Australian mother charged over recording device in son's clothing — ABC News Australia
In Australia, police have charged Gippsland resident Sky Cooper, who, according to law enforcement, sewed an audio recording device into the clothing of her non-verbal seven-year-old son. The boy had attended Churchill Primary School since February 2025. This was reported by ABC News Australia.
The mother's complaints and the audio recording
According to Cooper, about a month after he began attending school, her son became extremely distressed during trips to school: he would not get out of the car, screamed and asked his mother not to leave him. She also said she noticed marks resembling bruises on his arm.
The boy has severe epilepsy, level-three autism, global developmental delay and severe speech delay. Cooper said she met repeatedly with school representatives over her concerns, but did not believe they were properly addressed.
After consulting disability advocate Julie Phillips, the woman sewed a recording device into her son's clothing. Cooper said she listened to the audio every evening and, on one occasion, heard an assistant tell the child: “You hurt me — I’m going to hurt you.” She then withdrew her son from the school.
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Charge and apology
Police were informed about the alleged use of the device. Cooper was charged in connection with rules governing the installation, use and maintenance of a listening device. She said she was trying to protect her child.
According to Cooper, police told her that if she pleaded guilty and donated $300 to an appropriate charity, she would not have a criminal record. The woman is currently receiving legal advice on what to do next.
Earlier this year, Cooper received a written apology from the assistant. The assistant said she did not remember the specific incident, but regretted that such words had been said and accepted responsibility for the inappropriate wording. The assistant added that her words were not intended as a threat or a literal statement.
Cooper has also launched a petition calling for the assistant to be removed and for the surveillance devices law to be changed to protect parents who use covert recordings when they suspect abuse. According to her, the circumstances of the case are being investigated by the Disability Workers Commission.
