Aussie teachers have been instructed to dob in overweight kids to welfare workers under a new Education Department initiative that classifies obesity as a “child protection issue”, reports The Daily Telegraph.
Upon training, state public school staff will now be expected to report children “who may be at risk of significant harm” to the Family and Community Services (FACS) Child Protection Helpline.
“With regard to obesity, this would only be in very extreme circumstances,’’ says an Education Department spokesperson.
“Obesity is considered a child protection issue when it is impacting on the child’s wellbeing and welfare to a significant degree, and it is having a harmful effect on normal physical, social and emotional functioning, and parents/carers are unwilling or unable to address these concerns.’’
The policy is being received with mixed reviews to say the least, with Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon dubbing it “social engineering”.
“The role of the state does have limits and this is an issue that belongs in the kitchens around Sydney,’’ he told the publication, adding that the policy treads on the toes of parents.
“We need to tread very, very carefully so we are not interfering too far in the right of parents to decide what’s right for their children.
“I think we need to find that balance before asserting that teachers, headmasters and schools should be giving parents advice on how to look after their children.’’
This news comes just one month after a South Australian mother’s three-year-old returned home from kindergarten with a warning from her teachers about the contents of her lunchbox.
“Your child has chocolate slice from the Red Food Category. Please choose healthier options for Kindy,” read the note, which was accompanied by a sad-face emoji.
Childhood obesity in Australia
One in four (25 per cent) of Aussie kids are considered overweight or obese
The number of obese children have almost tripled since 1985
The way we’re headed, it is predicted that 65 per cent of young Australians will be overweight or obese by 2020
About 80 per cent of obese adolescents will become obese adults
