Exclusive: Sacked St Kevin’s coach Gene Jackson pursuing unfair dismissal claim

One of five teachers who departed an elite private school amid controversial circumstances will be taking his case to the Fair Work Commission.

A former St Kevin’s College teacher is pursuing an unfair dismissal claim against the school. Picture: Erik Anderson/AAP.

Sacked former St Kevin’s College head swimming coach Gene Jackson is pursuing an unfair dismissal claim against the school.

A hearing in the Fair Work Commission next month will assess Mr Jackson’s claims against his dismissal last February by acting principal John Crowley.

It comes as the school this week announced their former Social Justice Officer Michael Junkovic has been charged with criminal offences over his alleged conduct with a student.

Mr Jackson, who coached both Commonwealth Games and Olympic stars, spent many years as head of the school’s swimming program.

He was stood down by the top Toorak school following a complaint, which was investigated and referred to the Commissioner of Children and Young People.

At the time parents told the Herald Sun that Mr Jackson was “old-school” in his training methods which were “more suited to high level students in an elite environment”.

Mr Jackson was also described as “too hard on the kids with less ability”.

His sacking followed intense scrutiny of the school’s handling of child abuse allegations and support for former athletics coach Peter Kehoe while he was on trial for grooming a child under the age of 16.

It came amid the departure of four other senior staff members in controversial circumstances, including principal Stephen Russell, deputy principal Janet Canny, head of Studies and English VCE teacher Gary Jones and drama and VCE maths teacher Simon Parris.

Mr Parris has also pursued unfair dismissal proceedings against the school, amid days of explosive testimony for the embattled school.

In a recent hearing Mr Parris admitted to initiating hugs of students, sending a tweet about wet dreams and storing “hard core gay pornography” on his school computer.

He has also admitted to calling students “big boy” and “big guy” and writing them emails saying “I miss you terribly” and “your friendship means the world to me”.

Mr Parris is seeking reinstatement but a decision has not yet been handed down by the Fair Work Commission.