National

Bullied Jewish students to hear in-person govt apology

By AAP Newswire

Nov 21, 2023

Former Brighton student Matt Kaplan — Matt Kaplan is among five former Brighton students who won their lawsuit over anti-semitic bullying. -AAP Image

Five students who experienced anti-Semitic bullying at a Victorian state school will receive an in-person apology from an education department official.

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Ex-Brighton Secondary College students Joel and Matt Kaplan, Liam Arnold-Levy, Guy Cohen and Zack Snelling took the state, the school, two teachers and principal Richard Minack to the Federal Court for a months-long trial last year.

Each of them left Brighton Secondary College prematurely, and four out of five departed the school due to anti-Semitic bullying.

Chief Justice Debra Mortimer in September found Jewish students were not protected from bullying, discrimination and negligence when they attended the school between 2015 and 2020.

She said Mr Minack, as principal, failed to take action to address "a high level of anti-Semitic bullying and harassment of Jewish students" and swastika graffiti at the school.

The chief justice ordered the state to pay the five men more than $500,000 in compensation, including interest and legal costs.

She also ordered a senior official from the Department of Education to issue an oral, in-person apology to the five students.

The official will make the in-person apology to the students on Tuesday.

The department has already sent written letters of apology to the men.