Independent special investigator’s report into Yipirinya School revealed
Plots to spy on persons accused of inappropriate behaviour, private vehicles paid for by school budgets and a suspect $85k salary increase request are formal complaints in confidential report.
A principal convicted of assaulting students at a Central Australian school for Indigenous children directed the school’s council to increase his salary by $85,000 to $360,000, a report has found.
The salary meant the former principal, understood to be Gavin Morris, was paid more than Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro.
Independent special investigator George Zapcev found the principal’s request was approved by the School Council in a meeting they attended with “no clear rationale for this key decision”.
He also found the principal directed the School Council to reimburse him for a $5000 fine he incurred for hiring unregistered teachers.
Mr Zapcev said this decision was originally opposed by the School Council’s sole independent member, but was eventually approved when that member was not present.
But the former principal denies the claims saying decisions were made by the School Council and members were not directed to act.
These are some of the issues raised in a special investigation into the independent Yirprinya School written for the NT Department of Education.
It responded to a number of formal complaints made at the school which caters for some of the nations most vulnerable indigenous students.
Mr Zapcev also heard the principal approved the purchase of two private vehicles for two staff members under a loan arrangement despite them having no “financial capacity to pay back the loans”.
It is understood the two staff members no longer work at the school and the vehicles are believed to be interstate.
Mr Zapcev further heard approval was given for the school to pay accommodation rental for four staff members under a loan agreement, with a copy of an email from the principal to a senior teacher and business manager stating, ‘I approve a rent subsidy of $10,000 effective immediately’, provided as evidence.
Mr Zapcev also heard the school had accumulated an excessive amount of outstanding staff loans which were unlikely to be paid, for example one staff member had a car and their rent paid but was no longer employed by the school.
Other findings included $390,751 spent on IT consultants and a Todd Mall shop front without authority of the School Council.
It was these alleged failures of governance and financial decisions which led Mr Zapcev to make 14 recommendations relating to financial, governance and organisational management alone.
He made a further 12 recommendations to address student safety, enrolment, curriculum, staff recruitment, behaviour management and information privacy in the school.
The report addressed 60 complaints of workplace bullying in 2024 alone, hearing the school’s “culture does not reflect a healthy and safe work environment”.
The report raised concerns the school may be at risk of “unfair or wrongful dismissal” claims after complaints “the Principal has terminated the employment of a number of people”.
Some of these dismissals relate to what the report refers to as a case involving concerns of inappropriate behaviour.
Mr Zapcev heard “a woman was paid $1000 by the School (organised by the Principal) to monitor the activity of inappropriate behaviour and to collect information from impacted students”.
The principal allegedly engaged a journalist from an Australian media outlet to interview students as part of an investigation without their parent’s permission.
The report alleged the case “impacted negatively on a number of staff who were placed under pressure to release confidential information to the journalist”.
A number of staff complained to Mr Zapcev about the principal’s behaviour, claiming he was a “functioning alcoholic”, had political ambitions which disrupted his leadership of the school and was a source of anxiety for many staff.
“Anecdotal evidence would suggest that the accusations made as part of this complaint are in fact accurate,” Mr Zapcev said.
“Staff have provided feedback that they received phone calls from the Principal at night where they were convinced that he was intoxicated.
“The subjects of these discussions were often work-related issues.
“There have been staff leave the school and other staff take stress leave as a result of their interactions with the principal.”
Mr Zapcev noted there was no evidence to suggest the principal was ever intoxicated at school.
Responding to questions about the report, Mr Morris said it contained allegations that were both untested and incomplete, and he had not been provided an opportunity to respond to any of the claims made.
“During my time as Principal, all key matters were put before the School Council for decision and approval,” Mr Morris said.
“At no time were members directed to act — rather, the Council set the goals and I worked to achieve them.
Like every independent school, Yipirinya’s Principal reported to and received guidance from its governing board.
“When I arrived in October 2021, Yipirinya was under statutory management.
Together with the re-established Aboriginal School Council and independent governance support, we built a stable and transparent foundation. Council members completed the Aboriginal Governance and Management Program through APO NT, and their efforts were publicly recognised in the National Indigenous Times on 20 February 2023.
“Under my leadership the school experienced strong growth — enrolments increased, staff numbers rose from about 40 to over 120, and a culturally safe and positive workplace was fostered.
“The school successfully passed multiple federal audits confirming proper use of funding and, in 2023, an independent Whole School Compliance Check that found only minor areas for improvement.
“I understand that the author of the current Special Investigation also conducted that earlier compliance check, which Yipirinya passed. Any fair assessment should consider this background, the credibility of sources, and what has occurred at the school since my departure.
“I categorically deny any allegations of bullying. My focus throughout was on providing the best possible education and culturally responsive environment for Yipirinya’s students and families.”
The report also detailed allegations of assault against students.
Mr Morris, was charged with five counts of aggravated assault, and after a fortnight-long judge only hearing at Alice Springs Local Court, Judge Anthony Hopkins found him guilty on four counts on October 15.
The assaults were aggravated as they involved children all younger than 14.
He was found guilty of dragging two students — aged eight and nine — by their ears.
Morris also put a child in a headlock, and choked another, age 13 Judge Hopkins determined.
But on the fifth count, Judge Hopkins found the former principal not guilty.
On Monday, new Yipirinya School principal Justin Colley released a statement addressing the sentencing of Morris, stating “events that happened under previous leadership between 2021 and 2024 does not reflect the values, culture, or current practices of Yipirinya School today”.
“Under the current leadership team, Yipirinya has undergone a complete transformation,” he said.
“Child safety, wellbeing, quality education, and the learning of language and culture sit at the heart of everything we do.”
Mr Colley did not address the report in his statement.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education NT said a government appointed non-government schools registrar would monitor the implementation of recommendations and school compliance with registration standards.
The spokeswoman said a separate government-appointed statutory manager would work with the Yipirinya Association and school leadership, staff and community to implement the report’s recommendations.
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Originally published as Independent special investigator’s report into Yipirinya School revealed
