IMPORTANT NOTICE: It is an offence under section 2.6.52 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 for a person to publish or broadcast or cause to be published or broadcast any report of a formal hearing which contains information which would enable:
1) the complainant to be identified;
2) a witness to be identified where a panel has made a determination that the identity of the witness not be published or broadcast; and
3) the teacher who is the subject of the hearing to be identified where the panel has made a determination at the hearing that any information that might enable the teacher to be identified not be published prior to the making of a final determination.
Relevant determinations in each matter are published below under the heading 'Orders'.
Listed below are the formal hearing decisions for the year. The date is the date of the decision. To read the decision, please select the link.
John Watts
Case notes: Inappropriate relationship with student - relationship commenced in 1980 with student - relationship continued for many years - for last 25 years teacher had successful unblemished career - teacher highly respected teacher - fit to teach.
Decision
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Grant Robinson
Case notes: Indictable offences - medical certificate fraud. Good behaviour bond imposed. Teacher guilty of serious misconduct but remains fit to teach - teacher demonstrated understanding and commitment to maintain proper standards as a member of the teaching profession - fit to teach.
Decision
George Eyre
Case notes: Charge of indecent assault against a child dismissed by magistrate - teacher took a 14-year-old child for a drive in his van - frightened the girl - teacher did not understand the implications of his actions - substantial departure from the standards of the teaching profession - registration cancelled.
Decision
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Orders
Michael O'Hara
Case notes: Indictable offense of making a false document - penalty: six months imprisonment suspended - teacher did not attend hearing - conviction affects the teacher's professional standing - calculated deceitful behaviour to make large amounts of money - teacher unfit to teach because failed to show integrity and honesty - registration cancelled.
Decision
The teacher applied for a review of the VIT Hearing Panel's decision to the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal ('VCAT'). In a decision handed down on 13 September 2007, the VCAT affirmed the decision to cancel the teacher's registration due to his lack of fitness to teach. A copy of the VCAT's decision can be found at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2007/1962.html
Alexander Porqueddu
Case notes: Grooming a Year 12 student - inappropriate relationship with a Year 12 student - teacher did not attend hearing - email evidence and evidence of mother and other teachers - teacher had received advice and counselling and persisted with his behaviour - persistent and sustained conduct - betrayal of student's trust - registration cancelled.
Decision
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Gregory Henderson
Case notes: Teacher's conduct of concern in three schools - inappropriate conversations of a sexual nature with students- inappropriate material of a sexual nature used in classroom - teacher misrepresented his qualifications to the schools - registration cancelled.
Decision
Orders
Nicholas Frampton
Case notes: Inappropriate communications with two students - emails and MSN conversations with sexual connotations - teacher admitted allegations - registration cancelled.
Decision
Orders
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Paul Buhagiar
Case notes: Professional boundaries - inappropriate physical contact with students - inappropriate comments to students - students avoided contact with teacher - teacher lacked personal and professional insight - registration suspended and conditions imposed.
Decision
The panel was satisfied that Mr Buhagiar fulfilled the conditions of the determination and the conditions on his registration were lifted on 1 December 2006.
Stephen Snow
Case notes: Teacher did not have adequate teaching skills, communication skills or organisation skills - teacher provided with extensive support over six years - failed to improve with support - performance a serious departure from accepted standards - registration cancelled.
Decision
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Peter Moran
Case notes: Control of students in the schoolyard - brawl between students - protection of students - role of supervising teacher in the schoolyard - registration cancelled.
Decision
The teacher applied for a review of the VIT Hearing Panel's decision to the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal ('VCAT'). The Panel's decision included a finding of serious misconduct and a determination to cancel the teacher's registration. In a decision handed down on 31 July 2007, the VCAT found the teacher had been seriously incompetent. It ordered that the decision of the Panel dated 16 February 2006 be set aside and the teacher's registration be suspended until 1 January 2008. As a condition of this order, the teacher must attend, at his own cost, such courses on professional development and student discipline as are nominated by the VIT. A copy of the VCAT's decision can be found at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2007/1311.html
PJB
Case notes: Misconduct - professional boundaries - inappropriate comments to students - lack of insight into effect on students of behaviour and comments - fit to teach.
Decision
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Stuart Deayton
Case notes: Inappropriate relationship with student - text messaging - telephone contact - meeting student outside school - meeting student alone - no insight shown by teacher - registration cancelled.
Decision
Orders
Belinda Campbell
Case notes: Inappropriate relationship with student - attending party - socialising - text messaging and telephone contact - some insight shown by teacher - registration suspended and conditions imposed.
Decision
The Panel was satisfied that Ms Campbell fulfilled the conditions of the determination and the suspension of her registration was lifted on 7 March 2007.
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