Public school staff will be able to ignore abusive online messages from parents, under new communications protocols.

Education Minister Sue Ellery launched the new guidelines at the WA Primary Principal’s Association conference today to encourage open and respectful communications between parents, schools and students.

Minister Ellery told Oliver Peterson that while most parents are respectful, there is a small number of parents whose behaviour is becoming extreme.

“They are sending emails and expecting responses at all hours of the day or night. 

“Some of those communications are threatening, use offensives language and derogatory comments.

“This is about sending a message to staff that they don’t have to put up with this.”

The protocols state that principals and teaching staff are not required to respond to communications outside their normal working hours and are not expected to respond to communication that is offensive, threatening or unacceptable in any way. There is also an expectation that communication and all interactions between school staff and parents is mutually respectful.

Download this podcast here