A Werribee teacher who claims he was intentionally allocated classes of a school’s “most unruly and challenging” students is suing the state government.
Peter Doulis, 47, of West Yarraville, claims he suffered psychological illness after he was repeatedly forced to teach the most difficult classes of students while working at Werribee Secondary College.
Representing Mr Doulis on the first day of a Supreme Court trial in which the teacher is suing the Victorian government for negligence and failing to provide a safe workplace, John Richards said his client suffered from depression, anxiety and stress as a result of unfair workloads. He said Mr Doulis was subjected to bullying by other teachers between 1998 and 2004 and had also been exposed to deadly asbestos fibres following a fire at the school.
The trial before Justice Timothy Ginnane is expected to last four weeks.
It will call 42 witnesses, including psychiatrists, GPs and western suburbs principals and teachers.\
