A mother has been charged after allegedly sewing a recording device into the school clothing of her seven-year-old, non-verbal son, saying she was trying to understand why he had become distressed about attending school.
Mother says she feared for her son’s safety
Skye Cooper said her son, who has severe epilepsy, autism, global developmental delay and severe language delay, began showing significant distress about school after starting at Churchill Primary School in February 2025.
She said he eventually refused to get out of the car and became increasingly distressed. Her concerns intensified after she noticed what appeared to be bruising on his arm.
Cooper said she raised her concerns with the school several times before seeking advice from disability advocate Julie Phillips. According to ABC, Phillips advised her to place a recording device in the boy’s clothing.
Cooper said she listened to the recordings and heard an aide tell her son, “you hurt me, I’ll hurt you”. She subsequently removed him from the school.
Recording leads to police charge
The alleged use of the device was reported to police, resulting in Cooper being charged under Victoria’s laws regulating the installation, use and maintenance of listening devices.
Cooper said she was shocked that she had become the subject of a criminal charge while attempting to protect her child. She is now receiving legal advice and deciding whether to contest the charge.
The aide later provided Cooper with a written apology, saying she did not specifically recall the exchange but accepted responsibility for the language used and acknowledged it was inappropriate.
Questions raised over protections for children
The case has prompted discussion about how parents can establish what happens to children who cannot communicate verbally.
Phillips said covert recording should not be the only avenue available to parents, while Cooper has called for changes to Victoria’s surveillance laws.
The Disability Workers Commission is also investigating the matter, according to ABC.