Former Hillcrest Christian College staffer’s legal action to get job back

A senior staff member sacked by an embattled Gold Coast Christian college has taken the school to court in a bid to get his job back.

A SENIOR staffer sacked by an embattled Gold Coast Christian college has taken the school to the Federal Court.

Former Hillcrest Christian College chief operating officer Ray Deetlefs, whose daughter is a school captain, was dismissed last week after being stood down in May for alleged “serious misconduct”.

He had alleged he was sacked over “trumped-up” bullying allegations after raising concerns with the college board over issues including hundreds of thousands of dollars in school loans to a private company set up to commercialise a reading program.

Mr Deetlefs had vowed the issue would “explode spectacularly” in court.

Ray Deetlefs leaving Federal Court in Brisbane. Picture: Steve Pohlner/AAP

He launched urgent Federal Court action against Hillcrest seeking his immediate reinstatement, a declaration that he had been illegally dismissed and damages for breach of contract.

An initial hearing on Friday was delayed for several hours as lawyers for Mr Deetlefs and the college held talks behind closed doors.

They emerged to announce that a resolution had been reached and the case was adjourned.

Both parties declined to comment outside court.

The court action followed months of turmoil at the Baptist Church-run college which has been rocked by allegations including alleged bullying, the sacking of Mr Deetlefs and the standing down of another senior staff member for alleged misconduct.

More than 200 people including parents and former staff have signed an online petition calling for principal Jeff Davis to be stood down and an independent investigator appointed.

The Independent Education Union has also called for an independent investigation while the State Government’s Non State-Schools Accreditation Board has also been probing multiple complaints against the school.

Hillcrest Christian College on the Gold Coast has been rocked by allegations of bullying. File picture

The college board this week publicly reaffirmed its support for Mr Davis and said it was considering recommendations from an “external review’’.

The board said there were “no known grounds” for Mr Davis’s employment to be terminated

Meanwhile, the school has called a series of crisis meetings with parents next week to provide what it says is “accurate information’.

“Over the past few weeks the college has had a significant presence in social media and newspapers,” it said in a letter to parents.

“This appears to be facilitated by a group of people (some of whom are not current parents) who are seeking to drive an agenda in relation to the College’s future.

“In doing so there has been a wide range of statements being made, many of which are incomplete.”

The college said the ‘parent information sessions’ would be ‘as open and transparent as we can, whilst maintaining integrity in the process that the (school) Board is undertaking at the present time’.