Inquest into the deaths of Hannah Taylor and Amelia Catherine McGuiness [2011] NSWLC 13

Inquest into the deaths of Hannah Taylor and Amelia Catherine McGuiness [2011] NSWLC 13

After considering the circumstances of the deaths, evidence from teachers and ski-safety witnesses, and written submissions, the Coroner concluded that supervision of school students while skiing on school excursions must improve, particularly through close and direct supervision where possible, daily morning lessons, encouragement of afternoon lessons for beginner and intermediate students, and assessment before students are excused from lessons or permitted to ski without close supervision.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
08 April 2011
Procedural Posture
Coronial Inquest / Principal Judgment; Report of the Coroner
Outcome
Recommendations made to the Minister for Education and Training and the Minister for Sport and Recreation concerning supervision and safety on school ski excursions.
Legal Topics
['deaths of School Students in Skiing Accidents' 'school Ski Excursions' 'supervision of Students' 'coronial Recommendations']
['coronial Law'] ['deaths of School Students in Skiing Accidents' 'school Ski Excursions' 'supervision of Students' 'coronial Recommendations']

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Procedural Posture

Coronial Inquest / Principal Judgment; Report of the Coroner

Legal Issues

  1. 1 ['Whether recommendations should be made to improve the safety and supervision of school students participating in school ski excursions.' 'Whether students on school ski excursions should be directly supervised by teachers or qualified ski instructors while skiing.' 'Whether students should have compulsory ski lessons and be assessed before being excused from lessons or allowed to ski without close supervision.']

Ratio Decidendi

After considering the circumstances of the deaths, evidence from teachers and ski-safety witnesses, and written submissions, the Coroner concluded that supervision of school students while skiing on school excursions must improve, particularly through close and direct supervision where possible, daily morning lessons, encouragement of afternoon lessons for beginner and intermediate students, and assessment before students are excused from lessons or permitted to ski without close supervision.

Court Disposition

Recommendations made to the Minister for Education and Training and the Minister for Sport and Recreation concerning supervision and safety on school ski excursions.

Orders

  • ['Where possible all students on school ski excursions be closely and directly supervised by either teachers capable of skiing with them on the ski run they are skiing on, or by qualified ski instructors.' 'All students on school ski excursions must have ski lessons each morning of every ski day, subject to the...