Jason* says he's "pumped" about starting at a new school on Monday — but the reason he is having to change is something he says should never happen.
Warning: Some readers may find the content of the story distressing.
The 14-year-old was allegedly assaulted twice in the space of two weeks at his previous school in southern Tasmania.
"Ever since I've gotten bashed I've been so scared to go back to that school," Jason said.
"No kid should have to go through that."
His mother Jessica* said she had no choice but to send Jason to a private school.
"What happened in the [first] attack was just so serious. He'd been stomped on his head and punched so many times," she said.
"School fees which were never supposed to be part of the budget … will have to be now, because I can't send him back there."
A video of the attack was also posted online.
Police say matters dealt with under Youth Justice Act
Jessica reported the attack to Tasmania Police. When Jason returned to school a few days later, he was assaulted again, this time by a different student.
Jessica also reported that incident to police.
She said both students were suspended for the maximum period of 10 days.
Tasmania Police said: "Police have received two reports of assault on a youth ... in August. Both matters have been dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act."
Jessica said the school developed a safety plan for Jason after the first attack.
"[It] involved him being in certain places where the teachers would be so that they could keep an eye on him, but it also restricted where he could be … so he couldn't go to the oval and kick the football with his mate and he couldn't be over at the basketball court because the teachers weren't there," she said.
"I feel that it was almost like a punishment for him, like, 'You can't do what you used to do anymore because we need to keep an eye on you', but I also know that was their way of protecting him.
"They've only got limited resources so we just agreed that that would be the safest option."
Jason said the safety plan made him feel like he was the one being punished.
After the second attack, he said he was too scared to return to school.
Both he and Jessica said his teachers were supportive and some were in tears because they were unable to do more to help.
"They're the best teachers ever," Jason said.
Jason is a neurodiverse child which Jessica said meant he could "fall victim to people not getting the way he is or the things that he does".
Suspension over violence increasing
The number of students suspended from Tasmanian government schools because of violence has been increasing.
In 2016, 1,023 students were suspended for the "physical abuse of another student".
In 2019, that figure was 1,349, and last year it was 1,511.
"It is deeply concerning that there are students around the state who feel like they can't attend school because they're not in a safe environment," Labor's education spokesman Josh Willie said.
"We need more support staff in schools … that's more school psychologists, social workers, more youth workers, and of course we need more speech pathologists, too.
"Nobody's suggesting that all incidents [of violence] can be prevented — of course our schools are dealing with all of society's issues walking through the school gate every morning — but we need good support for our schools."
Education Minister Roger Jaensch said there was "high demand" for professional support staff in schools.
He said the government had funded eight new school psychologist and social worker positions in the current budget, and increased professional support staff and school health nurses by 100 positions since 2014.
Violence in schools 'unacceptable'
An Education Department spokeswoman said providing safe learning environments in schools was a priority.
"Every student deserves to go to school and feel safe. Bullying and violence in schools is completely unacceptable," the spokeswoman said.
"All schools are implementing programs, policies, procedures and support networks to reduce the impact and occurrence of bullying and violent behaviour, with clear documented processes and supports in place to manage such behaviour.
"Bullying can be embedded in social systems and structures, cultural experiences, community values and social relationships. There is strong evidence that bullying is best approached as a social issue in the context of family, community and social relationships.
"The department undertake a range of measures in response to these types of incidents including contact with the families of students involved, along with reinforcement of behaviour expectations, respectful relationships and moral responsibilities for all students and the broader school community."
She said parents were encouraged to report matters that may be an offence to Tasmania Police.
Other states are also grappling with violence in schools and the issue of videos of violence being posted to social media.
Jason said he had some friends already at his new school and is looking forward to making a fresh start.
"I've heard the PE over there's really, really good," he said.
*Not their real names.
