By Afraa Kori
Casey Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a teenager following an alleged carjacking at Berwick College on 29 April.
It is understood the teenager, who was allegedly armed with a knife, approached a female teacher in a carpark and made demands for her car keys about 8.35am.
The teenager fled in a silver Ford Focus after the teacher handed over the keys and was left unharmed.
Detectives have since arrested a 15-year-old girl in Frankston, where the Ford Focus was also located.
She has been charged with aggravated carjacking, and will appear before a children’s court at a later date.
A former student, Jason, reflects on how the school environment has changed over the years.
“We would have never thought to harm or promote danger to our teachers. We weren’t exactly model students, but the respect was there,” he said.
“We all played with the idea of doing silly things, but feared being reprimanded by detention or suspension, then having to deal with our parents.
“These days it’s no secret that today’s youth just simply have no respect for their peers or adults alike. They don’t fear the consequences like we did! Teachers or anyone will fear how random and dangerous kids of today are becoming.”
Rose, a concerned parent with two children at Berwick Secondary College, first learned of the incident through a news report, not from her own children or the school.
“When I asked the kids about it, they were both like ‘meh’, and didn’t even register as something that impacted their day to day. It has become the norm to the point where they don’t even feel it’s worthy to gossip or share,” she said.
“I probably share equal worry wherever they go these days, school, shopping centres, fast food outlets, emergency departments – no place is a safe place – not even our homes.”
“My daughter was violently attacked 3 years ago (at a shopping centre). It was random selection; she did not know these girls and impacted her very much.
“My daughter has overcome this trauma to the point where something like this doesn’t even phase her, which is a silver lining as I don’t want her to be scared of the world.”
Parents felt the school also failed to keep them adequately informed, as the “vague message“ on Compass was only shared after the incident was broadcast by mainstream media.
They have also expressed wider concerns about how teachers are trained to handle high-risk situations, particularly with the increasing presence of youth crime and violence on school grounds.
Rose added that teachers are under immense pressure and face limits on what they can realistically manage in the classroom.
A Department of Education spokesperson said “the safety of students and staff is our top priority – there is no place for violence or weapons of any kind at our schools.“
“Well-being supports are available for students and staff impacted by this incident.”
Leader of the Opposition and Berwick MP, Brad Battin described the incident at Berwick College as “shocking and completely unacceptable”.
“My thoughts are with the teacher, the school staff, and students who’ve been left shaken by this terrifying incident,” he said.
“But Victorians are asking the same question I am – how did we get to a point where violent carjackings are happening at schools, in broad daylight, by teenagers with knives?
“This isn’t just a one-off. It comes days after another violent carjacking in our community and reflects a broader crisis the Allan Labor Government refuses to confront.
“Enough is enough. The government must act urgently to address spiralling youth crime and restore safety in our schools, streets, and suburbs before someone is killed.”
Berwick College was contacted for comment, and the Department of Education provided a response.
