.

The PDF process had to be done in accordance with Departmental standards.

Mr Elliot knew that Paula Passi was being monitored.

He asked Gavin if he had a Professional Development Plan.

Gavin Woods told Bruce Elliot that he had a PDF plan.

During a second phone call Gavin said that there were difficulties with the Complaints Management Process.

Mr Elliot said that this was common knowledge.

It is very difficult to complain about your supervisor.

Mr Elliot sent Gavin Woods an email, outlining their discussion.

Mrs Passi told the court that she attended a State School principal's meeting.

Ken Collier, Assistant Regional Director, North Coast Region, was present.

Mrs Passi told the Coroner's Inquest she had told Ken Collier that Gavin Woods was hard work.

She told Ken Collier that Gavin was ineffective and she did not think he was up to the job.

Ken Collier told Paula Passi that he would come to see her in early June.

Ken Collier told the Coroner's Inquest that Paula Passi had told him at this meeting that Gavin Woods was hard work, that it was hard going and it did not seem to be working.

Ken Collier had the feeling that it was going to end in Gavin being put on MUP.

Between the two meetings Paul Woodrow had asked Gavin how he was feeling.

Paula Passi had written a letter, listing things she felt that Gavin needed to improve.

Paul Woodrow told the Coroner's Inquest that Gavin Woods asked Paula Passi what he had to do.

Gavin seemed to be willing to listen.

So they had an "off the record" discussion.

Paula Passi told Gavin he did not have the skills to do the job properly.

She said Gavin "should not have been promoted to the job".

She was not able to give him all of the roles of a deputy principal.

"This puts a strain on other deputies."

She said that Gavin had not spent enough time in the classroom.

She said that Gavin did not have the foundation.

Paula Passi told Gavin she had spoken to Tony Constance.

She did not want to go through the same thing as "up north".

Paula Passi told the coroner that she had told Gavin that he had talents in other worlds than the academic world of the deputy principal.

She suggested that he might be suited to work in an Environmental Education Centre.

She told Gavin that, if he could negotiate something, she would support him.

She thought that Gavin seemed to be quite enthusiastic about this suggestion.

She advised Gavin to discuss this with Steve Cook.

Paul Woodrow did not remember this being discussed.

Paul Woodrow told the coroner that Mrs Passi spoke very directly.

She explained what she wanted.

Mrs Passi was very matter-of fact.

She explained what she believed.

Mrs Passi did not speak in a 'softly-softly' manner.

Mrs Passi was very forthright.

Gavin was quiet.

Mrs Passi told Gavin he should consider whether he wished to continue.

One consequence was DWP (the Diminished Workplace Performance program).

Paul Woodrow told the court Ms Passi had told Mr Woods he needed to go home and think about whether he wanted to continue in the role and what he could do to improve, because otherwise he would be put on Diminished Workplace Performance (DWP).

Gavin made no response.

Roxie Borserini was also present at this meeting.

Ms Borserini also told the coroner about this "off-the-record" part of the meeting in which Paula Passi told Gavin Woods she didn't think he was up to the job.

"When it came to that part he looked at Mrs Passi and he said, `Do you think I can do it?' or words to that effect, and she looked at him, as I would have, quite startled and he said, 'Off the record,' and then Mrs Passi referred to the union rep and she looked back at Mr Woods and she said, 'Off the record?' he said, 'Yes, off-the-record Mrs Passi,' " Mrs Borserini said.

Robina Cosser says : Mrs Miller, Gavin's fellow deputy, reported that Gavin often asked her for re-assurance. 

Once a week he would ask Mrs Miller, "How am I going?"

And Gavin would say to Mrs Miller, "You tell me what to do and how to do it and I will do it."

When Gavin asked Paula Passi "Do you think I can do it?", was he expecting Paula Passi to give him the same sort of positive re-assurance that "he could do it"?

Mrs Borserini told the Coroner's Inquest : "And then - I thought (Mrs Passi) did it so very well - she said, 'Mr Woods, I believe it is all too hard for you at this stage,' and I could see straight away that he relaxed and sat back.

Was Gavin Woods shocked?

Paula Passi went on to say that the school was a band higher than the school he'd previously been in, it was a difficult school, our school, and that we had already trialled the Australian Curriculum."

Mrs Passi told Gavin that he had been poorly advised and that it would have been better for him to work in a big school before he went out to work in one-teacher schools.

This would have enabled him to master the curriculum.

Mrs Passi told Gavin that he needed to talk to Human Resources.

Mrs Borserini told the Coroner's Inquest that Mrs Passi made these comments in a professional and kindly way.

Ms Borserini said that Paula Passi made no statement about Gavin Woods being put on Diminished Workplace Performance.

Mrs Borserini told the court that Mrs Passi would not make a statement like that.

After telling Gavin these things, Mrs Passi said that it was a lot of information all at once

Mrs Passi told the Coroner's Inquest that Gavin was staring at the wall and not talking.

So she told Paul Woodrow to take Gavin to to the nearby coffee shop to 'debrief' - have a talk about the meeting.  

On the way to the Coffee Shop, Paul Woodrow suggested that Gavin contact Terry Evans, the Sunshine Coast Queensland Teachers Union Organiser.

Paul Woodrow said Gavin seemed to have "switched off" after the meeting.

Gavin told Paul Woodrow that he could not go through another investigation.

Was Gavin thinking about making another WorkCover complaint?

Paul Woodrow tried to talk about the positives in the situation.

Gavin could not see any positives.

Paul Woodrow suggested that Gavin go to the Area Manager or Human Resources.

Gavin said he'd go to Human Resources.

Paul Woodrow later told Paula Passi that he thought Gavin had 'hit the wall'.

It had been a lot to take in.

Paul Woodrow rang Terry Evans, the Sunshine Coast Queensland Teacher's Union Organiser and told Terry that Gavin Woods would be going to see him.

This was the day that Gavin Woods and Mrs Mellors, his fellow deputy-principal, were due to do the Grade 4 Moderation.

Gavin was late.

Mrs Mellors was responsible for the Grade 4 Moderation.

Gavin Woods and Mrs Mellors were due to do more moderation, but Gavin was missing.

Gavin had a meeting with Steve Cook, the Queensland Department of Education Regional Human Resource Manager for the North Coast Region.

Terry Evans, Queensland Teachers Union Organiser, QTU Sunshine Coast Office, told the Coroner's Inquest that he went with Gavin Woods to the meeting with Steve Cook, Principal Human Resources Manager for the North Coast Region.

Terry Evans had previously had a number of telephone conversations with Gavin.

Terry Evans met Gavin Woods in the car park about 20 minutes before the meeting.

Gavin told Terry Evans that he was very nervous.

Terry Evans told Gavin to be open and frank.

Gavin Woods told Steve Cook and Terry Evans that Paula Passi had told him he did not have enough experience to be a deputy principal.

Gavin talked about the problems at Whitfield State School.

Gavin told Steve Cook that he did not believe that he had been given an opportunity to show what he could do.

Terry Evans told the Coroner's Inquest that Gavin spoke in a very matter-of-fact manner.

Gavin Woods told Steve Cook that Paula Passi had told him that he would commence the MUP process next semester.

Gavin said that he had some curriculum difficulties.

He was being used as a Learning Support teacher.

Terry Evans told the Coroner's Inquest that Steve Cook was interested in Gavin Woods' Developing Performance Framework.

Steve Cook told Gavin that he would advise Paula Passi to look at Gavin's Developing Performance Framework.

Steve Cook asked Gavin what he wanted.

Gavin said he just wanted to do his job.

Steve Cook offered Gavin Employee Assistance ( the support of a psychologist).

Gavin was not interested in Employee Assistance.

They did not discuss any other support options. 

Terry Evans said Gavin was unlikely to continue at Burpengary State School in the long term.

Robina Cosser says : But I have the impression that Gavin Woods was not actually told during this meeting that he would be re-located.

I understood Terry Evans to tell the Coroner's Court that Ken Collier and Steve Cook agreed on the following Thursday that relocation would be the best option for Gavin.

During this meeting Steve Cook told the Coroner's Inquest that he saw no indication that Gavin was suffering any mental deterioration.

Steve Cook told the court that Gavin Woods was very calm.

He was quiet, disbelieving.

Gavin said he would survive day by day, hour by hour.

Gavin seemed to Steve Cook to leave the meeting 'in a good place'.

Terry Evans spoke to Gavin Woods in the car park after the meeting for about 20 minutes.

Terry Evans suggested that Gavin go to Employee Assistance.

Terry discussed Gavin's options.

He asked Gavin if he had any sick leave that he could take.

Could he take any other type of leave?

Could he keep his head down for a couple of weeks?

Then, Terry Evans told Gavin, he would most likely be relocated.

But Gavin did not want to take sick leave.

Terry Evans said that this was because Gavin was very professional.

In fact Gavin may not have had very much sick leave left.

Terry Evans told Gavin that a transfer would depend on vacancies.  

Terry Evans told the Coroner's Inquest that he had no concerns about Gavin Woods' mental health.

But Mrs Passi told the Coroner's Inquest that Gavin "sat very quietly" and she got the impression that the meeting with Steve Cook had not gone well.

The day after his meeting with the District Office staff and the QTU officer, Gavin had to run the Grade 7 Moderation.

It was 'his day'. 

Mrs Mellors said Gavin had everything organised and the day went well.

Mrs Mellors said Gavin seemed really pleased that his Moderation Day had gone so well.

Robina Cosser says : Imagine how stressful it must have been for Gavin to organise 'his day' with the worry of the District Office meeting dominating his thoughts.

And knowing that, however good 'his day' was, it did not really matter.

If he stayed at Burpengary he was going to be put on the MUP and driven out of work.

 Andrea Malfliet says that by the time Gavin got home, he was worrying again.

By this time Gavin's mood had deteriorated to the point where he was not sleeping properly and living day to day, according to Andrea Malfliet.

Andrea and Gavin fought over a large telephone bill.

Robina Cosser says : Did Gavin feel trapped because he needed to talk to people, to search for information and to get some advice on how to deal with the situation, but he was not allowed to use the internet at school and he could not use his own phone because his phone bill was so high?

 Qld principal laments deputy's suicide, Miranda Forster, AAP, July 22 2013  

You +1'd this publicly. Undo

 

 

Gavin Woods rang Burpengary school on June 9 2011, saying he was sick.

 

 

 

Coroner hears that deputy principal post not the best move for teacher who is believed to have committed suicide, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 26 January 2013 

Burpengary State School rocked by inquiries, suicide, Kelmeny Fraser and Patrick Lion, The Sunday Mail : 31 July 2011

Queensland Police Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/notes/queensland-police-service/missing-man-wamuran/195456043835749

Seems to be the Facebook page for people who knew Gavin Woods at Whitfield State School, Cairns  : http://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Mr-Gavin-Woods-All-Our-Hearts-Are-With-You/144967428915021

On Tuesday 14 June, Steve Cook was told that Gavin Woods was missing.

Steve Cook rang Paula Passi immediately.

Mr Cook was concerned about what might have happened at the school after the 7 June meeting.

He was worried that Paula Passi may have had another clash with Gavin Woods after the meeting.

16 June 2011 (approx), authorities received a phone call from a former teacher at Burpengary State School.

Burpengary State School rocked by inquiries, suicide, Kelmeny Fraser and Patrick Lion, The Sunday Mail : 31 July 2011

 

26 June 2011 Gavin Woods was found dead in bushland near his Wamuran home, west of Caboolture.

There were things that "indicated that he had taken his own life''.

A Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission ( CMC ) spokeswoman confirmed that it had "received a complaint against Paula Passi related to workplace bullying and inappropriate responses to student behaviour issues".

The CMC received the workplace bullying complaint on July 1, 2011.

But the CMC delayed making an announcement about the complaint for nine months - till 24 March 2012, the day of the Queensland state election, when the Labor government was clearly going to be voted out of office.

Burpengary State School principal in accusations of bullying, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 24 March 2012 

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/principal-in-accusations-of-bullying/story-e6freoof-1226308653109

Robina Cosser published an article in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Cameron Dick's workplace bullying reference group, explaining why the reference group would fail bullied Queensland teachers - again :

Why Cameron Dick’s workplace bullying reference group will fail bullied Queensland teachers - again, Robina Cosser, My Sunshine Coast, 1 August 2011 :

 http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/articles/article-display/why-cameron-dicks-workplace-bullying-reference-group-will-fail-bullied-queensland-teachers--again,22438

Crikey reported that one Burpengary 'insider' had detailed several complaints.

The 'insider' also alleged that “many staff at the school are too scared to speak up for fear of being sued”. 

Paula Passi, Roxie Borserini and Ken Ruhle are all on full pay and under investigation by the Education Queensland ethical standards unit.

"The suspension of the Burpengary State School principal on 11 July culminates from matters unrelated to the death of Gavin Woods," Education Queensland director-general Julie Grantham said.

Which seems to suggest that there were TWO very serious and unrelated problems at Burpengary State School in July 2011.

"The department has suspended two deputy principals from Burpengary State School as a result of matters which have emerged during the investigation associated with the principal."

“As this investigation is ongoing, the department cannot make any further comment in relation to this matter." 

Robina Cosser Comments : Helen Couper seems to have done a good job investigating the problems at Burpengary State School.

Duncan McKellar, Acting Assistant Director General, Human Resources, Queensland Department of Education, told the Coroner's Inquest that Helen Couper had identified many systemic issues in the process of her investigation.

But her investigation report is "Non Publication".

CMC chairman vague on sackings, Jarrod Bleijie, LNP, 19 July 2011 

Panellists for the People's Question Time - Education in Queensland were:

• Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh
• Minister for Education and Industrial Relations Cameron Dick
• Professor Paul Mazerolle, Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts, Education and Law) and Director of the Violence Research and Prevention Program at Griffith University
• Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, founding member of the National Centre Against Bullying and one of Australia’s most respected psychologists on the issue of bullying
• Mr Wade Haynes, Executive Principal at Brisbane State High School

So, interestingly, at least two of these panellists seems to have had a special interest in bullying.

I had sent in some questions on workplace bullying in Queensland schools - and, to my amazement, my questions were asked -

Watch the video of the People's Question Time : http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/government/peoples-question-time/2011/august.aspx ( http://pan.search.qld.gov.au ) - 24k

The Burpengary State School community still have not been told why principal Paula Passi and deputy principals Roxie Borserini and Ken Ruhle were suspended in July.

Education and Training Department Director-General Julie Grantham said that it would be "highly inappropriate" to make any comment.

Queensland Industrial Relations Commission Matters Filed List Number D/2011/116   S229 Notification of industrial dispute Borserini, Roxie V Department of Education and Training : File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View

Burpengary State School parents have been told that they might never find out why their principal and deputy principals have been suspended.

D/2011/152 17-Oct-2011 S229 -  Notification of industrial dispute Borserini, Roxie v Department of Education and Training.

D/2011/156 20-Oct-2011 S229 - Notification of industrial dispute Ruhle, Kenneth v Department of Education and Training.

Madonna King raises some interesting issues in her article :

Diary could write off a career, Madonna King, The Courier-Mail, 12 November 2011 : http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/diary-could-write-off-a-career/story-fn6ck620-1226193131352

Madonna reports that a subordinate employee has produced a diary she had been keeping for three years of her superordinate's bullying and harassing behaviour.

It is interesting that Madonna chooses to employ the term 'subordinate', with its suggestion of insubordination by the 'subordinate' employee and its suggestion of the superiority of the 'superordinate' officer.

But the Education Queensland promotion system does not promote confidence in the real superiority of 'superordinates'. 

Education Queensland 'superordinates' do not really seem to be being promoted because they are superior, they seem to be being promoted because they support the Labor party, because they are willing to 'go along with' workplace abuse, because they are glib liars, because they are willing to work in a very remote area, etc, etc.

And when you are bullied at work, one of the first pieces of advice you are given is to document the bullying behaviour.

Madonna seems to have spun this documentation of workplace bullying into 'the problem'.

But it is not the documentation of the workplace bullying that is the problem.

It is the workplace bullying that is the problem.

Madonna says that the subordinate employee's diary has dozens of entries, all detailing the superordinate employee's alleged conduct in 'highly emotive and damaging language'.

Now, if the diary is really written in 'highly emotive and damaging language', it is not a good diary.

The diary should be factual.

The subordinate employee may have felt distressed by the bullying, the facts may be damaging to the superordinate employee, but this should all be recorded in a factual manner.

Madonna says that the superordinate employee can't disprove what's written in the subordinate employee's diary because she hasn't kept her own account of every conversation the two have shared.

You have to wonder how many horrible conversations this superordinate employee has had with subordinate employees over the years.

Why has this superordinate employee needed to have so many unpleasant conversations?

Why has she kept no record of these many horrible conversations?

Maybe the superordinate employee needs to think about the way that she relates to subordinate employees.

Madonna says that the superordinate employee cannot remember what she said.

The old 'forgetting' strategy?

So the superordinate employee had all of these horrible conversations and cannot remember them?

Maybe the superordinate employee needs to re-think the way that she relates to subordinate employees.

Madonna asks why the subordinate employee kept her notes secret.

Well, if the subordinate employee works for Education Queensland, it would be essential to keep the notes secret.

If a Queensland principal realised that a classroom teacher was planning to make a Grievance about their behaviour, they would very quickly put the teacher on Managing Unsatisfactory Performance ( MUP ) for some trumped-up reason.

And when you are on MUP, you are trapped at that school with that abusive principal till the MUP is completed (or till you become ill from stress and resign).

And you can't make a Grievance about the decision to put you on MUP.

The Department of Education MUP rules are very, very bully-friendly.

Madonna says that lawyers advise employees to keep notes if they are being bullied or harassed.

You bet you they do.

And principals should also keep proper professional records.

Madonna asks if it is fair to expect a superordinate officer to keep records of problem conversations with subordinate employees.

You bet you it is.

Madonna asks why we can't just trust other people.

Because, Madonna, some people in our workplaces are horrible.

They may have been promoted because they are liars.

And they may lie about their subordinates.

And they may abuse them.

And they may lie about their abuse.

Madonna asks why a decent subordinate person would not discuss a problem on the spot.

Well, Madonna, in the case of Education Queensland, that is because any attempt by a teacher to discuss a professional issue seems to trigger 'payback' allegations.

So, for example, a teacher who discloses child abuse by another teacher may find that they are accused of child abuse themselves.

Madonna says that superordinate employees should make sure they have a third person in the room when they discuss a problem with a subordinate officer.

And the subordinate employee should make sure that they -

The unexplained absence of the three senior staff members has affected the morale of all the students, teachers and parents who are connected with Burpengary State School.

"We want to make sure they come back to this school," a prominent school councillor said.

"They have a proven track record of having taken Burpengary from the bottom of the academic ladder to one of the top schools in the state.

"Paula has the moral courage to stand up to any situation and sort it out and has enormous respect from the students."

"She has made this a resilient school and community."

"The school community has been advised of all that can be published at the moment," Department of Education and Training regional director of schools Greg Peach said.

Letter written in response to : Diary could write off a career, Madonna King, The Courier-Mail, 12 November 2011 : http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/diary-could-write-off-a-career/story-fn6ck620-1226193131352 

Madonna King writes about (a superordinate officer) who is facing bullying and harassment charges after a subordinate produced a secret diary she had been keeping for three years.

(The superordinate officer) disagrees with what (the subordiate officer) claims.

A percentage of workplaces appear to encourage an environment where a degree of fear and intimidation seems to be a deliberate tactic.

The first step must be taken by the person who feels offended.

Tell the bully that you find their language and behaviour offensive and ask them to stop.

Stage two is to record this incident in your diary and make a written report to management.

It was disappointing that Madonna King did not reflect on the plight of a genuine victim.

Bullying is the most invidious disease a workplace can suffer from.

Much has been published regarding youth suicide for this exact reason.

Hint for human resource managers : Get to know your workmates.

You will then be a better judge of whether the diary notes have substance.

Mitch Townsend, Burpengary, Letter to the Editor, Insight, Viewpoint, p.66, The Courier-Mail, 19-20 November 2011

On July 10 Cameron Dick announced that his Workplace Bullying reference group would hold its first meeting in August 2011 and would complete its review by 31 December 2011.

What did the Workplace Bullying reference group tell Cameron Dick?

Why didn't Cameron Dick make any announcement about the findings of his Workplace Bullying Reference Group?

The Burpengary State School principal and two deputy principals have now been suspended on full pay since July 2011.

The Burpengary school community has pleaded for the situation to be resolved.

The department still has not released the reasons for the suspensions.

Teacher suspensions rise, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 2 January 2011 :  

http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/teacher-suspensions-rise/story-fn6ck45n-1226234388852

The Queensland Department of Education still hasn't revealed its reasons behind the suspension of  Burpengary State School principal Paula Passi.

In January 2012 Ms Passi  was still on full pay.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission has accepted an Education Queensland investigation finding that the two suspended deputy principals of Burpengary State School should face potential disciplinary action.

Education Queensland has released a statement confirming the CMC "concurred with the investigation findings and our recommendation that a formal disciplinary process be considered" against suspended  BSS deputy principals Roxie Borserini and Ken Ruhle.

"The matter has now been referred to the Department's Workforce Review Unit for this process to commence," EQ assistant director-general Craig Allen said in a statement of the disciplinary process.

"An investigation into allegations against Burpengary State School Principal Paula Passi is still ongoing.

Burpengary State School suspended deputy principals face possible disciplinary action, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 25 January 2012 : http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/burpengary-state-school-former-deputy-principals-face-possible-disciplinary-action/story-e6freoof-1226253730872

Burpengary State School is rated :

Improvement Agenda - High

Data Analysis - High

Learning Culture - High

Targeted Resources - Outstanding

Teaching Team - Medium

Curriculum Delivery - Outstanding

Diferentiated learning - High

Effective Teaching - High

Today the Queensland Labor government expects to be decimated.

And all Labor Ministers, including Cameron Dick, the Minister of Education, expect to lose their jobs.

And today, while Queenslanders are entirely distracted by the election, a Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission ( CMC ) spokeswoman confirmed for the first time that it had "received a complaint against Paula Passi related to workplace bullying and inappropriate responses to student behaviour issues" on July 1, 2011.

"All information received was assessed and referred to the department to deal with, subject to the CMC's oversight," the CMC spokeswoman said.

Ms Passi is currently suspended on full pay pending the outcome of the investigations.

At this date the allegations relating to Burpengary State School deputy principals Roxie Borserini and Ken Ruhle are unknown.

The CMC "concurred" with the department's investigation findings and "recommendation that a formal disciplinary process be considered" in their cases.

Mrs Borserini and Mr Ruhle are currently suspended on full pay pending the outcome of the investigations.

Burpengary State School principal in accusations of bullying, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 24 March 2012 

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/principal-in-accusations-of-bullying/story-e6freoof-1226308653109

But parents at Burpengary State School remain in the dark about why the three staff members were suspended.

DETE director-general Julie Grantham has consistently refused to release details about the nature of the allegations, citing privacy reasons.

Ms Grantham confirmed several allegations had been "substantiated against each of the three suspended employees".

"The principal of Burpengary State School and two deputy principals remain suspended on full pay," Ms Grantham said.

"Each officer under investigation is also entitled to exercise appeal rights under the principles of natural justice.

"... Employees under investigation have legal and industrial rights which need to be recognised. Matters are still ongoing in relation to each of the three suspended officers."

Action on suspended school trio upheld, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 14 May 2012

http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/action-on-suspended-school-trio-upheld/story-fn6ck45n-1226354237765

The pre-inquest conference on the death of Gavin Lyle Woods was held on 1 June 2012 at 10.00am in Brisbane Court 5 : http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/92872/inquest-list-201205-FINAL.pdf 

Issues to be considered were "the work conditions of the deceased at Burpengary State School including the actions taken by the Department of Education to rectify any issues, and the relevance of those conditions and that response to the death of the deceased".

So the 'issues to be considered' by the coroner do seem to have been limited to Gavin's working conditions at Burpengary State School.

Who was responsible for limiting the 'issues to be considered' in this manner?

One month before a coroner is set to hear the circumstances surrounding Wood's death, Andrea Malfliet, the partner of former Burpengary State School deputy principal Gavin Woods, has cited concerns about the Queensland Teachers' Union not becoming a party at the inquest.

Ms Malfliet, who also works for Education Queensland, said that, one year on, the circumstances surrounding his death remained shrouded in secrecy and she was looking forward to all the circumstances being put on the table.

The Terms of Reference of the inquest now seem to have been limited to -

 * Gavin Woods' working conditions at Burpengary State School.

 * The actions taken by the Department of Education to rectify any problems.

 * And the relevance of his working conditions and the actions taken by the Department of Education to Gavin Woods' death.

In a pre-inquest hearing on Wednesday 22 August, counsel assisting the coroner Chris Minnery said statements needed to be taken from all key witnesses.

‘‘The proposal is that the Queensland Police Service, particularly the Coronial Investigations Unit, undertake that process and they haven’t the staff or the availability to do it quickly,’’ he said.

Mr Minnery said he was also preparing a detailed issue list ‘‘in light of further materials’’ that had come to hand since the inquest process started.

Further discussion was needed on what reports could be placed before the court and a delay would give all parties more time to review witness statements.

Education, Training and Employment Director-General Julie Grantham emailed staff yesterday advising them she would be retiring from the post next Friday, November 9, seven months into the LNP government's first term

Ms Grantham only tendered her resignation to Premier Campbell Newman yesterday.

The move has sparked immediate speculation as to the reasons behind Ms Grantham's  departure.

During 2007 - 2008 Ms Grantham also served as a Director-General for the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General.

The Workplace Bullying report was published on the Parliamentary website :

http://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=ee/bullying/report.htm

1400 delegates were in Cairns on 2 July 2013 to attend the World Convention of the International Confederation of Principals.

Dr Philip Riley detailed the findings of The Australian Principal health and Wellbeing Survey, conducted by Monash University, a three-year longitudinal survey of 2005 school leaders.

Nearly 40 per cent of Australian principals reported feeling stressed or bullied at work.

An average of 8 per cent of the Australian workforce feel stressed or bullied at work. 

Nearly half the principals in Australia's 10,000 schools take prescription medication for a diagnosed condition.

The implication of the article is that much of the medication is for stress.

Robina Cosser says : Research by Dr Dan Riley at UNE in 2007 found that 99.6 per cent of Australian classroom teachers were being bullied at work.

The researchers reported that the problem seemed to be 'rife' in Queensland.

So what did the Queensland Labor government do in response to these shocking 2007 research findings?

And what did the Queensland Teachers Union do in response to the shocking 2007 research findings?

Because if the answer is, essentially, they did nothing at all -

- what is the purpose of this sort of research?

- What is the point in spending public money on research that does not lead to change and improvement?

- And surely a failure to respond to research findings is a Health and Welfare issue?

School principals bullied and assaulted by parents, Peter Michael, P.7, The Courier-Mail, 3 July 2013

Teachers are 'worst school bullies', Elizabeth Allen and Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, Wednesday 13 May, 2009  

National teacher-bullying crisis, Bruce McDougall, Education Reporter, The Daily Telegraph, Friday 30 November, 2007 

Teachers "bullied more" in public schools, Tamara Davis, The Australian, December 15, 2007 

The inquest into Gavin Woods's death began in Court 4 at Brisbane Magistrates' Court.

Six members of this website attended all or part of the inquest.

No Queensland Teachers Union representative was present.

The court amplification system was not very good and there was a fair amount of noise in the public areas, so I could not hear what was going on very clearly.

And there were references to evidence that is obviously known to the barristers but that I know nothing about.

If I misunderstood anything anybody said, or if you feel that I have not represented your evidence accurately, I would appreciate it if you could let me know -

robina@theteachersareblowingtheirwhistles.com

I have always presumed that newspaper reports present a full picture of what is "going on" in court.

But I now realise that reporters may only be in the courtroom for a short part of the day.

They may report the testimony of one witness but not the testimony of another witness who tells quite a different story.

I now realise that newspaper reports can actually give quite a deceptive view of a situation.

 Andrea Malfliet, Gavin Woods's partner, spoke to the court.

Ms Malfliet said she believed that Gavin had been bullied at two Queensland schools - first at Whitfield State School in Cairns, Far North Queensland, and later at Burpengary State School, north of Brisbane.

Addressing Brisbane Coroner John Lock, Ms Malfliet said: "I have already made submissions to you that it is my view that workplace bullying is a significant contributing factor to Gavin's death".

"It is only through exposing the secrecy of bullying that it can be addressed authentically," she said.

Mr Lock said there was no doubt systemic issues had been identified during the course of this investigation, but it was not the inquest's role to become an unlimited inquiry into the extent of any bullying in Education Queensland.

Ms Malfliet described Gavin Woods as a popular, intelligent, hard-working family man with integrity, who was a country boy at heart.

Gavin loved the outdoors.

Ms Malfliet described Gavin as a romantic, who always remembered anniversaries, and someone she shared many memories with, including ballroom dancing and squash.

Ms Malfliet said he had a playful nature but was an intelligent, hard-working man with exceptional social skills.

"Gavin was a do-er and continually made a difference with students," she said.

"At home was a man of integrity with standards and expectations.

"Bad manners were never acceptable.

"He would often say, "what goes around comes around".

"That philosophy reflects how he lived his life.

"Gavin treated others how he liked to be treated.

Ms Malfliet said that she did not see Gavin as  'vulnerable' man.

She saw him as resilient, because he had overcome many problems.

"However behind the joking, extraverted Gavin, there was sensitive Gavin who was very hard on himself and deliberated every day about the decisions he had to make and if he could have done things differently to achieve a different outcome."

Ms Malfliet broke down into tears a number of times while on the stand.

Gavin did not believe that the department would support him in dealing with the problem.

His previous experience had been so negative.  

He had lost all faith in the Department's policies and processes.

Ms Malfliet said she had not realised how serious the situation had become -  she had expected that the problem at Burpengary would be resolved - and so she had not suggested that Gavin seek some psychiatric support.

Ms Malfliet became very distressed after explaining this, and the coroner called a short break.

Ms Malfliet later spoke to the Media, saying that the Queensland Department of Education needed to deal with the issue of workplace bullying in Queensland schools.

Ms Malfliet said that there was not a lot of point to Departmental of Education policies if they were not implemented.

Bullying prompted teacher to commit suicide: court, Miranda Forster, The Brisbane Times, 22 July 2013

Crown Lawyer Ben McMillan is representing the Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment at the inquest into the death of Gavin Woods.

Ben McMillan asked Brisbane Coroner John Lock to remind the press that the inquest was not investigating workplace bullying at Whitfield State School or any systemic workplace bullying at Burpengary State School.

Mr Lock said this was correct and that there had been no determination about anything at this stage.

Mr Lock said it was premature to suggest that workplace bullying had caused anything.

Mr Lock said that he would determine whether or not any particular conduct constitued workplace bullying in the context of the HR policies of Education Queensland.

Inquiry into death of Burpengary State School principal Gavin Woods hears bullying suggestion "premature", Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 23 July 2013.

Robina Cosser says : I had very grave concerns when I listened to the evidence of the psychologist.

I understand that the treatment Gavin received was the "one size fits all" treatment that people who go to psychologists are given, but it seemed to me to be really inappropriate in his case :

Gavin Woods was popular with children. They really loved him. He was really good with boys who had problems - but his principal believed he was taking too much time with the children, keeping them out of class. His principal said (I understand) that Gavin 'needed the children to be his friend'.

Gavin had computer skills - but his principal said he was spending too long on the computer.

Gavin got on well with the other deputy principal - but his principal said (I understand) that Gavin was was 'blocking the other deputy's productivity'.

Gavin's professional strengths were being spun into negatives.

And the psychologist seemed to be asking Gavin to look for the positives in all of this negativity.

It all seemed to me to be a bit like asking the Jewish people in Belsen to look for the positives in what Hitler was doing to them.

And the Queensland Department of Education had paid for Gavin to have exactly three sessions of this 'psychological treatment'.

I think there is a need for psychologists to ask themselves if what they are doing really makes sense.

Why do the department pay them to focus on one person in a problem workplace situation?

Why don't the department ask the psychologist to treat both people involved in the situation?

And do psychologists have a conflict of interest in accepting departmental money to put teachers through this sort of 'treatment'?

I suspect this dysfunctional 'psychological treatment' may actually be making Queensland teachers more ill.

Mr Rodgers explained that Gavin's first application for a transfer away from Whitfield State School had been refused because Gavin had not been at Whitfield for three years.

The second application was accepted because it was made after Andrea Malfliet had been given a transfer.

The second application was accepted as a compassionate transfer.

Waiting for Andrea to be notified of her transfer had caused some delay in Gavin's transfer application process.

Scott Rodgers said that officers arranging transfers did not discuss teachers' health problems, etc. because of privacy concerns, and also because other regions may be reluctant to take teachers who have problems.

Scott Rodgers said there may be a need to change the transfer process.

It might be better if principals chose their own staff.

Scott Rodgers also said that teachers who were under a formal MUP process were not relocated.

(So Gavin seems to have been anxious to get a transfer before he was trapped at Whitfield State School in an MUP process.)

Tanya Owens negotiated a position for Gavin Woods at Burpengary State School.

Ms Owens told the court that there had been no discussion of any issues at Whitfield State School or that Gavin Woods was on a Return To Work program.

Ms Owens told the court that if a teacher is in a formal Managing Unsatisfactory Performance (MUP) process they cannot be relocated.

If the principal signs the relocation form, it means that there are no performance issues.

Tanya Owens was asked if Burpengary State School was 'different' in any way.

Ms Owens told the court that if any issues were raised by the staff at Burpengary State School she had been instructed to advise a senior officer.

If Ms Owens had known about Gavin's medical issues and his emotional vulnerability, she would have looked for a supportive environment.

If Tanya Owens had asked Scott Rodgers directly, she thought he would probably have told her about Gavin's issues, but there was no reason to ask because on paper everything looked fine.

And, on paper, Burpengary State School looked like an excellent school.

Roxie Borserini, one of the other deputies at Burpengary State School, said she found Mr Woods to be "a very cheerful person, rather overconfident, and rather loud in voice, very easy to get on with".

Gavin Woods often told Ms Borserini that he had not passed Year 10 Maths.

"(He was) lacking great knowledge in curriculum, and requiring assistance in dealing with behaviour problems with older children," Ms Borserini said.

Mrs Borserini explained that Burpengary State School had special policies for dealing with children's behaviour problems.

For example, if a Burpengary State School teacher wants to speak to a child about poor behaviour, the door must be closed so that other children cannot hear what the teacher is saying.

Robina Cosser : as a teacher I know that this Burpengary State School policy would put any teacher, and any male teacher in particular, at great risk of false allegations.

Similarly, when speaking to a whole class about poor behaviour, the door must be closed so that no other class can hear what the teacher is saying.

Ms Borserini told the court she had been asked to guide Mr Woods through curriculum and it was decided they would work on this for half an hour, three times a week.

Mr Woods seemed to find these sessions with Ms Borserini very stressful.

He would want to leave after 15 minutes.

He would say that he had to go.

Mrs Borserini did not want to increase his stress because "it was obvious to everybody how stressed the man was. He said he was always like that."

This observation seemed to conflict with Ms Borserini's earlier observation that Gavin was "a very cheerful person, rather overconfident, and rather loud in voice, very easy to get on with".

Asked whether Mr Woods dressed appropriately for school, Ms Borserini replied: "He did after some time when it was suggested that a tie might be more appropriate for the position of deputy principal in our school, and shoes rather than the boots that he was wearing were probably more appropriate and he complied".

Did Gavin have to buy new shoes and clothing for Burpengary State School?

Was this another expense to worry about?

Gavin Woods did not run the Burpengary State School sports day in "the Burpengary way", Roxie Borserini told the Coroners inquest.

Mr Woods was told in a meeting with Paula Passi that he shouldn't have been wearing football shorts, he should have been wearing knee-length dress shorts.

He was also told that while he was Master of Ceremonies, as MC he didn't follow protocol.

It was put to Ms Borserini that at the meeting Mr Woods had been very apologetic at the meeting.

Ms Borserini said she could not recall.

Ms Borserini said she knew nothing about the investigation that had taken place at Burpengary State School in 2009.

Burpengary State School death inquest hears teacher Gavin Woods criticised over handling of sports day, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 24 July 2013 

Burpengary State School deputy Gavin Woods `hit the wall' after conversation with principal, inquest told , Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 25 July 2013 

Paul Woodrow told the court that Paula Passi liked to have the best quality teachers at her school.

Mrs Passi monitored new teachers closely.

Mrs Passi was very demanding.

Mr Woodrow told the court that, after the "off the record" discussion, Ms Passi had told Mr Woods he needed to go home and think about whether he wanted to continue in the role and what he could do to improve, because otherwise he would be put on Diminished Workplace Performance (DWP).

Lyn Mellors told the court that she had a very good working relationship with Gavin Woods.

Gavin had very good manners.

He joked and chatted.

He liked to entertain people.

Lyn Mellors said she missed Gavin.

Lyn Mellors talked about the problems that Gavin had experienced during the move to Burpengary - floods, the shipping container was in a fire, Gavin and Andrea had to move out of their rented unit, Gavin's boat was damaged, etc.

Lyn Mellors said that Gavin got anxious when things went wrong and he tried to fix the problem.

Mrs Mellors and Gavin Woods were responsible for the senior school, grades 5-7.

Gavin used to say to Mrs Mellors, "You tell me what to do and how to do it and I will do it."

Once a week he would ask Mrs Mellors, "How am I going?"

Mrs Mellors said that Gavin appeared to be more confident than he really was.

Principal sought answers over ban, Tanya Chilcott, Caboolture Shire Herald, 1 August 2013

Steve Cook, Human Resources manager for the North Coast Region, explained that Paula Passi had a training plan during the second half of 2010.

Ms Susanne Pearce was responsible for the training plan.

Any concerns about Paula Passi were to be reported to Ms Pearce.

Four complaints had been raised.

Ms Pearce said Paula Passi was aware of these concerns.

Steve Cook saw a pattern developing.

Steve Cook briefed Ken Collier on the problems at Burpengary State School.

He told him there had been some later issues, including one more before Gavin Woods's problems.

Steve Cook went to Burpengary State School on two occasions to discuss developments.

Dr Gan saw Gavin on Monday 30 May 2011.

Andrea was also present.

Gavin had a sleep disorder - sleep apnoea.

He had a 75% reduction in his oxygen levels.

His health was at risk.

Dr Gan told the court that sleep apnoea can be caused by anxiety or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Gavin had been referred to Dr Gan by his dentist.

Gavin had completed a health questionnaire.

Gavin mentioned on the questionnaire that he had suffered from depression.

Dr Gan said it was 'like pulling teeth' to get information from Gavin.

He was very shy.

Gavin did not mention work problems and he did not mention that he had been off work for one term because of stress.

Gavin could not remember what medication he was taking.

But Dr Gan said the teaching profession is flagged - teachers often suffer from anxiety.

Dr Gan often asks about stress 'down the path' if she is dealing with a teacher.

Gavin showed no sign of severe depression or suicidal ideation.

He had a standard history of poor sleep.

Gavin Woods first consulted his Mareeba General Practitioner in 2002-2003.

This GP knew Gavin socially in a small-town way - they played cricket and golf together.

Gavin's GP knew that Gavin had previously been to a psychologist and had been treated for anxiety and depression.

Gavin told his GP that he did not believe that the psychologist had improved his mental health and so he did not want to go to another one.

Gavin's GP knew that Gavin had been through two relationship breakdowns.

One of Gavin's siblings had attempted suicide on a number of occasions.

One of Gavin's parents had mental health issues.

At one school (before Whitfield State School) Gavin had had problems with the senior officers.

Gavin did not complain about workplace bullying at that school, just of relationship issues.

Gavin had become stressed before the school holidays.

His GP had "got him to the holidays" and the depression had partly resolved during the holidays.

Gavin's GP told the Coroner's Inquest that Gavin was vulnerable to workplace issues.

Gavin's GP said that we all have our unique way of dealing with problems.

Gavin did not have useful ways of dealing with problems.

Gavin constantly ruminated over the past.

He was vulnerable when relationships broke down.

But work was Gavin's major stressor. 

Gavin believed he was being treated unfairly at Whitfield State School and at one previous school.

The expert psychiatrist had no direct knowledge of Gavin Woods and his life.

She had never met Gavin.

Her opinions seemed to be based on a limited selection of the evidence.

The expert psychologist told the Coroner's Inquest that there were two main types of depression -

1) a reaction to external circumstances.

2) biological depression - with no obvious external event, or some minor external event.

This second type of depression is caused by a chemical malfunction in the brain.

Treatment for depression is with anti-depressive medication.

If people are suicidal, they are given Electrical Convulsive Treatment.

Robina Cosser says - Can you wonder that Gavin was reluctant to consult a psychologist if he knew that ECT was 'down the track' for him?

The expert psychiatrist told the Coroner's Inquest that the documentation that she had seen suggested that Gavin had a major depressive disorder with melancholic features.

A person with this condition would be experiencing feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, negativity and suicidal ideation.

They would feel overwhelmed, unable to cope.

They would feel no joy, lose their appetite, lose weight and lose libido.

There is a biological basis for the condition.

Robina Cosser says : Again, the expert psychiatrist's advice to the court did not seem to make sense to me.

This was no "minor external event".

This was a reaction to an "obvious external circumstance". 

Gavin's whole career was at stake.

And five (?) other Burpengary State school teachers had also complained about Mrs Passi's behaviour.

And it was the Queensland Teachers Union and the Queensland Department of Education that seemed to have adopted an informal policy of dealing with the problems at Burpengary by throwing teachers into Burpengary State School and then waiting to see if the teacher complained.

If the teacher complained, the teacher was moved out of Burpengary.

The expert psychiatrist told the court that Gavin had suffered a long-standing severe Major Depressive Disorder from 2002.

The low dose of Lexapro that Gavin was taking for the first six months of 2011 "would not have been anywhere near sufficient".

Gavin's medication should have been gradually increased during 2011 till the correct level was reached.

The expert psychologist told the Coroner's Inquest that, if Gavin had stayed at 10ML of Lexapro, his mental health would have declined.

The expert Psychiatrist told the Coroner's Inquest that Gavin over-reacted to stress.

The expert psychiatrist told the Coroner's Inquest that she found Mr Wood moved schools to avoid his problems with principals.

"He tended to deal with stressors in the workplace by moving and changing the circumstances and thinking that solved the problem," she said.