Former St Kevin’s College teacher charged with criminal offences

A former prestigious private school teacher has been charged by sexual crimes detectives over ‘alleged conduct with a student’.

A former teacher at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious private schools has been charged with “criminal offences” over alleged conduct with a student.

St Kevin’s College principal Deborah Barker wrote to parents and carers on Wednesday afternoon that teacher Michael Junkovic had been formally charged over alleged conduct during his employment at the school.

Mr Junkovic was a St Kevin’s staff member between 2014 and 2018, with his most recent employment being at Carey Grammar, another prestigious private school in Melbourne.

The Victorian Institute of Teaching lists that his teaching registration was suspended on December 29 last year.

Mr Junkovic was charged by the Bayside sexual offences and child abuse investigation team and is due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

“Yesterday afternoon, I was informed that Mr Junkovic had formally been charged with criminal offences in relation to his alleged conduct with a student during his employment at St Kevin’s College,” Ms Barker told parents on Wednesday.

St Kevin’s principal Deborah Barker informed parents on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image/Erik Anderson

“In February 2020 a matter concerning Mr Junkovic was reported to the college and in keeping with our policies, the college immediately informed the Victorian police, the commissioner for children and young people, as well as the principal of Carey Grammar, Mr Junkovic’s most recent workplace.”

Ms Barker told parents that support for students was available and the school was being “proactive and transparent” as it continued working on “addressing these issues”.

“We are on a journey as a school community, which we will continue, as we address these issues and work to keep our students safe,” she said.

The previous headmaster of St Kevin’s, Stephen Russell, was forced to resign in February last year after Four Corners revealed he provided a court reference for a former school sports coach who had been convicted of grooming a student.

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Originally published as Former St Kevin’s College teacher charged with criminal offences