Distraught Eyre Peninsula mother speaks of allegations of assault against daughter at school

A distressed mother has filed a police report fearing her daughter is another victim of a teacher charged with the indecent assault of a student.

A parent of an Eyre Peninsula school student claims her daughter has been a victim of assault, following the arrest of a teacher at the school for the alleged indecent assault of a student.

The mother has claimed her daughter – both of whom cannot be named for legal reasons – disclosed the information in a conversation following the man’s arrest.

It has led the family to make a formal police report.

A teacher at the school was arrested and charged with aggravated indecent assault last Thursday.

In a letter to parents, the school said there were no concerns any other children had been involved.

However, one mother said her daughter had disclosed disturbing details during a conversation this week, and now fears she has been a victim of assault.

“I felt like breaking down and crying,” the mother told 7News.

The woman quickly reported their daughter’s claims to a nearby police station, and they have been referred to a specialist child psychologist in Adelaide to make a formal statement.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of parents to speak to their children, to continuously encourage them that it’s OK, you are their safe person,” the mother said.

“They (police) actually have been really supportive and I’d really like to thank them for that.”

But the woman claims the school has been far from supportive.

“I have called the school numerous times everyday. I just keep getting an answering machine that’s saying ‘we’ll be back on Monday’,” she said.

An Eyre Peninsula schoolteacher was arrested and charged with indecent assault last Thursday. File picture.

The woman says she will be removing her daughter from the school.

7News reported that more parents at the school have similar concerns.

No further charges have been laid against the man. SA Police say investigations are ongoing and any witnesses or potential victims are being urged to contact police.

An Education Department spokeswoman said the teacher had been “directed away from the site and suspended”.
The spokeswoman said informing parents of the charge was in line with department policy.

“A letter has been provided to parents and caregivers … to advise them that on 13 July 2023 a teacher was arrested and charged with a child sex offence,” she said.

The teacher was bailed to face the Whyalla Magistrates Court on October 3.