Teacher caught verbally abusing young special needs students sacked

Portia Concepsion, 5, has Down syndrome, autism and is non-verbal.

As previously reported by A Current Affair, her parents Jason and Janey became worried something was wrong in their daughter's classroom. A recording soon confirmed their fears.

Teacher Bronwen Massie and her teacher's aide Claire Andrews were heard verbally abusing Portia and her classmate, Riley.

"I don't want to hear you for the next 20 minutes, whingeing," the girls are told at one point.

Jason and Janey exposed the abuse, prompting the immediate removal of Ms Massie while the Department of Education investigated.

Nine months on, education authorities have dismissed the disgraced teacher - never to work for the Department again.

Ms Andrews was also sanctioned.

She kept her job but was fined and placed under strict classroom supervision for 12 months, before facing another review.

"We are thankful that they took the matter seriously," Jason told A Current Affair.

"It's not acceptable, not just for Portia, but for any other children in the same position."

In a statement, the Department of Education said it would not tolerate the teachers' conduct.

Jason and Janey said regardless of the findings, nothing will excuse the treatment their daughter faced in what was meant to be a safe learning environment.

They urged every parent to learn from their ordeal and trust their instincts.

Murat Dizdar from the Department of Education said the department formally apologised to the Concepsions.

"The behaviour and conduct of our staff was not appropriate," he said.

"No child, let alone children that have got additional learning needs should be exposed to that unprofessional behaviour that our staff exhibited."

He said the entire workforce has learnt a lesson and believes more support for teachers is crucial to ensure students are safe at school.

"We're doubling down on the need to upskill of our workforce around the complexity that they can confront in a classroom," he said.