Credit:requested GGSA’s proposal for the new pilot program under freedom of information laws but was refused access to the 40-page document.
“[People] came in thinking they were going to do great things for Indigenous schools. Instead it was watching money going down the toilet, ending up with mental health problems”The former and current employees - who requested anonymity because they fear reprisal - allege Ms Denigan’s behaviour included yelling and name-calling, belittling or disciplining staff members in front of their colleagues, targeting specific employees, undermining workers’ credentials and micro-managing performance.
“The board has formed the view that: the matters you allege are not substantiated on the available evidence; or where certain interactions did occur, those interactions were not contrary to the policy or capable of amounting to workplace bullying according to the legal definition,” their response said.
The University of Melbourne has produced three government-funded reviews of GGSA’s original literacy program. The final evaluation, which covered years up to 2018 and was published in 2021, said some schools had “tremendous success” with the program but overall there was a mixed perception of its impact on student outcomes and teaching practice.