Mother charged over hidden recording device in son's clothing

A Gippsland mother, Skye Cooper, has been charged by police after allegedly sewing a recording device into her non-verbal seven-year-old son's clothing. The incident occurred after her son began refusing to attend school and exhibited distressing behavior, including bruising and refusing to leave her car. Concerned for her son's safety, Cooper consulted with a disability advocate who advised her to use a covert recording device.

Once she listened to the audio, she heard an aide threatening her son, stating "you hurt me, I'll hurt you." Cooper immediately removed her son from the school. She now faces charges of Regulation of Installation, Use and Maintenance of a Listening Device. Cooper is considering whether to fight the charges or make a $300 donation to a charity to avoid a criminal record.

She is also receiving legal advice and has initiated a petition to remove the aide and push for changes in the Surveillance Devices Act to protect parents using covert recording devices in suspected abuse cases. The Disability Workers Commission is currently investigating the matter.