Australian Mother Charged After Using Listening Device on Son

An Australian mother, Skye Cooper, has been charged by police after allegedly placing a secret recording device in her seven-year-old son's pocket. Her son, who is autistic, non-verbal, and has epilepsy, was enrolled at a primary school in eastern Victoria.

Cooper told reporters that her son began coming home with unexplained bruises last year. She noted a significant change in his behavior when dropping him off at school, where he became agitated and resistant to leaving the car. "He had never shown any aggression or that type of behaviour before attending that school or after attending that school," Cooper stated.

Following these concerns, Cooper purchased a listening device online and placed it in her son's pocket daily from June to October 2025. She claims that upon reviewing the recordings, she heard a teacher's aide, who worked with her son one-on-one, allegedly say to him, "If you hurt me, I'll hurt you" on at least three occasions. Cooper also reported hearing her son screaming and being distraught in the recordings.

The teacher's aide reportedly denied using the specific words at first but later sent Cooper a letter of apology, stating, "I clearly used words that I should not have used" and expressed remorse. The Daily Mail has clarified that the aide was not accused of causing the child's bruises.

Cooper filed a formal complaint with the Victorian Disability Workers Commission. She has since been charged with "regulation of installation, use and maintenance of a listening device" for the period between September and October last year. This action is a criminal offense in Victoria, prohibiting the recording of private conversations without consent.

Cooper plans to contest the charge, which is scheduled for a court hearing in February. She told ABC News, "I was trying to protect my child. I just couldn't make sense of it, that… the tables have been turned on me." She added that she was offered a diversion program, which would involve a charitable donation, to avoid a conviction.

Cooper stated that police initially interviewed her and released her without charge, a decision she found "ridiculous" at the time. She maintained that any mother would act similarly to protect their child. Cooper has since enrolled her son in a different school, where she reports he is doing much better. The Department of Education in Victoria has been contacted for comment, with a spokesperson emphasizing that student safety is a priority and urging parents to report any concerns directly to schools for investigation.