‘This is not acceptable’: Education Department releases findings after porn teacher scandal

After a teacher accessed pornography using a Year 10 student’s internet log-on, the education department conducted an urgent audit – now its findings have been revealed.

An urgent audit into staff hired by the South Australian Education Department has concluded after The Advertiser revealed that a teacher who accessed pornography using a Year 10 student’s login – then let the student take the blame leading to his suspension – was back teaching.

But the blunder was deemed an anomaly as the review “has not revealed any similar error”, Education Department acting chief executive Ben Temperly said.

The audit was prompted when, earlier this month, the department was alerted by the former student-turned-whistleblower that the teacher was back working in a school.

The father-of-three had left the department but was re-employed as a teacher in August 2021.

A teacher who accessed pornography using a Year 10 student’s internet log-on – then let the student take the blame, leading to his suspension.

The teacher was allowed back working at a school due to an administrative blunder and the employee who made the error is no longer working for the department.

“The internal investigation has found that the teacher was registered and possessed a working with children clearance but was employed without all appropriate department processes being completed,” Mr Temperly said.

The error occurred, Mr Temperly said, as the teacher’s past employment history was not reviewed.

“This is not acceptable,” he said.

“If the appropriate processes had been completed the individual would not have been placed in a role at a school.”

The audit reviewed applications made prior to 2022, when the department added a probity panel which provides further scrutiny in the hiring process.

The panel “assists in relation to decisions as to the suitability of applicants to join the Employable Teacher Register … which provides applicants with an authority to work in department schools”, Mr Temperly said.

On July 17, the department sent a letter of apology to parents at Springbank Secondary College where the teacher was working until the department was alerted.

A letter of apology was sent to parents at Springbank Secondary College, where the teacher was working until the department was alerted. Picture: Dean Martin

The original scandal occurred at Naracoorte High School. Picture: Calum Robertson

The teacher had also worked at Para Hills High School after he was re-employed.

“The teacher won’t be returning to any school,” Mr Temperly said.

The department has since written to the former student to thank him “for bringing this matter to the attention of the department and to offer him wellbeing support”.

Mr Temperly offered an apology to the wider community as “the failure to follow employment processes is well below the standards expected of the department”.

The original scandal, which occurred at Naracoorte High School in 2004, was covered up by the department for a decade and the former student was paid $30,000 in hush money, being forced to sign a confidentiality agreement he later regretted.

After being suspended, the student eventually was cleared of any wrongdoing but ended up leaving the school and town after being wrongly blamed.

The former student was offered 10 counselling sessions by the department and it said once these are arranged, “this matter is now resolved.”