Beau Connor’s parents, Julie and Peter, allege their son endured physical violence, restraint and seclusion at a Queensland school between 2011 and 2015.

October 29, 2019

A disabled boy with behavioural issues was restrained in an isolated withdrawal room at a Queensland school for over two hours despite vomiting and complaining of chest pain, a court has heard.

Beau Connor’s parents, Julie and Peter, allege their son endured physical violence, restraint and seclusion at the Hervey Bay school between 2011 and 2015.

They’ve launched legal action against the Education Queensland in the Brisbane Federal Court over his treatment.

The department has denied it was unlawful discrimination, arguing Beau’s behaviour was an “ongoing risk” to staff and students’ health and safety.

A former guidance officer at the school, Jeanett Schloss, who worked with Beau for four years, told the court on Tuesday she had seen the boy restrained by other staff.

She told the court she also saw him in the withdrawal room, which was regarded as a last resort for dealing with behavioural issues.

Asked by Mr Connor, who alleges his son was restrained in the withdrawal room for more than two hours despite vomiting and complaining of chest pain, if such actions would be appropriate, Ms Schloss answered: “No.”

However, she said restraint was sometimes necessary to ensure the safety of the child, other students and staff.

“Generally what would occur is staff would try to settle Beau, calm him and give him the option of going back to class,” Ms Schloss said.

“If that didn’t happen … and his behaviour escalated … he would have probably been restrained.”

“I believe (the school) did their best,” she said.

The court heard Beau suffers from deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), oppositional defiance disorder (ODD), depression and anxiety.

Earlier, his mother was excused from giving further evidence after suffering a panic attack in the witness box on Monday.

That incident happened when Mrs Connor was asked by her husband, who is representing his family in court, how difficult her son’s early years had been.

Paramedics were called to the courtroom and Mrs Connor was taken to a hospital.

Mr Connor told Justice Darryl Rangiah on Tuesday morning his wife would not be able to continue giving evidence.

“She told me that it was not the question that triggered her but a flashback of giving evidence at my mother’s murder trial,” he said.

Mrs Connor has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder since witnessing her husband’s father, William Kelvin Fox, murder his ex-wife Patricia Atkinson in August 1996, the court has heard.

She froze soon after being asked about the incident, during which she was shot in the shoulder.

The trial continues.