❓ A parliamentary question on notice regarding the Department of Education's handling of a case involving a teacher pleading guilty to indecent dealings with a child. The Minister's response details the timeline of events, actions taken, and affirms satisfaction with the Department's handling of the matter.
AnsweredQoN 4077Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) When was the Department first made aware of the allegations that ultimately led to a 24 year old teacher pleading guilty in Karratha Magistrate’s Court to two charges of indecent dealings with a child in circumstances of aggravation, two charges of sexual penetration of a child between 13 and 16, two charges of sexual penetration of a child over 16 under their authority, and other offences?
(2) On what date did the Director General first become aware of the allegations?
(3) What action did the Director General take when she became aware of the allegations?
(4) On what date was the District Office first informed of the allegations?
(5) What action did the District Director take when he/she became aware of the allegations?
(6) On what date was the principal of the school where the teacher was employed first informed of the allegations?
(7) What action did the Principal take when he/she became aware of the allegations?
(8) On what date did the Minister’s Ministerial Office first receive any notification of the alleged offences and who was that notification from?
(9) On what date did the Minister first become aware of the allegations and who informed you of the allegations?
(10) On what date did the Minister first become aware that the teacher had been charged and who informed the Minister?
(11) What was the last date that the teacher worked at the school?
(12) From what date was the teacher stood down from duty?
(13) On what date was the teacher’s employment terminated and when was it effective from?
(14) On what date was the Department made aware that the teacher had been charged?
(15) How many critical incident reports were made in connection with this case and on what date was each report made?
(16) What action was taken as a result of each report?
(17) What counselling has been provided to the students involved?
(18) Who provided any such counselling and on what dates did it occur?
(19) What counselling has been provided to other students at the school following this incident?
(20) Who provided any such counselling and on what dates did it occur?
(21) What counselling has been provided to staff at the school?
(22) Who provided any such counselling and on what dates did it occur?
(23) Has the Minister or the Department conducted any review of the way this matter was handled; and
(a) if so, on what date was the review instigated?
(24) Who instigated any such review and who conducted any such review?
(25) Are any changes to departmental practices or policies proposed in light of what occurred; and
(a) if so, what changes are proposed?
(26) Is the Minister satisfied that the Department dealt with all matters related to this case appropriately; and
(a) if not, why not?
(27) Is the Minister satisfied that the Department dealt with all matters related to this case in a timely manner; and
(a) if not, why not?
(2) On what date did the Director General first become aware of the allegations?
(3) What action did the Director General take when she became aware of the allegations?
(4) On what date was the District Office first informed of the allegations?
(5) What action did the District Director take when he/she became aware of the allegations?
(6) On what date was the principal of the school where the teacher was employed first informed of the allegations?
(7) What action did the Principal take when he/she became aware of the allegations?
(8) On what date did the Minister’s Ministerial Office first receive any notification of the alleged offences and who was that notification from?
(9) On what date did the Minister first become aware of the allegations and who informed you of the allegations?
(10) On what date did the Minister first become aware that the teacher had been charged and who informed the Minister?
(11) What was the last date that the teacher worked at the school?
(12) From what date was the teacher stood down from duty?
(13) On what date was the teacher’s employment terminated and when was it effective from?
(14) On what date was the Department made aware that the teacher had been charged?
(15) How many critical incident reports were made in connection with this case and on what date was each report made?
(16) What action was taken as a result of each report?
(17) What counselling has been provided to the students involved?
(18) Who provided any such counselling and on what dates did it occur?
(19) What counselling has been provided to other students at the school following this incident?
(20) Who provided any such counselling and on what dates did it occur?
(21) What counselling has been provided to staff at the school?
(22) Who provided any such counselling and on what dates did it occur?
(23) Has the Minister or the Department conducted any review of the way this matter was handled; and
(a) if so, on what date was the review instigated?
(24) Who instigated any such review and who conducted any such review?
(25) Are any changes to departmental practices or policies proposed in light of what occurred; and
(a) if so, what changes are proposed?
(26) Is the Minister satisfied that the Department dealt with all matters related to this case appropriately; and
(a) if not, why not?
(27) Is the Minister satisfied that the Department dealt with all matters related to this case in a timely manner; and
(a) if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 November 2010
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
47 days
Matters raised by the Member have been subject to a Police inquiry and a successful prosecution.
The Department of Education file on this matter has also been subject to a Corruption and Crime Commission review and they are satisfied with the Department's actions.
I advise the Member that continued speculation on the details of this case risks further trauma to the affected students and their families.
(1) On Wednesday, 10 February 2010, the Department of Education's Pilbara District Education Office became aware that the teacher had sent inappropriate text messages to a student's mobile telephone.
(2) The Director General became aware of the allegations on Monday, 15 February 2010.
(3) On Monday, 15 February 2010, the Director General issued the teacher with an Order to Leave School Premises under section 240
School Education Act 1999
.
(4) Wednesday, 10 February 2010.
(5) The Director Schools directed her staff to report the allegations to the Standards and Integrity Directorate. This is consistent with the protocols and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Standards and Integrity Directorate and Western Australia Police and ensures that the best interests of school children, and the interests of justice are both observed to the highest standards. At all relevant times, the allegations in question were carefully managed by the Standards and Integrity Directorate in accordance with the relevant protocols (refer to attachment). [See tabled paper no.]
(6) The offences occurred while the teacher was employed at Karratha Senior High School during the previous year, 2009. The matters were reported when the teacher was employed at Newman Senior High School. The Director Schools telephoned the Principal of Newman Senior High School on 14 February 2010 following initial inquiries made by the police, to inform him of the allegations.
(7) Once contacted by the Standards and Integrity Directorate on 15 February 2010, the Principal at Newman Senior High School facilitated service of the Order to Leave School Premises.
(8) - (10) On Sunday, 14 February 2010, one of my Ministerial staff was contacted by a representative of the Department and advised of the charges. This information was conveyed to me shortly thereafter.
(11) Friday, 12 February 2010.
(12) See the response to (3) and (7) above.
(13) The teacher resigned effective 19 March 2010.
(14) Sunday, 14 February 2010.
(15) No Critical Incident Reports were lodged for this incident.
(16) Not applicable.
(17) School psychologists were made available for access by any students affected.
(18) Counselling is provided on a confidential basis and therefore the specifics cannot be disclosed.
(19) School psychologists were made available for access by any students affected.
(20) Counselling is provided on a confidential basis and therefore the specifics cannot be disclosed.
(21) Staff at the school were advised that counselling was available to them if required.
(22) Counselling is provided on a confidential basis and therefore the specifics cannot be disclosed.
(23) No. The Corruption and Crime Commission has oversight responsibility for how the Department deals with misconduct.
(23)(a) Not applicable.
(24) Not applicable.
(25) No.
(25)(a) Not applicable.
(26) Yes.
(26)(a) Not applicable.
(27) Yes.
(27)(a) Not applicable.
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The Department of Education file on this matter has also been subject to a Corruption and Crime Commission review and they are satisfied with the Department's actions.
I advise the Member that continued speculation on the details of this case risks further trauma to the affected students and their families.
(1) On Wednesday, 10 February 2010, the Department of Education's Pilbara District Education Office became aware that the teacher had sent inappropriate text messages to a student's mobile telephone.
(2) The Director General became aware of the allegations on Monday, 15 February 2010.
(3) On Monday, 15 February 2010, the Director General issued the teacher with an Order to Leave School Premises under section 240
School Education Act 1999
.
(4) Wednesday, 10 February 2010.
(5) The Director Schools directed her staff to report the allegations to the Standards and Integrity Directorate. This is consistent with the protocols and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Standards and Integrity Directorate and Western Australia Police and ensures that the best interests of school children, and the interests of justice are both observed to the highest standards. At all relevant times, the allegations in question were carefully managed by the Standards and Integrity Directorate in accordance with the relevant protocols (refer to attachment). [See tabled paper no.]
(6) The offences occurred while the teacher was employed at Karratha Senior High School during the previous year, 2009. The matters were reported when the teacher was employed at Newman Senior High School. The Director Schools telephoned the Principal of Newman Senior High School on 14 February 2010 following initial inquiries made by the police, to inform him of the allegations.
(7) Once contacted by the Standards and Integrity Directorate on 15 February 2010, the Principal at Newman Senior High School facilitated service of the Order to Leave School Premises.
(8) - (10) On Sunday, 14 February 2010, one of my Ministerial staff was contacted by a representative of the Department and advised of the charges. This information was conveyed to me shortly thereafter.
(11) Friday, 12 February 2010.
(12) See the response to (3) and (7) above.
(13) The teacher resigned effective 19 March 2010.
(14) Sunday, 14 February 2010.
(15) No Critical Incident Reports were lodged for this incident.
(16) Not applicable.
(17) School psychologists were made available for access by any students affected.
(18) Counselling is provided on a confidential basis and therefore the specifics cannot be disclosed.
(19) School psychologists were made available for access by any students affected.
(20) Counselling is provided on a confidential basis and therefore the specifics cannot be disclosed.
(21) Staff at the school were advised that counselling was available to them if required.
(22) Counselling is provided on a confidential basis and therefore the specifics cannot be disclosed.
(23) No. The Corruption and Crime Commission has oversight responsibility for how the Department deals with misconduct.
(23)(a) Not applicable.
(24) Not applicable.
(25) No.
(25)(a) Not applicable.
(26) Yes.
(26)(a) Not applicable.
(27) Yes.
(27)(a) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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