Dated 4 April 2008,Vol.187,No.12,Pages 150-165

1

[ExtractfromQueenslandGovernmentIndustrialGazette,

Dated 4 April 2008,Vol.187,No.12,pages 150-165]

QUEENSLANDINDUSTRIALRELATIONSCOMMISSION

Workers'CompensationandRehabilitationAct2003-s.550-procedureforappeal

JanelleAnnFairleyANDQ-COMP(WC/2007/72)

DEPUTYPRESIDENTSWAN / 28March2008

DECISION

ThisisanapplicationlodgedbyMsJanelleAnnFairley(theappellant)againstadecisionoftheReviewUnit,Q-COMPdated19July2007issuedpursuanttos.550oftheWorkers'CompensationandRehabilitationAct2003(theAct).

Appellant'sbackground

Theappellant,whocommencedworkwithEducationQueenslandin1995,wasateacherwhohadexperienceinhighschoolteachingtogetherwithspecificexperienceinteachingJapanese. TheappellanthadinfacttaughtinJapanduring1993/1994and1998-2000andhadalsotaughtJapaneseatKedronStateHighSchoolfor4½years.

InDecember2005,theappellantgainedapositionatAlbanyCreekStateHighSchool(AlbanyCreek)teachingJapanese. WorkatAlbanyCreekcommencedin2006.

Some6monthsaftercommencingworkatAlbanyCreektheappellantclaimedthatshehadpsychiatricallydecompensated.

Theappellant'sclaim

Theappellantcontendsthattheprimarycauseofthedecompensationrelatedtothe"overallaggressiveanddominatingnatureoftherelationshipthatexistedbetweenMsFoleyandtheAppellant". [Appellant'ssubmissions,point34.] Thesub-issueslistedbelowelaborateuponthatpoint:

1."Dog'sbreath"comment.

2.Controllingresources.

3.Accessingtheexampaper.

4.Intrudingontheappellant'slessons.

5.Beingunapproachableregardingteachingmaterials.

6.Year8examissue.

7.TheLOTEprofessionaldevelopmentcourse.

8.Interferingwiththeappellant'spersonaldeskspace.

9.Thereportcardissue.

10.Skirtcomment.

11.VisitingJapanesestudents.

12.Studentdifficulties.

Inconsideringtheseissues,theappellantstatesthatthefollowinglegalprincipleshouldapply:

"InDelaneyvQ-CompReviewUnit[2005]QIC11,PresidentHallconcludedthatwherethereisacourseofconductorrepetitiveblemishesjoinedbysubjectmatter,timeandpersonalityinadiscordantworkplace,aworkermaybeentitledtoamuchmore'global'evaluationoftherelevantmanagementaction.". [Appellant'ssubmissions,point55.]

Relevantlegislation

Workers'CompensationandRehabilitationAct2003

"11Whoisaworker

(1)Aworkerisapersonwhoworksunderacontractofservice.

(2)Also,schedule2,part1setsoutwhoisaworkerinparticularcircumstances.

(3)However,schedule2,part2setsoutwhoisnotaworkerinparticularcircumstances.

(4)OnlyanindividualcanbeaworkerforthisAct.

...

32Meaningofinjury

(1)Aninjuryispersonalinjuryarisingoutof,orinthecourseof,employmentiftheemploymentisasignificantcontributingfactortotheinjury.

...

(3)Injuryincludesthefollowing-

(a)adiseasecontractedinthecourseofemployment,whetheratorawayfromtheplaceofemployment,iftheemploymentisasignificantcontributingfactortothedisease;

(b)anaggravationofthefollowing,iftheaggravationarisesoutof,orinthecourseof,employmentandtheemploymentisasignificantcontributingfactortotheaggravation-

(i)apersonalinjury;

(ii)adisease;

(iii)amedicalconditioniftheconditionbecomesapersonalinjuryordiseasebecauseoftheaggravation;

(c)lossofhearingresultinginindustrialdeafnessiftheemploymentisasignificantcontributingfactortocausingthelossofhearing;

(d)deathfrominjuryarisingoutof,orinthecourseof,employmentiftheemploymentisasignificantcontributingfactortocausingtheinjury;

(e)deathfromadiseasementionedinparagraph(a),iftheemploymentisasignificantcontributingfactortothedisease;

(f)deathfromanaggravationmentionedinparagraph(b),iftheemploymentisasignificantcontributingfactortotheaggravation.

...

(5)Despitesubsection(1)and(3),injurydoesnotincludeapsychiatricorpsychologicaldisorderarisingoutof,orinthecourseof,anyofthefollowingcircumstances-

(a)reasonablemanagementactiontakeninareasonablewaybytheemployerinconnectionwiththeworker'semployment;

(b)theworker'sexpectationorperceptionofreasonablemanagementactionbeingtakenagainsttheworker;

(c)actionbytheAuthorityoraninsurerinconnectionwiththeworker'sapplicationforcompensation.".

InLackeyvWorkCoverQueensland(2000)165QGIG22,HallPstated:

"... thetestpositedbythewords'arisingoutof'iswiderthanthatpositedbythewords'causedby' ... andthephrase'arisingoutof'whilstinvolvingsomecausalorconsequentialrelationshipbetweentheemploymentandtheinjury,doesnotrequirethatdirectorproximaterelationshipthatwouldbenecessaryifthephraseusedwere'causedby'(seealsoCommonwealthvOliver(1962)107CLR353).".

Theemploymentfactorsdonotneedtobe"the"significantcausalfactorfortheinjuryorpsychologicalcondition. Itissufficientthatemploymentwas"asignificant"causalfactorforthepurposesofs.32oftheActandwithinthiscontext,"significant"mustbegivenitsnaturalmeaning.

Additionalfactors

TheappealtotheCommissionisbywayofahearingdenovo.

Theonusisontheappellanttoshow,onthebalanceofprobabilities,thatthefactsrelatingtoherappealaresufficienttobringherapplicationforcompensationwithinthepurviewoftheentitlingprovisionsoftheAct. Theappellantmustalsoshowthatthedisentitlingprovisionscontainedwithins.32(5)oftheActhavenoapplication.

Agreedpositionoftheparties

Q-COMPagreesthattheappellantqualifiesasa"worker"andthereisnochallengetothemedicaldiagnosismadebytheappellant'spsychiatrist,DrKlug. Thatdiagnosisisofan"adjustmentdisorderwithdepressedmood"andthiscouldqualifyasaninjuryforthepurposesofs.32(1)oftheAct. [Exhibit12.]

DrKlugwassatisfiedthattheappellant'semploymentwasatleast"asignificantfactor"inthedevelopmentoftheappellant'sconditionandthattherewereanumberofstressors. ThisassessmentisnotchallengedbyQ-COMP.

Q-COMP'sresponsetotheclaim

Q-COMPchallengestheappellant'sclaimonthebasisthatithasbeenatleastpartlycausedby"reasonablemanagementaction,takeninareasonableway". Q-COMPstatesthathere,itisappositetonotethatconsiderationsofcausalsignificanceformnopartofs.32(5)oftheAct. InParkervQ-COMP(2007)185QGIG269,HallPobserved:

"Itissufficienttoacknowledgethatapsychiatricorpsychologicaldisorderwhichiscausallytraceabletothe'reasonablemanagementactionreasonablytaken'isexcludedbys.32(5).".

Particularsofappellant'scase

Theappellantstatesthatthe"commonandrecurringthemeconnectingtheevidence"wastherelationshipbetweentheappellantandMsSueFoley.

AtAlbanyCreektherewasnopositionas"HeadofDepartment-Japanese". However,MsFoleywastheLOTE(LanguagesOtherThanEnglish)co-ordinatorfortheteacherswhotaughtJapanese. Exhibit11describesthepositionasfollows:

"LOTECO-ORDINATOR

Responsibilities:

• ManageKeyLearningAreasofLOTEthroughmanagementofprograms,budgetsubmissions,policiesandprocedure,facilitiesandequipment.
• Develop,organiseandimplementqualityprogramsintheLOTE.
• ImplementationrelevantstrategieswithinLOTEKeyLearningAreastoachiever[sic]goalsoftheAnnualOperationPlan.". [Exhibit11.]

MsFoleycommencedworkasateacherin1984andhadbeenatAlbanyCreekforsome17years. Forpracticalpurposes,MsFoleywasinchargeoftheJapanesedepartment. MsFoleytaughtJapanese,togetherwithothersubjects.

JapaneseistheonlyforeignlanguagetaughtatAlbanyCreekanditisoneofthecoresubjectswhichallYear8studentsstudy. InYear8,thereareapproximately225studentsstudyingJapaneseandafterYear8,thereare2Year9andYear10classesandoneclassforYear11andoneforYear12. In2006,therewere4JapaneseteachersatAlbanyCreek. TheteacherswereMsFoleyasco-ordinator;MsK.Stewartwhotaughtpart-time;MsK.LouiswhotaughtbothdramaandJapaneseandtheappellantwhohadafull-timeJapanesetimetable.

DiscrepanciesbetweenearlierWorkCoverstatementsbyMsFoleyandevidenceinthishearing

TheappellantpointsoutthatinMsFoley'sversionofevents,asgiventotheWorkCoverinvestigatorson25October2006,discrepanciesexistbetweenwhatwasthenrelieduponbyMsFoleyandtheevidenceadducedinthishearing. ThesediscrepancieswillbeidentifiedatthispointinthedecisionbecausetheappellantasksthattheCommissionviewMsFoley'sevidenceagainstthisbackdrop.

IntheWorkCoverstatement,MsFoleyreferstoherrelationshipwiththeappellantasfollows:

"MyworkingrelationshipwiththeClaimantbecameveryexplosiveandantagonisticveryearlyon.".[Exhibit14,point14.]

ThisdescriptionofMsFoley'srelationshipwiththeappellantmorethanfitswiththeappellant'sclaimregardingtherelationship. However,undercross-examinationfromCounselfortheappellant,MsFoleyretractedthatstatementtothefollowingextent"... thestatementImadetherewouldhavebeentothebestofmybeliefandintentatthetime. Butinhindsight,inthebigpicture,no,itwasnotalwaysexplosiveandantagonisticallofthetime,whichwasonoccasion.". [Transcript,p.139.] MsFoleyalsostatedincross-examinationthattherelationship"... wasvexatiousanddifficultfromveryearlyon. Itwasexplosiveandantagonisticonoccasion.". [Transcript,p.138.]

MsFoleysaysherstatementtoWorkCovershouldbeviewedinlightoftheextensiveandlengthyinterviewundertakenbyWorkCoverandalsothefactthatshewasunawareofthebreadthoftheallegationswhichhadbeenmadebytheappellantagainstheruntilthedayoftheinterview.

AlsointheWorkCoverinterview,MsFoleysaidthatshedidnotrecallreferringtotheappellantas"dog'sbreath"(anissuewhichwillbedealtwithlaterinthisdecision)whereasinthishearing,MsFoleyhadadmittedtodoingthis. [Transcript,p.139.]

IntheWorkCoverinterview,MsFoleymadereferencetotheappellant'srequestforcopiesofexampapers. MsFoleysaidonthefirstoccasion(Term1,2006)thatshewouldgetthepapersforher. Oneanda-halfweekslater,MsFoleysaidthattheappellanthadaskedagainfortheexampapers. Inresponsetothatclaim,MsFoleysaidthatsherelocatedtheresourcestoaplacewheretheappellanthadeasyaccess. However,duringherevidenceinthishearing,MsFoleyhaddeniedthattheappellanthadrequestedthepapersonmorethanoneoccasion. ShesaidhercommentstoWorkCoverwereinrelationtoanallegationbytheappellantthatMsFoleyhad"yelledaggressivelyattheappellant"whiletheappellantwaslookingforanexampaper.

Considerationoftheappellant'sevidencewhichconsistsofasubsetofissueshighlightingtheprimaryclaimthattheappellantdecompensatedbecauseofthe"overallaggressiveanddominatingnatureoftherelationshipbetweenMsFoleyandtheAppellant"andalsotheevidenceofMsFoleyinrelationtotheseclaims

Beforedescendingintodetailaroundtheseissues,itissignificanttonotesomeelementsoftheevidencegivenbyMsLynetteRuttleywhohasbeenthePrincipalofAlbanyCreekforthepast7years.

MsRuttleystatedthatshehadbeenawareofthehighteacherturnoverintheareainwhichMsFoleywasinvolved. Further,inresponsetothefollowingquestionfromCounselfortheappellant:

"MRLYNCH: AndoveraperiodofyearsdifferentJapaneseteachershaveindicatedtoyouthatthey'vehaddifficultywithSueFoley?

MSRUTTLEY: Yes.". [Transcript,p.216.]

1. "Dog'sbreath"comment

Theappellant'sevidencewasthatduringthesecondweekofherfirsttermofteachinganincidentoccurredwhereitisallegedthatMsFoleycalledtheappellant"dog'sbreath"inthestaffroom.

Theappellantsaysthattherewasagroupofteachersinthestaffroomandageneraldiscussionwasoccurring. Theappellantsaysthatshewas"vaguelyfollowingit"andwhilstdoingsosheheardMsFoleyraisehervoiceandyellacrosstheroom"Isn'tthatright,dog'sbreath?".

Theappellantnoticedthatno-onehadrespondedandwhenshelookedup,MsFoleywaslookingdirectlyather.

Theappellantstatedthatshefelt"veryuncomfortable"andconfused. TheappellantalsostatedthatwhenMsFoleyaddressedhershesimplycommencedspeakingwithoutattributinganametoher. Thiscausedtheappellantto"feelasenseoflossofidentity".

Inthishearing,MsFoleystatedthatshehadcalledtheappellant"dog'sbreath"butsaidthatthisdidnotoccurwithinthefirst2weeksoftheappellant'semploymentbutrathersome4weeksafteramediationhadbeenheldbetweenherself,theappellantandMsRuttley.

MsFoleybelievedthatthestatementwassaidinthespiritofcamaraderiebecauseshehadfeltthattherelationshipwiththeappellantwasimprovingandhercommentwasineffecta"backhandedcompliment".

2. Controllingresources

TheappellantbelievedthatMsFoleybasically"fobbedheroff"wheneversheaskedforbasicresourcesrequiredforherwork(e.g.whiteboardmarkers). Whentheappellanthadusedthoseallocatedtoher,shewouldaskMsFoleyformore,onlytobemetwith"Therearen'tany";"Idon'thavetimetodealwiththisnow";"I'lldealwithitlater". Theappellantthenstatedthatshehadtowaitfor3weekstogainmoresupplies.

Theappellantsayssheunderstoodtheneedforcompliancewithdepartmentbudgets,however,themannerinwhichMsFoleydealtwithbasicissuessuchasthesewere"unreasonableandoverlycontrolling". [Appellant'ssubmissions,point36.]

Furthercomplaintsweremadebytheappellantabouttheaccessibilityofphotocopyingmaterialsrequiredforteachingstudents.

MsFoleyrecalledoneoccasionuponwhichtheappellanthadaskedformorewhiteboardmarkers. MsFoleystatedthatshecouldnotrespondatthetimeasshewasenroutetoanotherclass. MsFoleysaidteachers"wouldcomeandaskmeatanappropriatetime". [Transcript,p.104.]

MsFoleystatedthattherewererestrictionsplacedupontheuseofthephotocopyingmachinebythePrincipal,althoughshestatedthatnotmanyteachershadadheredtothatrule. MsFoleywasawarethatthisprocesshadfrustratedtheappellantandbytheendofTerm1anewsystemhadbeenputinplacewhereby"eachteachercouldcopy-couldphotocopyoneworksheet,perstudent,perclass,perweekwithoutanyreferraltomyself". [Transcript,p.105.] TheappellantstatedthatshewasnevertoldofMsFoley'sdirectionsinthisregard.

ItisclearthatthecontrolofresourcesweretheprovinceofMsFoleyinaccordancewithstandardswithinAlbanyCreekandwithinbudgetconstraints. Theappellantstatedthatsheunderstoodtheneedtocomplywithbudgetsandthatresourceswerefinite. However,thecomplaintwasaboutthemannerinwhichMsFoleyrespondedtoanyrequeststheappellantmadeaboutaccessingresources. TheevidenceisthatMsFoleyineffect"fobbedoff"theappellantonmostifnotalloccasionswhenrequestsweremadeforresources.

3. Accessingtheexampaper

FiveweeksintoTerm1,theappellantsoughttoaccesstheendofTerm1exampapers"toseewhetherIwasteachingon-tracktowardstheassessmentpiece. Astherewasnoworkprogramtofollow,IneededsomemeasuretoensurethatIwasdeliveringtomystudentsthebestopportunityforsuccessintheexams.". [Transcript,p.14.] TheappellantsaidthatMsFoleyagain"brushedmeoff,anddismissedmyquestion". [Transcript,p.14.] TheappellantthensoughttofindthepapersherselfinthebeliefthatshecoulddothiswithoutbeingseenbyMsFoleytobebotheringher.

TherewasadeskofdrawersclosetoMsFoley'sdeskwhichcontainedtheexampapers. MsFoleysaidthatthedeskwascommonpropertyintheJapanesedepartment. Whilelookingforthefiles,theappellantsaysthatMsFoleyapproachedherandyelledather"Whatareyoudoinginthere? Getoutofthere. I'llfindthem.". [Transcript,p.14.] MsFoleyadvisedthatshewouldgettheexampaperslateron.

Thisexchangeoccurredinthestaffroomwithotherpeoplepresentandtheappellantdescribedhowshefeltatthattime:

"MSFAIRLEY: ... Ifeltembarrassed,Ifeltbelittled,Ifelt-atmysecondattemptataccessingwhatIneededtoteachmyclasses,mylegshadbeentakenoutfromunderneathmeagain. SoIfeltprettyhelplesstodowhatIneededtodototeachmyclasseseffectively.". [Transcript,p.15.]

MsFoley'sevidenceisthatitwasreasonablefortheappellanttowanttolookatthepastexampapersandshewasawarethattheappellanthadpreviouslyaskedherforaccess,butthatshehadforgottentodoso.

MsFoleysaysthatwhenshefoundtheappellantlookingforthepapers,sheknew"itwouldbemayhem"[Transcript,p.112.]andthatnobodybutherselfwouldbeabletolocatewhattheywanted.

MsFoleysaidshedidnotyellattheappellantandexplainedthewordssheusedasfollows:

"MSFOLEY: And,the'Getoutofthere',wouldnothavebeeninanger,itwouldhavebeen-itwasmesaying-indicatingit'sgoingtobepointlessyoutryingtofindthem,becauseIknowit'snotsortedwellenough. Yes.". [Transcript,p.152.]

CounselfortheappellantsaidthatMsFoley'sreactiontofindingtheappellantlookingforexampapersshouldnothavealarmedher. MsFoleywasconsciousthattheappellanthadaskedforthesepaperssometimebefore.

4. Intrudingontheappellant'slessons

TheappellantgaveevidencethatMsFoleywouldoftencomeunannouncedintoherclassroomwhileshewasteaching. Thefrequencyallegedwas"Sometimes,itwouldbethreetimesaday,sometimesthreetimesaweek.". [Transcript,p.15.]

Theextractoftheevidencebelowdetailstheappellant'sconcerns:

"MRLYNCH: AndcanIaskyouintermsofyourexperience,whenyouwerepreviouslyteaching,wasthatsomethingthatwasusualforasubjectcoordinatortodo?

MSFAIRLEY: It'shighlypeculiarforanyteachertodotoanotherteacher. Itjustdoesn'thappen. Anunspokenruleamongstteachersisthatyoudon'timposeonanotherteacher'slesson. There'ssometimesaveryfinebalancebetweenmanagingyourclassandtippingthemovertheedge,ifthere'sadistraction-especiallyanunannouncedone. Soit'sjust-it'snotgeneralpractice,andI'veneverexperienceditbeforeorsince.". [Transcript,p.15.]

Theappellantstatedifateacherneededtocomeintoanotherteacher'sclassroom,thentheywouldhavearrangeditbeforehandortheywouldasktheteachertogetsomethingoutoftheroomforthem.

TheappellantbelievedthatwhenMsFoleyenteredtheroomshewouldbedoingarangeofactivities-i.e.busyingherselfwithresources,rearrangingtheroom,accessingthecomputers,however,later,theappellantbelievedthatMsFoleyhadcomeintotheroomtoobserveherteaching.

TheappellantsaysthisbecameevidentwhenshelaterattendedameetingwithotherteachersintheJapanesedepartmentandMsFoleycriticisedaparticularlessontaughtbytheappellant. MsFoleyhaddescribedthelessonasa"completewasteoftime". [Transcript,p.17.] MsFoleyhadnotspokentotheappellantprivatelyaboutherconcern,preferringtoraiseitinfrontofotherteachers. Theappellantsaidthisleftherfeelingveryembarrassed. MsFoleysaidthatanycommentsmadeabouttheappellant'steachingmethodswouldmorerightlybedescribedas"constructivecriticism". [Transcriptp.114.]

TheappellantidentifiedanotheroccasionwhenMsFoleyallegedlywalkedintoherclassandcriticisedherinfrontofherstudents. Thefollowingexchangedescribestheappellant'sversionofevents:

"MSFAIRLEY: ... Andthat'sevenmoreofadifficultjobtokeepahandleon. Youoftenhave30kids. We'vegotthemontask,oryou'redeliveringcontent. Soanydisruptionoutsidethewindoworsomething-somebodydoessomethingsillyintheroomandthewholeclassbreaksupandyoulosecontrol. Shewalked[in]asIwasteaching,speakingtothestudentsandinterruptedme,yellow[yelling],'Wedon'tteachthatthisweek,weteachitnextweek'. AndIstoppedandturnedandlookedatherandIdidn'tknowhowtoreact. Ifeltembarrassednotjustforme,butforherthatthisisourcoordinatorinfrontofthestudents. Thestudentsallstoppedandstaredandwaitedformyreaction. Itwasanincrediblyuncomfortablemomentbeingunderminedinfrontofmyclass. SoI'vejustturnedbacktothemandkeptteaching. JustpickedupfromwhereI'dleftoffandkeptteachingandtriedtoignoreher.". [Transcript,p.17.]

MsFoley'sevidencewasthatshehadcertainresponsibilitiesastheJapaneseco-ordinatorwhichnecessitatedherenteringtheclassroomoftheappellant. MsFoleysaidshedidnotannounceherpresencebyknockingonthedoorsoasnottostoptheflowofthelesson.

MsFoleywasnotdirectlycross-examinedabouttheincidentoftellingtheappellantthat"Wedon'tteachthatthisweek ..."infrontoftheappellant'sclass. [Transcript,p.17.] However,inresponsetoaquestionastowhetherMsFoleyhadeverintervenedandcritiquedtheappellant'steachinginfrontofherclass,MsFoleydeniedtheallegation.

MsFoleysaidherpurposeforenteringtheclassroomwasnottomonitortheappellant'steaching,butthatshewasabletoseeandhearwhatwasoccurring.

5. Beingunapproachableregardingteachingmaterials

Theappellant'sevidencewasthatMsFoleyansweredanyrequestfromtheappellantwithwordssuchas"you'llgetthemclosertotheexamdate". [Transcript,p.18.]

Aspecificincidentrelatedtotheissueraisedbytheappellantregardingtheadequacyofthelisteningexercises. Theappellantstatesthat"Therewereanumberoflisteningexercisesthatwerepreparedasworksheetswithtapestogowiththemthatweren'tmatchedupandweren'tadequatelypreparedatthestartoftheyear.". [Transcript,p.18.]

TheappellantsaysthatwhenshespoketoMsFoleyaboutthis,theresponsewas"Theseshouldhavefuckingwellbeendonelastyear.". [Transcript,p.18] Theonlyrationaleforthisoutburst,intheappellant'sviewwasthat"Iguessshe'dassumedthatthey'dbeendonetheyearbeforeandshelostitwithmebecauseI'didentifiedit.". [Transcript,p.18.]

MsFoleydeniedthatthishadoccurred.

6. Year8examissue

Theappellant'sevidencewasthatadocumenthadbeenissuedwhichidentified,amongstotherthings,theweeksduringwhichexamswouldbeheld.

Previousmentionhadbeenmadeofthedifficultytheappellanthadinaccessingpastexampapers. MsFoleyhadcopiedtheexamsandwasdistributingthemtovariousteachers. TheappellantwasaskedbyMsFoleywhenshehadsetherexams. Theappellantstatedthattheyweresetforthefollowingday,whichwaswithintheappropriatetimeframe. TheappellantstatedthatMsFoley"exploded"andsaid,"Well,whydidn'tyoutellmethatearlier?". [Transcript,p.19.] ItappearedthatMsFoleydidnothavethematerialreadyandsheaskedtheappellanttoalterthedayfortheexams.

Theappellantsaysshewouldhavebeenabletophotocopythematerialsandhavethemreadyforthedayoftheexam. TheappellantstatedtoMsFoleythatshewasnotgoingtochangetheexamdate.

MsFoleybelievedthattherewasnothingunreasonableaboutchangingtheexamdateandthatthiswasareasonableissuetoraiseandexploreatthestaffmeeting.

7. TheLOTEprofessionaldevelopmentcourse

Theappellantsaysthatprofessionaldevelopmentisvoluntaryinanyschool.

UponarrivingatschooloneMondaymorning,theappellantsaysthatsheoverheardMsFoleytalkingonthetelephonetothe"headofLOTE"atWestEnd,advisingherthattheappellantwouldbeattendingacourse.

WhentheappellantaskedMsFoleywhattheconversationwasabout,shesaysthatMsFoley"... walkeduptomydeskwhereIwasjustputtingmybagsdownandgettingsettledfortheday. Shestoodoverme. Shestoodaboutthisfarfromme-she'sverytall,andshewavedatmyfaceandsaid,'You'regoingtothisandyou'recomingbacktotheschoolandyou'rereportingtotherestofthestaffonthis'.". [Transcript,p.21.]

TheappellantadvisedMsFoleythatthecourseinquestionwasforbeginningteachers. TheappellantsaidthatMsFoleystatedthatbecausetheapplicationhadbeensenttoAlbanyCreek,andbecausetheappellantwasafull-timeJapaneseteachersheshouldattend. TheappellantmadeherownenquiriesaboutthecourseandshecametotheviewthatthecoursewouldnotbenefitherorAlbanyCreek.

ItisallegedthatMsFoleyaggressively"huffedandpuffed"andsaidshehadarrangementswiththePrincipaloftheschooltocoverfortheappellantwhenatthecourse,andbycancellingthecourseMsFoleybelievedshewouldlooklikeafoolwiththePrincipal. [Transcript,p.21.]

TheappellantsaidshewouldspeaktothePrincipal,towhichMsFoley"boomed"-"No,don'tdothat,I'lldo-I'lltakecareofit.". [Transcript,p.21.]

Atthispoint,theappellantthoughtittimelytoposebroaderquestionstoMsFoleyaboutwhatshe,theappellant,hadtooffertheschoolandwhatcontrolshemightbeabletohaveoverherownclasses. TheappellantsaysshealsotoldMsFoleythatshecouldbereallyintimidating. Tothis,MsFoleystated"Well,you'veonly-forGod'ssake,you'veonlybeenheresixweeks.". [Transcript,p.22.] Therewasnofurtherconversationbeyondthat.

MsFoleydeniesthatversionofevents. Shestatedthathercontactwiththe"headofLOTE"atWestEndwastoenquirewhytheappellant'snamehadbeenmistakenlyincludedinalistofprospectiveattendeesforaseminarfor"new"teachers. MsFoleybelievedthattheappellanthadonlyheardhalfoftheconversationandhadattributed,inappropriately,sinistermotivesatplay.

8. Interferingwiththeappellant'spersonaldeskspace

Withinthestaffroom,whichwassharedbyabout14teachers,eachpersonhadtheirownparticularspacewhichusuallyconsistedofadesk,acoupleofdrawers,afilingdrawerandsomeshelves.

TheappellantbelievedthatMsFoleyhadinappropriatelybeenatherdeskonanumberofoccasions.

Ataparticulartime,MsFoleyhadchallengedtheappellantaboutaclassroll. Theappellantwasaskedtodouble-checkherclassrolebecauseastudenthadeitherbeenmarkedpresentwhennot,orviceversa. TheappellantstatesthattheonlywayMsFoleycouldhaveknownaboutthissituationwasbylookingattheclassrollwhichwaskeptontheappellant'sdesk.

Onanotheroccasion,theappellantwasworkingonmaterialatherdeskwhichoccasionedthecorrectionofanerrorinoneoftheworksheets. MsFoley,whenwalkingpastherinthestaffroomstated"ThaterrorthatyoucorrectedintheYearNinework,that'sactuallynotanerror. Thatwascorrecttobeginwith.". [Transcript,p.23.] TheappellantdidnotchallengeMsFoleyatthetimebecauseshebelievedthathercommentsweresaidin"suchawaythatitnormalisedit,andIdidn'tfeelstrongenoughtochallengeheronit". [Transcript,p.23.]

MsFoleydeniedtheseallegationsandstatedinresponsetothefollowingquestionfromCounselfortheappellant:

"MRLYNCH: You'dagreethatwouldbequiteimpermissibleforanotherteachertogothroughateacher'spersonalteachingmaterialonherdesk?

MSFOLEY: Yes. Beadifferentmatterifthere-andonethingthatweshareareactuallythefoldersfromYear8,thoseworkfolders,there'sonlyoneofeachfolderand-sometimesthey'reonteacher'sdesksandyoumightretrieveafolderbecauseit'soneyouneedforthenextlesson. Beyondthat,no.". [Transcript,p.166.]

9. Thereportcardissue

AnissuearoseattheendofSemester1wherebytheappellantwasrequiredtoputrelevantreportsontostudentreportcards. Theappellantstatedthatteachersweregivena"commentbank"fromwhichacodeisenteredandacommentappearsfromasoftwareprogramforteachers.

TheadministrativeassistantatAlbanyCreekhadsentamemotoallteachersadvisingthatthereportdeadlinewas9.00a.m.on20September2006.

MsFoleystatedthattheadministrativeassistantmadecontactwithhersayingthatthereweregapsontheappellant'sreportcards. MsFoleythensaysshelookedatthecardsandthenspoketotheDeputyPrincipal,MrGeoffGrant. MsFoleysaysthatshewouldhavetoldtheappellantaboutfixingupthegaps. AfurtherissuearoseforMsFoleywithregardtocommentsmadeonthereportcardsbytheappellant.

Becauseoftheurgencyrelatedtodistributingthereportcards,MsFoleysaidshehadnodifficultywiththecommentsmadebytheappellantonthecards,however,shealsospoketoMrGrantaboutthosecomments.

AfterthisdiscussionwithMrGrant,MsFoleythenwroteanotetotheappellantstating:

"Sothatyourreportingalignswiththenatureofthewholeschoolsemesterreportingusedhere,pleasedeletethe'coursesummary'thatyou'veaddedin.

Ifyouhaveanyfurtherqueries,pleasespeaktoGeoffGrantbeforeresubmittingyourcomments.". [Exhibit8.]

MsFoleysaidthatinherdiscussionwithMrGrantaboutthecommentsonthereportingcards,sheexpressedaconcernandadvisedMrGrantthatshewouldasktheappellanttoremovethosecomments.

TheappellantallegesthattheimportofMsFoley'snotewasthatshewouldhavebeenrequiredtore-doreportsforsome160students. TheappellantalsostatesthatshereceivedMsFoley'snoteintheafternoonof19September2006. MsFoleydisputesthisandsaidthenotewasdeliveredinthemorningof19September2006.

MrGrant'sevidenceisthatwhenMsFoleyspoketohimaboutthecommentshehadapprovedthemandhisevidenceis:

"MRGRANT: ... SueFoley,Ithink,broughtittomyattentionsomethinglike,thatJanellehadbasicallygoneoutsideofthecommentbankthatwehave. Thestructurewehaveintheschoolisthattherearesubjectareasputforwardcommentsthatteacherswoulduseinreportingattheendofeverysemester-andJapanesewasnodifferentfromthat. AndIthinkSuereportedtometowardstheendofthatsemesterandduringthatreporting,Ithinkitwas,thatJanellehadgoneoutsideofthereportingcommentsthathadbeenagreedupon,anditwasatthattimewhenitwasraisedwithme,asIrecall,thatwewerealreadyintothereportingphaseandit'saverystricttimeregime. Likeeverythinghastobe-hastomoveslow-quicklyanditwas. Ithink,atthatstagethatSuehadmentionedittomeandIsaidtoher,'Well,look,becausewe'reatthestagewherewearenow,I'mcertainlynotgoingtostopreportsiftheyseemokay,becauseitwouldmeanthatwewouldhavetogobackandreprintallofthereportsagain'-andwecertainlyhaveastricttimestructuretoadhereto. SoIsaid-IthinkmyresponsetoSuewassomethinglike,'Look,theywillbeonmydeskshortlyformetosignthem'-thisisthefinishedproduct-'Iwillcheckthemandaslong[as]they'renottoolengthyandthereforegooverapageorsomethinglikethatandthereforelooksalittleridiculous'. Youendupwithonesentenceonathirdpageandthentheprincipal'ssignatureunderneaththat. SoIsaid'Aslongasitreadsokayatthisstage,I'llletthemgothrough'-whichIthinkIdid.". [Transcript,pp.186-187.]

AfterreceivingthenotefromMsFoley,theappellantmadecontactwiththeadministrativeassistantwhowasresponsibleforthein-putofdataforthereports,whomshesaysadvisedherthattherewasnoproblemwiththecommentsshehadmade.

MrGrant'sevidencewasthatundernormalcircumstances,theadministrativeassistantwouldraiseissuesdirectlywiththeteacheriftherewereconcernsaboutthereportingonthecards.

10. Theskirtcomment

TheappellantreferredtoanoccasioninTerm3whenMsFoleyallegedlymadedisparagingcommentsabouthowtheappellantwasdressed.

Theappellanthadbeenwearingalongskirt,withahandkerchiefhemandtherewasalotoffabricaroundthehem. Thecoloursoftheskirtwere"warmcolours-oranges,browns,yellows". [Transcript,p.27.]

MsFoleyandtheappellantwereworkinginadjoiningclassroomsandtheappellanthadenteredMsFoley'sclassroomtoreplacefolders. Asshewasintheroom,MsFoley,whohadbeendoingcalligraphywithherstudents,said:

"Oh,Icouldwipemydirty,ink-stainedhandsonyourskirtanditwouldn'tevenbenoticed.". [Transcript,p.27.]

Theappellantsaid:

"Ispentacoupleofminutestryingtoworkoutwhatshe-whyshe'dsaidthat. Itwascompletelyoutofcontext,completelyinappropriateandthenextdaywhenIwenttoworkshemade-she'dannouncedthecommentagaininfrontofthestaffroom. TherewereaboutmaybefiveorsixpeoplethereandshewassittingatthecomputerasIwalkedintomydeskandsheyelledacrossthestaffroom,'Oh,yesterdayItoldJanellethatIwouldwipemyink-stainedhandsonherskirt,thatskirtsheworeyesterday,anditwouldn'thaveevenbeennoticed'.". [Transcript,p.27.]

Theappellantstatedthatthecommentwasnotfunnyandeveryoneintheroom"wentsilent". [Transcript,p.27.]

MsFoleyadmitsthatshemadethecommenttotheappellantbutsaysitwasanattemptonherparttobecollegiateandengageinfriendlybanterwiththeappellant. TheaccusationfromMsFoleyisthattheappellantwasabnormallysensitive.

11. VisitingJapanesestudents

InTerm3,agroupofJapaneseteachersandstudentsvisitedAlbanyCreek. TheappellantaskedMsFoleywhatworkshewouldberequiredtodoforthisvisit. Specifically,theappellantaskedMsFoleyifthevisitorswouldbecomingintoindividualclassesandwastoldthattheywouldnotbedoingthis.

Atthetime,theappellantwashostingaJapaneseteacheratherhome.

Atthestartoftheweek,MsFoleyhandedoutaweeklyschedulewiththeclassesintowhichshewouldbebringingtheJapanesestudents. Thebulkofthestudentswerecomingintotheappellant'sclass. Theappellantmadeenquiriesofanotherteachertoseewhethersheknewthatthestudentswouldbecomingintotheclasses. Thisteachersaidshewasawareofthisbecausethathadhappenedonapreviousvisit. TheappellantcontactedMsFoleyandaskedwhyshehadnotbeentoldthisandshestatesthatMsFoleysaidshehadmisunderstoodtheappellant'soriginalquestion.

Theappellantexplainedthatshewaspreparingherclassforexamsandnowhadtorefocus,withoutanypriorwarning,onhostingthesestudents.

Onthefollowingday,theappellantwashandedsomepreparedlessonplansfromMsFoley.

Theappellant'smaincomplaintwasthatshewasneveraskedabouthostingthestudentsinherclassroom;shewasalreadyundertakingaplanforherstudentsregardingtheirexamsandshebelievedthatthiswasbutanotherexampleofhowlittlecontrolshehadoverherteachingprogram.

Q-COMPstatesthatitwouldhavebeennosurprisetotheappellantthatJapaneseteachersandstudentswerecomingtotheschoolandthattheywouldhavenaturallybeeninvolvedintheJapaneseclassesatAlbanyCreek.

12. Studentdifficulties

Theappellantgaveevidenceofsomebehaviouralissuesshewashavingwithsomestudents. TheappellantsoughthelpfromtheHeadofDepartmentofEnglish(becausetheJapanesedepartmentatAlbanyCreekdidnothaveaHeadofDepartmentposition),however,thatHeadofDepartmentcouldnotofferassistance.

TheappellantsoughthelpfromotherseniorteachersatAlbanyCreek,buttonoavailasthebehaviouralissueswithintheJapanesedepartmentwereoutsideoftheirprovince. Theappellantsaysthatwhilesometeacherstriedtoconsoleher,itbecameevidenttoherthattherewasnostructureinplaceintheJapanesedepartmentatAlbanyCreekforteacherstodealwiththesebehaviouralissues.

Inhisevidence,MrGrantsaidthesituationwithregardtothebehaviouralissuemanagementintheJapanesedepartmentatAlbanyCreekwasunknowntohimbeforebeingadvisedbytheappellant. MrGrant'sresponsestothefollowingquestionswarrantmention:

"MRLYNCH: Soyouhadasituationwhereyou'vegotanewfemaleteacherattheschoolwho'shavingbehaviourmanagementissuesandonceshegetstoathirdstageevent,thatisastudentengagingforathirdtimeinsimilarmisbehaviours,thatshehadnowheretosendthesestudents;doyouagree?

MRGRANT: Yes.

MRLYNCH: Andwouldyouagree-andlook,I'mnotbeingcriticalofyou,therewasalacunainthesystem;wouldyouagreethatthatwasanunsatisfactorysituationtohavearisen?

MRGRANT: Yes.

MRLYNCH: AndforittohavecontinueduntilMayof2006youcouldunderstanditwouldhavebeenincrediblyfrustratingfortheteacherinvolved?

MRGRANT: Yes.". [Transcript,p.191.]

InMay2006,theappellantcontactedMrGranttoraiseissuesconcerningthebehaviouralmanagementproblemsshehadexperienced. EventuallyinMay/June2006,aprogramwasintroducedwhichaddressedtheneedsofteachersofJapaneseatAlbanyCreek.

Additionalevidenceforconsideration

MsRuttley,PrincipalofAlbanyCreek,statedthattheappellanthadrequestedameetingwithhersometimeinmid-March2006todiscussconcernsshehadwithMsFoley. Theissuesdiscussedincludedaccesstoresources,thequalityoftheresourcesandthetoneofvoiceusedbyMsFoleytowardsher. [Transcript,p.199.]

MsRuttleythenspoketoMsFoleyabouttheseissuesandarrangedforameetingwithMsFoleyandtheappellant. MsRuttleycalledthismeetinga"mediation".

Atthismediation,MsRuttleydidnotdiscernanyunwillingnessonMsFoley'sparttolistentotheproblemsraisedandtooffersuggestionsastowaysofaddressingtheseproblemareas. MsRuttleyalsodidnotdiscernanytentativenessontheappellant'sparttoexpressherconcernsclearly.

MsRuttley'sevidenceisthatMsFoleyalsodiscussedconcernsshehadwiththeappellant. TheseconcernstraversedareassuchasthequeriestheappellantputtoheratdifferenttimesandMsFoley'sinabilitytorespondadequatelyatthetime.

MsRuttleysaidsheonlybecameawareoftheappellant'sallegationsofbullyingbyMsFoleywhentheappellantattendedtheschooltosubmitherworkers'compensationpaperworktotheRegistrar. Atthistime,MsRuttleysaidshewasconcernedabouttheappellant'shealth.

MsRuttleysaidthatitwasatthistimethattheappellantadvisedher,amongstotherthings,thatMsFoleyhadswornather;thatshehadattendedameetingwiththeemployeeadvisor;thatshediscussedMsFoley'sissueofinappropriatemanagementoftimelines;thatshewasbulliedandharassedbyMsFoley;thatMsFoleyhadinterferedwithpapersonherdesk;thatbehaviouralmanagementhadbeenanissueandthatshewasseeingapsychologist.

MsRuttleystatedthat,duringhermeetingwithMsFoleyandtheappellant,shehadnotviewedtheappellant'sconcernsas"wholesaledammingcriticisms"ashadbeendescribedbyMsFoleyinherevidence. [Transcript,pp.126,210.] MsRuttleyalsoconfirmedthatsheadvisedMsFoleythattheappellantwasanexperiencedteacher,whowouldbeabletotakeaseniorclass. MsRuttleyfurtherconcededthatduringthatmeeting,theappellanthadcomplainedthatMsFoley,ratherthannotimmediatelyrespondingtoherrequests,oftensimplydidnotrespondtoherrequests.

MsRuttleysaidthatshefoundMsFoleytobe"... assertive. Shecanbeseen-perceivedasauthoritarian ... emphatic". [Transcript,p.215.] Previously,MsRuttleyhaddescribedMsFoleyalsoas"aggressive". [Transcript,p.215.]

Asearliermentioned,MsRuttleysaidtherehadbeenahighturnoverofteachersintheJapanesedepartmentandthatsheknewthat,overaperiodofyears,differentJapaneseteachershadindicatedthattheyhaddifficultieswithMsFoley. [Transcript,p.215.]

MsNadiaPatch,ateachercurrentlyatanotherschool,gaveevidencethatshebeganteachingatAlbanyCreekinSemester2,2004. MsPatchtaughtEnglishandjuniorSOSE(StudiesofSocietyandEnvironment). Shemettheappellantin2006. MsPatchandtheappellantsharedthesamestaffroom.

MsPatchdescribedtheappellantatthetimeoffirstmeetingher,asfollows:

"MSPATCH: ... Whenshefirstarrivedattheschoolshewasextremelyconfident. Sheseemedtohavealotofenthusiasmforherjob. Tocomeforthosetwodaysattheendof2005,unpaid,showedcommitment,tome. Whenshearrivedshebroughtalotofresourceswithherwhichisverygood,shehadalottointroduce. ShetalkedofdifferentthingstobringintotheDepartment,justdifferentideasthatshe'dhadatpreviousjobs.". [Transcript,p.83.]

Further,MsPatchobserved:

"MSPATCH: ... Shewasverygood. Shelikedhavingajokeandsheseemedveryprofessionalwithherkids. Shegotonwellwitheveryoneinthestaffroom,hadgoodfriendshipswithpeople.". [Transcript,p.83.]

MsPatchaddedthatMsFoleywasveryconfrontingandcontrollinginthemannerinwhichshespoketopeople. ShesaidthatMsFoleywouldoftencallpeople"shithead"and"dickhead"andthatshewouldcallthesenamesacrossthestaffroom. MsPatchsuspectedthatMsFoleythoughtshewasbeingfunny,butthecommentswerenotfunnyatallinMsPatch'sview. Further,inherview,MsFoleywasveryopinionatedanditwasusuallyheropinionwhichwasforceduponothers.

MsPatchbelievedthatMsFoleywas"quiterestricting"withtheappellant. Whentheappellanthadaskedforvariousresources,shewouldbeabruptlymetwith"it'soverthere"or"whydoyouneeditanyway"fromMsFoley. InresponsetoaquestionfromCounselfortheappellantastowhetherMsPatchhadnoticedany"clashofpersonalities"orany"interpersonaldifficulty"betweenMsFoleyandtheappellant,MsPatchrespondedasfollows:

"Idon'tknowwhetheritwouldbeclashofpersonalitiesassuch,butIknowthatinalotoftheworkthatJanellewastryingtodoSuedidn'tseemhappyandIhadafeelingthatshealmostfeltthreatenedbythenewresources.". [Transcript,p.83]

MsPatchalsoconfirmedthatteachersinthedepartmentoftheschoolatwhichshewascurrentlyteachinghadfreedomofteachingcontentaslongastheunitguidelineswerefollowed. Shealsostatedthatitwasnotcommonforotherteacherstowalkintoherclassroomwhileshewasteaching. Inhersituation,theHeadofDepartmenthadcomeintoherroomonabout2occasionsovera3yearperiod. Further,MsPatchsaidno-onehadevertouchedhermaterialsatherowndeskinthestaffroom.

MsPatchdetailedaneventrelatingtoexamswhensheobservedMsFoleyspeakingaggressivelytotheappellant.

MsKathrynStewart,currentlyemployedasapart-timeteacheratAlbanyCreekbutcurrentlyonmaternityleave,teachesJapaneseamongstothersubjects.

MsStewart'sevidencewasthatdealingwithMsFoleycanbe"tricky"and"abrasive"attimesbecauseofherdirectmanner. ShefeltthatMsFoley'sdecisionswereultimatelyinthebestinterestsofthedepartmentandthestudents. [Transcript,p.220.]

MsStewartfeltthatthemeetingsheldwithMsFoleyandJapaneseteacherswereuseful,butthatMsFoleyspentmostofthetimetalkingandothershadtointerjecttobeheard.

MsStewartbelievedthattheopportunityforteacherstohavetheirindividualinputintheirclasseswaslimited. ThiswasqualifiedbysayingthatMsFoleydidnotwanttooverloadthestudentswithextraworkwhichshedidnotthinkwasnecessary. [Transcript,p.221.]

MsStewartfeltconstrainedwithregardtotheuseofthephotocopiersayingthatMsFoleywas"verystringent"withwhatwasphotocopiedandhowmanycopiescouldbemade. [Transcript,p.222.]

CounselforQ-COMPposedthefollowingquestiontoMsStewart:

"MRMcLEANWILLIAMS: WhatweretheconcernsaboutSue'smannerthatweredrawntoyourattention?

MSSTEWART: IthinkthemannerinwhichSuespeakstopeoplecanbe,asIsaid,abruptandnotasprofessionalasIwouldexpectsometimes,notastactfulasyouwouldhopeforandIthinkthatcaughtJanelleoffguardbecause,unfortunately,it'snotwhatyoustrikeinotherschoolssometimesbutI'vebeentheresolongthatI'm-probablybecomequiteaccustomedtoit.". [Transcript,p.225.]

MsStewartdidnotthinkthatMsFoleysetouttobemalicioustowardsothers,butshedidpressthepointthatMsFoleycouldbecontrolling. ThatcommentwasqualifiedbysayingthatshethoughtMsFoleydidnotwanttoover-stretchtheteachersandthestudents.

Theaboveresponsesweregivenduringthecourseofexamination-in-chiefbyCounselforQ-COMP.

Undercross-examinationfromCounselfortheappellant,MsStewartagreedthatMsFoleycouldbe"aggressiveanddominating[in]thewayshedealtwithpeople". [Transcript,p.229.]

Considerationoftheevidence

Itisnotcontestedthattheappellantisa"worker"(s.11oftheAct)andthatshehassustainedan"injury"(s.32oftheAct)andthattheinjuryhasarisen"outof,orinthecourseof,employment"(s.32(1)oftheAct)incircumstanceswhereemploymentwasatleast"asignificantcontributingfactor"tothatinjury(s.32(1)oftheAct). Ihaveacceptedthattheselegislativerequirementshavebeensatisfied.

ThecrucialcomponentofthecasefromQ-COMP'spositionisthattheappellant'sinjuryisprecludedfromconsiderationunders.32oftheActbecausetheinjuryhaspartlybeencausedby"reasonablemanagementactiontakeninareasonableway".

"Reasonable"forthepurposesofs.32(5)oftheActmeanswhatis"reasonableinallthecircumstancesofthecase"(WorkCoverQueenslandvKehl(2002)170QGIG93). Further,inBowersvWorkCoverQueensland[2002]QIC18HallPstated:

"Thecircumstancethatasystemofworkwhereitsimplementationhasmiscarrieddoesnotnecessarilyleadtotheconclusionthateitherthesystemofworkoritsimplementationwasunreasonable. Reasonableschemesreasonablyimplementedcanmiscarry.".

Theappellant'sclaimisthattheprimarycauseofherdecompensationrelatedtothe"overallaggressiveanddominatingnatureoftherelationshipbetweenMsFoleyandtheAppellant".

Fromallevidenceconsidered,thereisapersistentthemeofMsFoleybeingapersonwhoisdescribedvariouslyas"controlling","aggressive","domineering"and"confronting". Thereisampleevidencetoreachtheconclusionthatthosedescriptorsareaccurate.

TheevidencewhichIhaveacceptedisthattheappellantpresentedtoworkatAlbanyCreekwithanenthusiasmandeagernesstoperformherdutiesintheJapanesedepartmenttothebestofherability.

TheappellanthadasignificantbackgroundintheteachingofJapaneseandhadconsiderableexperienceasateachergenerally. IhaveacceptedtheevidenceofMsPatchthattheappellanthadgoodinterpersonalskills,interactingwithotherteachersandforminggoodfriendships.

Theappellantpresentedasanintelligentandlevel-headedyoungwomanwhoshowedrealpassionforteachingstudentsJapanese. SheimpressedmewithherstraightforwardevidenceandIbelievedthatevidencetobetruthful. Inmyview,theappellantwasnotoverlysensitiveorundulyreactivetoMsFoley'sactionsandcomments. HerreactiontoMsFoley'sbehaviourwasnotsurprisinginthecircumstances. MsFoleywasnotanimpressivewitness. Sheoftenprovidedevidencewhichwasclearlyuntruthfuland,incertaininstances,illogical(e.g.theevidenceconcerningthe"dog'sbreath"comment).

VeryearlyinherjobatAlbanyCreek,eventsoccurredwhich,unfortunatelyfortheappellant,establishedarepetitivepatternofbehaviouronthepartofMsFoleytowardsher.

Ihaveacceptedtheappellant'sevidencethatitwasonlyinthefirst2weeksofherteachingatAlbanyCreekthatMsFoleyaddressedheras"dog'sbreath"infrontofotherstaffmembers. Thatwasadehumanising,belittlingandnastycommenttomake. IhavenotacceptedMsFoley'sversionofeventsthat(1)thiseventoccurredafterthemediationwhichhadtakenplacebetweenherself,theappellantandthePrincipal;and(2)thatthecommentwasmadeinsomesortofcollegiatemanner. InfactMsFoley'sevidencearoundthispointwas:

"MSFOLEY: ... Andforas-astastelessastheterm'dog'sbreath'canbeseentobeandit's-anditistrulyregrettableIuseditwithJanelleinthatcontextwhenwedidn'thavemuch-amuchbetterrelationshipforittobe-tobeusedwithin-Ichosethatanditwas-andifIwastolikenittoanythingelse-IsaidinthethingitwouldbethesameasasecretMasonichandshake,itwasacknowledgmentofactuallybeingwithinaspecialinnergroup-innercirclethatwasactuallypartofthegroupIworkedwithin.". [Transcript,p.142.]

MsFoley'srationaleforusingsuchatermisquiteunusual. Tosuggestthatacommentlikethiswouldbesomehowacceptableifsheandtheappellanthadabetterrelationshipdefieslogic. MsFoleyhadpreviouslytoldtheWorkCoverinvestigatorsthatshecouldnotrecallcallingtheappellant"dog'sbreath",whereasinthishearingsheadmittedtodoingthis.

MsFoleyhadpreviouslytoldtheWorkCoverinvestigatorsthatshehadexperienceda"veryexplosiveandantagonistic"workingrelationshipwiththeappellantfromveryearlyon. MsFoleyalteredthatstatementduringthishearingtosaythatherrelationshipwiththeappellant"wasnotalwaysexplosiveandantagonisticallofthetime,whichwasonoccasion".

TherehasbeensomesignificantalteringofMsFoley'sstatementgiventoWorkCoveroncertainissuesandtothisCommissiononthesameissues. Duringthecourseofgivingevidenceinthishearingaroundthoseissues,MsFoley'sexplanationforthealterationsisnotpersuasive.

Thereisnoquestionthatthefirstissue,thecallingoftheappellant"dog'sbreath",couldeverbeviewedasanythingotherthancompletelyinappropriate.

ThemannerinwhichMsFoleyundertooktheprocessofissuingresourcestotheappellantwas,fromtheevidence,conductedinacompletelyunreasonablemanner. Thereisnoquestionthatwithintheschoolsystemthereneedstobeappropriatecontrolsoverthedisbursementofresources,butthemannerinwhichMsFoleychosetoexercisethisresponsibilitywaspatentlyunreasonable.

TheevidenceIhaveacceptedshowstheappellant,onaparticularoccasion,askingforresources,onlytobeprovidedwiththemsome3weekslater. Werethatsimplyaone-offsituation,itmightbeconsideredwithinthatcontext. However,Ihaveacceptedtheappellant'sevidencethatonmanyoccasionswhensheaskedforresources,shewouldbedisregardedanddismissedbyMsFoley. MsPatch'sevidence,whichIhaveaccepted,alsoconfirmsthispoint.

MsFoley'sexcusethatshewasoftenaskedbytheappellanttogetthingswhenshewasbusy,doesnotprovidethecompletepicture. ItwasnotthecaseofMsFoleystatingthatshewasbusyatthetimeandwouldgettheresourcesatsomelaternominatedtime. Thisdidnothappen. MsFoleychosetodismisstherequestwithnoindicationofwhenorifshewouldaddresstheproblem.

ThepettinessoftheapproachadoptedbyMsFoleytowardstheappellantiswhatisapparentfromtheevidence.

MsFoley'sresponsetotheappellant'sattempttofindtheexampaperswasextremeandMsFoley'sexplanationforherbehaviourisnotcredible.

AfterhavingherrequeststoseethepreviousexampapersdisregardedbyMsFoley,theappellantsoughttoaccessthepapersherselffromafilingcabinetinthestaffroom.

MsFoley'sreactiontofindingtheappellantlookingforthepaperswasextreme. IhaveacceptedthatMsFoleyyelledattheappellantintermsthatcouldonlybedescribedasaggressiveanddismissive.

TheallegationthatMsFoleyenteredtheappellant'sclassroomunannouncedandfrequentlyhasalsobeenconsidered. Ihaveacceptedtheappellant'sversionofeventsinthiscase. ItisclearthatMsFoley'spresenceintheappellant'sclassroom,onoccasions2to3timesweekly,wasexcessive. ItisapparentthatMsFoleysoughttomicro-manage,inaveryabrasiveandrudemanner,theappellantwithnoinsightwhatsoeverintothefactthattheappellantwasanexperiencedandcompetentteacher. Inthecourseofthismicro-management,MsFoleycausedunduestressandconcerntotheappellantandIhaveacceptedtheappellant'sevidencewhenshestatedthatshefeltlikeshewaslosingcontrolofherclassroom.

Thisbehaviourwassimplyexcessive,inappropriateandunreasonable.

Theappellanthasgivenevidence,whichIhaveaccepted,ofMsFoleyswearingatherwhenshequestionedMsFoleyabouttheadequacyoflisteningexercises.

TheissuesurroundingtheYear8examisanotherexampleofthecontinuumoftheunfairnessandrigidityexercisedbyMsFoleytowardstheappellant.

ConcerningtheLOTEdevelopmentcourse,IhavenotacceptedMsFoley'sevidencewithregardtothisissueatall. Ihaveacceptedtheappellant'sversionofevents. Itwouldbehumiliatingforanexperiencedteachertohavetoattendacourseforbeginningteachers.

TheappellanthasaccusedMsFoleyofinterferinginherpersonaldeskspace.

BothMsFoleyandtheappellantarequalifiedteachers,eachholdingasignificantpositionwithintheschoolstructure-apointapparentlymissedbyMsFoleyasitrelatestotheappellantonmostoccasions.

Itissimplyinappropriatetotakeanythingfromsomeoneelse'sprivatedesk,withouteacheitherhavinganunderstandingthatcertainmaterialscouldbeaccessedinanadhocmanner,or,alternatively,withoutfirstspeakingtothepersonandaskingpermission. Thisissuchabasicconcept,thattoseeitoverriddenbyMsFoleysimplyhighlightsherlackofrespectfortheappellantandherapparentlackofunderstandingofnotonlyprofessionalethicsbutcommoncourtesy.

Thereportcardincident,previouslymentioned,isanotherexampleofMsFoley'sunreasonabletreatmenttowardstheappellant. MsFoleyhadbeentoldbytheDeputyPrincipalthattherewasnoneedfortheappellanttoalterthereportcards,butMsFoleychosetosendanotetotheappellanttellinghertochangeallthereportcardswithinaveryshorttimeframe. MsFoleylaterrescindedthisdemand,butonlyafterithadcausedunduestresstotheappellant.

TheskirtcommentisagainbutacontinuumofMsFoley'sderogatorycommentstotheappellant. InisolationandwithoutthebackgroundbetweenMsFoleyandtheappellant,thiscomment,whilenotfunny,mayhave"gonethroughtothekeeper". Butagainstabackgroundofnastiness,thiscommentissimplymoreofthesame.

WithregardtothevisitingJapanesestudents,IdonotacceptthatMsFoleymisunderstoodtheappellant'squestionconcerningthestudentsvisitingherclassroom. IbelieveittobethecasethatMsFoley,yetagain,couldnotbebotheredgivingtheappropriateattentiontothequestionanddiscardeditwithoutanyfurtherthought.

ThelackofappropriateguidelinesforteacherswithintheJapanesedepartmentwasacknowledgedbytheDeputyPrincipal. ThissituationlefttheappellantfeelingisolatedandconfusedandIacceptthatevidenceastruthful.

Themajorcomponentoftheappellant'scomplaintsiswhatsheviewedastheoverallaggressiveanddominatingnatureoftherelationshipwhichexistedbetweenherselfandMsFoley.

Forthereasonsoutlined,theappellanthassuccessfullyprovedthistobecorrect. TherehadbeenacontinuumoflikebehaviourfromMsFoleytowardstheappellantandnoneoftheissuesraisedinthiscaseshowanylikenessto"reasonablemanagementactiontakeninareasonableway".

ItisofinteresttonotethatthePrincipalofAlbanyCreekwaswellawarethatproblemshadexistedwithMsFoleywithintheJapanesedepartment,thattherehadbeenahighturnoverofteachersandthatteachershadcomplainedaboutMsFoley. ThisshouldhavealertedthePrincipaltothefactthatheightenedmonitoringofthisareaofteachingshouldhavebeenapriorityatAlbanyCreek.

IntheevidencebeforetheCommission,therehasbeenlittlesignofanyrealsupportforMsFoley'sgeneralbehaviouratAlbanyCreek. AnyattemptatsupportforherbehaviourhasbeenqualifiedbyanagreementthatMsFoleycouldbe"confronting"and/or"abrasive","domineering","controlling","authoritarian"or"aggressive",amongstotherthings.

IhaveconsideredalsotheevidenceofMsPatchwhohadpreviouslyworkedatAlbanyCreek. Herevidence,whichIhaveacceptedastruthful,showstheuneaseexperiencedbyherselfwithinthestaffroomwhenMsFoleywaspresent. ShesaysthatMsFoleyspokeinamannerwhichMsFoleythoughtwasfunnybutwhichwasnotperceivedbyMsPatchtobehumorousatall.

TheappellanttenderedtotheCommissionabookletentitled"WorkplaceBullying-AnEmployer'sGuide"(describedbytheappellantasa"collaborativedocumentproducedbytheQueenslandCouncilofUnions,CommerceQueensland,QueenslandWorkingWomen'sServiceandtheQueenslandDepartmentofIndustrialRelations")[Appellant'ssubmissions,point52]whichdetailsthetypeofactionswhichcanbedescribedas"bullyingbehaviour"asfollows:

• "yelling,screaming,abuse,offensivelanguage,insults,inappropriatecommentsaboutaperson'sappearance,lifeorlifestyle,slanderingaworkerorhis/herfamily;
• belittlingopinionsorconstantcriticism;
• isolatingworkersfromnormalworkinteraction,traininganddevelopmentorcareeropportunities;
• overwork,unnecessarypressure,impossibledeadlines;
• underwork,creatingafeelingofuselessness;
• underminingworkperformance,deliberatelywithholdingworkrelatedinformationorresources,orsupplyingincorrectinformation;
• unexplainedjobchanges,meaninglesstasks,tasksbeyondaperson'sskills,failuretogivecreditwheredue;
• tamperingwithaworker'spersonaleffectsorworkequipment;
• teasingorregularlybeingmadethebruntofpranks/practicaljokes;
• displayingwrittenorpictorialmaterialwhichdegradesoroffendsaworkerorgroupofworkers;
• unreasonableadministrativesanctions,e.g.unduedelayinprocessingapplicationsfortraining,leaveorwages.". [Appellant'ssubmissions,point53.]

Thisbooklethighlightsfactorstobeconsideredwhenanaccusationofbullyingand/orharassmentismade. TherearecertainelementsofMsFoley'sbehaviourwhichmarryuptothevariousdescriptorsinthisbookletandthoseelementshavebeendiscussedinthisdecision.

TherehasbeenacontinuedcourseofconductbyMsFoleytowardstheappellantwhichhasbeencompletelyunreasonable.

Section32(5)oftheActstates:

"32(5)Despitesubsection(1)and(3),injurydoesnotincludeapsychiatricorpsychologicaldisorderarisingoutof,orinthecourseof,anyofthefollowingcircumstances-

(a)reasonablemanagementactiontakeninareasonablewaybytheemployerinconnectionwiththeworker'semployment;

(b)theworker'sexpectationorperceptionofreasonablemanagementactionbeingtakenagainsttheworker;

(c)actionbytheAuthorityoraninsurerinconnectionwiththeworker'sapplicationforcompensation.".

Theinjurysufferedbytheappellantdidnotariseoutof,orinthecourseof,"reasonablemanagementactiontakeninareasonableway".

Itfollowsthattheinjurysufferedbytheappellantisnotprecludedfromthestatutorydefinitionof"injury".

Iupholdtheappeal. IsetasidethedecisionofQ-COMPdated19July2007,anddeterminethatMsFairley'sclaimforcompensationisoneforacceptance.

Orderaccordingly.

D.A.SWAN,DeputyPresident.
HearingDetails:
200711,12and13December
20081and15February(Writtensubmissions)
Released: 28March2008 / Appearances:
MrR.Lynch,Counsel,instructedbyMrF.Gouldson,ofGouldsonLegal,fortheappellant.
MrA.McLeanWilliams,Counsel,instructedbyMsL.BoothofQ-COMP,fortherespondent.

Government Printer, Queensland

The State of Queensland 2008.