Mater Maria Catholic College is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for both students and staff. All staff in our school are expected to strive to work together to create a culture and environment characterised by mutual respect, justice and life-giving relationships. The purpose of this Complaints Handling Policy and Procedures is to establish a framework for the handling of complaints that relate to the operation of Diocesan Systemic schools including Mater Maria Catholic College. We acknowledge that as either a member of staff, a student, a parent or a member of the wider community you can sometimes feel aggrieved about something that is happening at a school which appears to be unsatisfactory, or unreasonable. You may make a complaint about any policy or procedure, decision, behaviour, act or omission (whether by the Principal, members of the executive or other staff or students) that you consider to be unsatisfactory or unreasonable. It is always our aim to seek to resolve issues through direct discussion between you and other parties. However there may be instances in which it is not possible to take up the issue with the other party directly, or doing this does not resolve the matter. It is in such cases that the Complaints Handling Policy and Procedures should be utilised. A distinctive feature of the Complaints Handling Policy and Procedures is to ensure that complaints are addressed in a timely and confidential manner at the lowest appropriate management level, in order to prevent minor problems or concerns from escalating. We expect that complaints will be brought forward and resolved in a respectful manner recognising the dignity of each person concerned in the process. The policy recognises that a number of more minor or simple matters can be resolved without recourse to the formal complaint handling process but rather, quickly and simply, by discussion between the appropriate people.
This is the framework that will govern a complaint you may wish to make. Through this policy we will:
(a) Commitment This College will investigate all complaints in accordance with this policy. This will be reflected in the:
(b) Responsiveness Complaints will be dealt with promptly. The process and the time needed to resolve an issue will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the issue.
(c) Visibility The existence of this complaint handling policy and procedures, its purpose and the method of accessing it will be promoted internally for staff and externally to the community.
(d) Subsidiarity The process of responding to a formal complaint will reflect the principle of subsidiarity. This means that we expect that complaints may be resolved wherever possible at the lowest level of management necessary for their proper resolution. The principal, therefore, will not be directly involved in the resolution of those complaints which are more appropriately handled by others in the school community.
(e) Procedural fairness The principles of procedural fairness will be followed in all aspects of complaint handling. Procedural fairness includes:
(f) Confidentiality Confidentiality is an obligation to the provider of information while privacy is an obligation to the subject of the information. In making a complaint you can feel secure that your complaint will remain confidential. Confidentiality will be respected at all times within the constraints of the need to fully investigate the complaint. The obligation to maintain confidentiality extends also to you as the complainant and to the respondent.
(g) Access and equity The complaints handling process needs to be accessible and additional assistance may be available to you if you are from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, have a disability or are a young person.
(h) No victimisation If you make a complaint in good faith you will be protected from detrimental action including victimisation or unfair treatment.
(i) Vexatious or malicious complaints There is an underlying assumption that complaints are made in good faith (and with good will) and with an intention for resolution as opposed to retribution.
(j) Anonymous complaints Anonymous complaints do not reflect the principles outlined above. If you make an anonymous verbal complaint to the school you will be encouraged to identify yourself in order for the procedures outlined in this policy to be implemented fully. If you choose to remain anonymous, then in the case of verbal complaints you will be informed that the complaint may not be acted upon. Note that the position with regard to child protection matters (not covered by the Complaints Handling Policy and Procedures) may be different.
What constitutes a complaint? This procedure explains what to do if you have a complaint about any decision, behaviour, act or omission at a systemic school. A complaint is an expression of significant dissatisfaction with the policies, procedures or service provided by Mater Maria Catholic College. Complaints may be oral or written. Written complaints include those sent by letter, fax or email. You could have a complaint about, for example:
What matters are not dealt with under this policy? There are specific complaint procedures in place for the following matters:
The procedures described below outline the processes which will be followed by Mater Maria Catholic College and the CSO in handling complaints. Where students with special needs are involved in any aspect of complaint resolution every assistance will be given to them in keeping with their education plan to ensure that they may fully engage with the procedures detailed in this policy.
If you believe you have a problem or concern
The first step is to outline the behaviour that you believe is unfair or has caused concern to the person with whom you have an issue. This may be the easiest way of resolving your dissatisfaction if you feel comfortable speaking to the other person involved. You can explain what behaviour, decision, policy or action was unfair or caused you concern and why. Through discussion the issues may become clear and the parties have a chance to address the problem. Many concerns and complaints can be resolved at this level. If you choose to speak to the person it would be helpful if you could:
Where you feel that you cannot approach the person directly or you are not happy with their response or reaction or the complaint is very serious, you should approach the principal with your complaint or concern. Any complaint received by a school that relates to the Principal will be referred to the CSO.
To whom should you speak?
|
Reason |
Who to contact/escalation process |
|
Pastoral and Wellbeing Issues |
Wellbeing Leader Director of Student Wellbeing Assistant Principal |
|
Homework Issues |
Subject Teacher KLA Leader |
|
Assessment / Curriculum Issues |
KLA Leader Director of Student Achievement Assistant Principal |
|
Child Protection Issues |
Assistant Principal Principal |
|
Financial Matters |
Business Manager |
How we go about resolving your complaint
The first step with any complaint is to ensure that the appropriate person is handling your complaint on the basis of subsidiarity. Please refer to the above delegations. When this has be ascertained, the person handling your complaint will record details of the information you provide in support of your complaint, ask you what action you would like taken in response to your complaint and explain to you how the complaints procedure works. In the event that you wish to make a formal complaint then the following steps are undertaken. The person handling your complaint will:
What are the possible outcomes?
A complaint may be resolved in a variety of ways. This will depend on whether or not the complaint is substantiated, the seriousness of the matter, the wishes of the complainant and the nature of the working relationship of the persons involved. A complaint is said to be substantiated if the person investigating it believes that on the balance of probabilities the allegation did occur.
If the complaint is upheld or sustained, the following are some possible outcomes depending on the nature of the complaint:
If a complaint is not upheld or not substantiated (e g the evidence is insufficient on the balance of probabilities) but some issue comes out of the investigation that is required to be addressed then, possible outcomes include:
If the complaint is proved not to have happened at all, or if there is evidence that the complaint was made with the main purpose or intent of causing distress to the respondent the following are possible outcomes:
What to do if you are not satisfied with the outcome at the conclusion of the College’s process
Where a complaint has been dealt with at the Mater Maria Catholic College but you are not satisfied with the outcome or the complaint directly concerns the Principal, then you should contact the Catholic Schools Office and explain your problem or issue. The receptionist who answers your call will ask about the type of complaint eg. student discipline, homework policy, so the complaint can be directed appropriately to the school’s consultant or other senior person who will advise about what options are available to progress the matter. If the consultant or senior person decides that the complaint would more appropriately be dealt with at the school level, both the complainant and the principal will be so advised.
If you have been involved with a complaint matter and you have concerns regarding the complaints process or believe the outcome to be unfair, you may ask the Director of Schools to review the matter. The Director will review the investigation and decide whether these procedures have been followed and reasonably determined. Depending on the outcome of the Director’s evaluation either no further action may follow or there may be further consideration of the matter. This procedure does not limit your right to use other available agencies and processes, such as the Privacy Commissioner, the Ombudsman or legal processes.
Records of complaints, interviews and other documentation relating to a complaint investigated at the school will be kept at the College in a restricted access file. If the complaint is investigated at the CSO or reviewed by the Director of Schools, documentation relating to the investigation and/or review segment of the process will be kept at the CSO in a restricted access file. These records must be kept permanently.
