It’s a slap in the face to everyone who believes in standing up to wrongdoing.
What message does this send to other students?
- When they see something wrong, should they just look the other way?
- That standing up for themselves or others might lead to punishment rather than support?
This culture of silence and blame has gone on for far too long, and the impact on young lives and mental health is unacceptable.
Brisbane Mum Turns to Australian Human Rights Commission
Their Brisbane mother is taking on the City of Moreton Bay co-ed Christian school by seeking to petition the Australian Human Rights Commission after her son, and his girlfriend were both expelled after bringing light to what has been an inexcusable trend in private school across the country of late.
“As a mother whose child suffered through a year of torment at a private boys’ school in Brisbane, I am deeply acquainted with the nightmares that unchecked bullying can unleash,” she wrote.
The petition, started on change.org on November 8, has gained 2284 signatures in a goal of 2500.
“In light of this, I am advocating for Genevieve Dunstan and Finn Glover, brave students who exposed a bullying incident far too distasteful to ignore.”
Eighteen-year-old Genevieve Dunstan was expelled from Mueller College on October 15 after she criticised the school’s treatment of her boyfriend, Finn Glover, 17, who had also been expelled for reporting the list to the school on October 9.
Ridiculous punishment for expelled whistleblower students
And now for the kicker … the boy who posted the list received the same punishment the two whistleblowers.
Let that sit with you.
The three were “externally suspended”, which Ms Dunstan and Mr Glover said was equivalent to an expulsion because students could not graduate or return to campus, other than to sit the state external exams to receive their Queensland Certificate of Education.
When Speaking Out is Punished
Finn showed incredible bravery by coming forward and exposing the existence of this horrendous list. In a setting where his peers were fostering a toxic culture, he did exactly what we should all want our kids to do: he spoke up. Yet, instead of addressing the actual problem, the school reportedly took the “easy” way out by expelling him for disturbing their reputation. And now, his girlfriend, who supported his actions, has also been expelled, demonstrating a shocking level of resistance towards anyone who challenges the status quo.
Their story, which has sparked nationwide outrage, reflects a troubling pattern where messengers are punished rather than protected. Parents, students, and communities across Australia are rightly appalled. This isn’t just about one school—it’s about a widespread culture in private institutions that values reputation over responsibility, silence over accountability, and punishment over change.
“I hate the shithole they’ve created,” she posted on her private Instagram page.
As The Courier-Mail has revealed previously, Genevieve Dunstan claimed the school “pushed everything under the rug” and made innocent people the victim.
“Why practically expel someone for exposing people for creating a f—ing list of unrapeable people?”
Finn said his mistake was to send a screenshot of the list, which he called out as “absolutely disgusting”, to a private group chat.
“I decided to go to school early the next morning to show it to the principal because I felt like the writer needed to be expelled and, in my mind, the school would be like ‘hell no’ and thank me. I had screenshots showing all the boys who helped make the list.” he said
Finn’s father, Chris Glover, said the students mocked on the list wrote to the college leadership team on October 9, saying they were grateful his son had spoken up and that he did not deserve to be punished.
“Our son has basically been put in the same category as the students who wrote the list, and this is what infuriates us as parents,” Mr Glover said. We have raised him to speak up for what is right, and what he did came from a position of wanting to protect vulnerable students and expose the authors of the list.
A Disturbing Pattern
This incident is not isolated. Similar situations have cropped up in other private schools across Australia over the past year. Each of these cases echoes a familiar theme: lists targeting teenage girls, screenshots shared without consent, and degrading slurs tossed around in classrooms and social media chats.
“Calling out and correcting misogynistic behaviour is extremely important. Misogyny in adolescent males, if not addressed, can metamorphose into toxic behaviour with intimate partners when those boys reach adulthood.”” Finn’s father
Here are just a few recent cases that highlight this toxic trend:
- CASE 1: At a prestigious Melbourne private school, a group chat circulated with screenshots of female students accompanied by degrading labels. Parents demanded action, but the school’s response was minimal, focusing more on controlling the narrative than addressing the core issues.
- CASE 2: In Queensland, another “ranking list” of female students emerged at a private school. The school assured parents it was an isolated incident, yet those who reported it were told to “consider the impact on the school’s reputation.”
- CASE 3: Earlier this year, a Perth private school faced backlash after it was revealed that a group of male students had created an online chat to discuss female classmates in sexually demeaning terms. The boys received light disciplinary action, while girls who expressed outrage were dismissed as “troublemakers.”
- CASE 4: Another Sydney school captured nationwide attention when a 14-year-old girl tragically took her own life after relentless bullying. Despite repeated pleas from her parents and friends, the school did not take meaningful action. Her death sparked outrage about bullying and accountability in private schools, but few meaningful changes followed.
Each of these cases highlights a consistent theme: students who dare to speak out are often penalised rather than supported, silenced rather than heard. Meanwhile, cultural problems fester, leaving students—often young women—feeling unsafe, unheard, and unprotected. The tragic suicide of the young girl in Sydney is a stark reminder of how high the stakes are, and why we can’t afford to keep sweeping these issues under the rug.
Where Does This Leave Us?
This Queensland case should be a wake-up call. The willingness of school administrations to ignore or downplay serious issues within their walls has led to a culture of silence, fear, and retribution. When a school punishes those who bravely speak out, it sends a dangerous message: if you dare to speak up, you’ll be cut down. This message tells students they must suffer in silence because speaking out will only bring them more harm.
So, where is the buck going to stop?
At what point do we, as parents and as a society, demand that schools prioritise the well-being of all students—especially those who are vulnerable? It’s clear that current policies aren’t enough, and that the cycle of prioritising reputation over people is costing lives, mental health, and young people’s trust in authority figures.
Time for Change
The time has come for a united stand. Enough is enough. Schools must be held accountable, and we need to demand policies that truly protect our young people. A zero-tolerance approach to bullying, sexism, and abuse is needed across all educational institutions, from elite private schools to public ones. The safety and mental health of our children cannot continue to be sidelined by a school’s “reputation.”
If you agree that these young whistleblowers deserve support—not punishment—I urge you to make your voice heard. Sign the petition calling for their reinstatement and for implementing policies that protect students who speak out against abuse and harassment. We need to make it clear to schools across Australia that protecting students’ well-being is the top priority.
These two students’ bravery is a testament to the strength of young people willing to stand against wrong, even when it comes at a personal cost. Let’s make sure their courage isn’t ignored, and that their expulsion doesn’t scare others from speaking out.
Let’s come together as parents, educators, and community members to protect those who expose wrongdoing in our schools.
Sign the petition here, and let’s show schools that students who stand up for others deserve protection, not punishment.
Let’s create a safer, more supportive future for all students in Australia—one where they can trust that if they speak out against injustice, we will be there to stand with them too.
