Number for Qld teachers suspended doubles in a year

The number of Queensland teachers suspended has more than doubled from 2022 to 2023, including four who were barred, new data reveals.

The number of Queensland teachers suspended on disciplinary grounds last year was more than double that recorded in 2022, new data reveals.

Four teachers had their registrations cancelled and were barred from the profession last year, according to the Queensland College of Teachers’ annual report.

Among the disciplinary cases made public was a teacher whose registration was cancelled after they were sacked over shocking racist, sexist, and violent social media trolling. Another teacher was suspended over allegations of engaging in inappropriate conduct, sexualised communications, and sexualised physical contact with a female student.

The recently published QCT 2023 annual report shows 38 teachers were newly suspended for a serious offence or posing an unacceptable risk of harm to children in 2023, in addition to the 35 with ongoing suspensions, making a total of 73 suspended teachers last year.

In comparison, there was a total of 35 teachers either newly suspended or under ongoing suspensions for a serious offence or posing an unacceptable risk of harm to children in 2022.

In 2021, the combined total of suspended Queensland teachers was 62.

The 2023 QCT annual report also revealed a 60 per cent jump in complaints against Queensland teachers when compared to 2022 numbers.

In 2023, there were 58 complaints and 84 other disciplinary notifications made to the College of Teachers, totalling 142. These resulted in 18 investigations being authorised.

In 2022, there were 38 complaints and 49 other disciplinary notifications, making a total of 87, and leading to 12 investigations being launched.

In 2021, the QCT received 67 complaints and 31 other disciplinary notifications, totalling 98, and resulting in 23 authorised investigations.

Queensland College of Teachers director Deanne Fishburn said complaint numbers had remained steady and naturally fluctuated year-to-year.

“The complaints procedure exists to give the public the opportunity to raise a complaint with the QCT where it is not possible for a teacher’s employer to resolve it,” she said.

“While there have been no significant increases in the number of teacher registration suspensions, the QCT takes seriously all matters where a teacher is charged with an offence and acts in accordance with legislation to refer suspensions to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.”

One of the four teachers who had their registrations terminated last year was Gregory Shaun Teeney.

He was sacked from a Gold Coast state high school in February 2023, then the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal approved the QCT’s application to cancel his registration in November.

Through the QCAT process, it was revealed that Teeney was sacked over shocking racist, sexist and violent social media trolling. This included posting images of a gun he claimed was his and suggesting certain groups of people should be shot.

Meanwhile, among last year’s suspended educators was “Teacher BDN” whose registration was suspended in July 2023.

This case also went through QCAT and resulted in the suspension being upheld.

The QCAT decision revealed Teacher BDN was accused of engaging in inappropriate conduct, sexualised communications, and sexualised physical contact with a female student.

The female student gave evidence which included allegations that Teacher BDN touched her on her upper thigh and groin and made comments suggesting sexual interaction between them.

Teacher BDN denied the allegations and gave his own account. He said he was happily married and he had never had any such allegations made against him in his 16-year career.

In the end, QCAT senior member Professor Ned Aughterson ruled he was “not satisfied that Teacher BDN does not pose an unacceptable risk of harm to children”.

Education employers are also obligated to notify the College of Teachers when they start and finish dealing with an allegation of harm caused to a child due to the conduct of a teacher.

There were 592 of these harm to children notifications to the QCT in 2021, this rose to 608 incidents reported in 2022, and spiked to 681 notifications in 2023.