JANUARY 31, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
School rejects patka By Sumeyya Ilanbey A five-year-old boy has been refused a place at a private Melton Christian school because his turban contravenes its uniform policy. Sidhak was preparing to start prep this week at Melton Christian College – a school close to home, and where many of his friends and cousins go. But Sidhak’s family say the school refused to enrol the young boy because his patka – a child’s version of the Sikh turban – was not compliant with the school uniform. The family has lodged a complaint with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and has taken Melton Christian College to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal, with a final hearing scheduled for April. The school council refused to amend its uniform policy to accommodate students wearing headgear on religious grounds, dad Sagardeep Singh told Star Weekly.
‘‘
Turbans are now accepted … (at) work, the - Sagardeep Singh army, police
’’
Sidhak has been refused a place at school because he wears a turban. (Dennis Manktelow)
clause that allows schools to set and enforce “reasonable standards of dress, appearance and behaviour” for students. “A standard is taken to be reasonable if the educational authority administering the school has taken into account the views of the school
EXCLUSIVE
SEE INSIDE FOR FULL CATALOGUE & WELDING FEATURE
THE
CK TWIN PA ! IS BACK
INCLUDES CARRY BAG
community in setting the standard,” the commission’s website states. Star Weekly contacted the school seeking to know whether its community had been consulted. Principal David Gleeson said the case was before VCAT and wouldn’t comment.
FOR ALL YOUR NAILING NEEDS
EXCLU SIVE NEW
WEELLLDDDIIINNG
FFEBRUARY EBBRRUARY CCATALO ATALOOGGGUE GUUUEE OOUT OUUT NO NOOW W
BBAACCKK TTOO WOORRK RK 1
YEAR
LIMITED WARRANTY
INCLUDE S
N O ON IIO TIO TI T A ATI AT NA N
EXCLU SIVE BONUS
HOT PRICE
5.00 A H BAATT AT T ERRY Vaa luued u e d a t $ 144 9
MIIG M A MIG 180A 180A 180 er lder elder elde We Welder
9988 688
Framer & Bradder Combo Kit
$1199 COMBO
108309
s Operation
with 15A Plug
s/Gasle s/G as/ as/Gasle a • Ga Gas/Gasles Gas @ 180A at 40°C: 10% • Duty Cycle Wire Feed • Variable Speed Output Control Handle • 6 Step Welding with Swivel M Torch •3 m MIG 3m
our Check out e Range lusiv New & Exc
W& E EW NEW NE G GE NG NGE HANG HAN HA CHA XCH EX EXC
Hamme
IG TIG /TI C/ RC/TIG RC/ ARC 0A AR 80A 80A 18 it it Kit Ki derr K der ld lde eld elde Welder Wel We Hammer terr W rtter rte ert vert v nver Inve In • Chiipping Leadset
Helmet • Tool Box & Auto Darrkening • Variable Shade 2.5mm 1kg Electrodes • General Purpose 83 10998
ne & ne en ene len yle tylen etttyl ety ce Ace Ac Ace e ize ize Size S Si en D Siz en ge yg yge xyge x xyg Ox O Oxy
D
69
T-Shirt
Safety
105719 109243
Prrint
lder K
TOP OP ALSOO A AILABLE IIN AVAILABLE GGREY RREY MARLE MARL MAR TOP OP AALSO AL AVV ILAB IN AAVAILABLE ARM ARMY
• Legends
Xtreme Shorts
SHORTS ALSO AVAILABLE IN NAVY
er Drill • Impact Driver • 185mm Circularr Saw • 125mm Angle Grinder • 26mm SDS+ Ro otary Hammer otary • 12V-18V Dual Vo oltage RAPI oltage • 2 × 5.0Ah REDL LITHIUM™ • Contractor Ba Bag
$ 389
EXCLU SIVE
169 High Street K! CK! ACK AC BACK! B RegulatorISS BA
EXCHANGE
$
WELDING
• Camo
TOP ALSO AVAILABLE IN ORANGE
•
Koolge ear Hi Vis Po olo
MELTON
5 Pi Piece P Pie iec ece ce 18 18V 8V VF FUEL™ 5.0Ah Com m Kit mbo • FUEL™
D
185mm
CHECKLIST
NEE W NEW
NEW
$ 399
$ 549
INCLUDE S
SHORTS ALSO AVAILABLE IN KHAKI
• Legen
nds Sho orts
lack oots 3981 3981
situation and likely to disadvantage certain people”. But this requirement doesn’t apply to independent private and religious schools. The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission website says the Equal Opportunity Act includes an exception
111553
“I thought the school might reconsider their options because turbans are now accepted everywhere – in workplaces, the army, police services,” Mr Singh said. “Why can’t a kid go to school wearing one?” The Singhs arrived in Australia two years ago, settling in Melton South. Mr Singh said he knew he wanted to send his children to Melton Christian College following recommendations from friends and extended family. “We’re not against the school … we think Melton Christian College is the best school in the area,” Mr Singh said. “We just want them to consider to allow students from different backgrounds and religions to be able to attend and (express) their faith. “They need to accommodate their uniform policy to reflect the diverse community.” Uncut hair and turbans are requirements of the Sikh religion. Victoria has strict anti-discrimination laws, including the Equal Opportunity Act and the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act, making direct and indirect discrimination illegal. The law describes the latter as “an unreasonable requirement, condition or practice that may appear to treat people equally”, one that is “imposed in a particular
Ph: 9971 8888