Sheikh Wesam Charkawi ordered to work from home
Sheikh Wesam Charkawi is a student learning support officer at Granville Boys High School and a convener of The Muslim Vote. On 16 February 2025 he posted a video responding to the Bankstown nurses controversy. In it he said the nurses' comments were "never meant to be literal or intended to be a threat to patient care" and accused politicians of "selective moral outrage" (ABC, 24 Feb). He was also a signatory to the joint community statement (Guardian, 28 Feb).
At a meeting on 18 February the NSW Department of Education asked him to remove the posts from TikTok and Instagram. The Guardian reported that he refused and was asked to work from home, while the SMH reported he was told to "temporarily work from an alternate location". On 24 February the department directed him to remove the posts by 26 February. Separately, a joint letter from Premier's Department secretary Simon Draper and Public Service Commissioner Kathrina Lo told public servants: "You have a duty to uphold the reputation of your department and the government sector as apolitical, impartial and professional."
Students protested at the school on 26 and 27 February. After a meeting on 27 February he returned to work on 28 February. The department said: "Following meetings with senior officials, Mr Charkawi has been cleared by the department to return to work as a school learning support officer. He has been counselled over his actions and reminded of his obligations as a department employee. Mr Charkawi has removed the social media video and agreed to adhere to the Code of Ethics and Conduct."
His lawyer, Majed Kheir, said his client "maintains that his post has not breached the social media policy and that he has not done anything wrong" (ABC, 28 Feb).
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