A former Mooroopna Secondary College student is suing the Victorian education department, claiming it failed to protect her from bullying, harassment and abuse at the hands of another student.
In a statement of claim filed at the Shepparton County Court last month, the plaintiff alleged she was physically assaulted and repeatedly abused verbally by the student from 2013 to 2014.
It is alleged the bullying was a result of negligence by staff and the plaintiff, now in her 20s, suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and disruptions to her life due to her experience at the school.
The statement claims the plaintiff incurred medical costs due to her injuries and the disruption to her education had diminished her future prospects.
According to the claim, in 2013 the plaintiff alerted the school she was experiencing bullying and social isolation by four students, including the main alleged perpetrator.
She alleged the school recommended she miss her school debutante ball in 2014 due to the cost of arranging security because of the bullying.
Finally, the former student claimed the school suggested she not come back the following year when she would have been in Year 12.
Mooroopna Secondary College closed at the end of 2019 due to its merger with Wanganui Park Secondary College, McGuire College and Shepparton High School into the Greater Shepparton Secondary College.
No defence documents had been filed with the court at the time of publication.
