Why ex-St Kevin’s teacher Simon Parris’ unfair dismissal hearing has been delayed
Disgraced ex-St Kevin’s teacher Simon Parris will be forced to wait until December to have his unfair dismissal claim heard by the Fair Work Commission. Here’s why it has been delayed.
Education
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A Year 12 student at St Kevin’s College will finish his final exams before giving explosive first-hand evidence against a disgraced teacher suing the school for unfair dismissal.
The 17-year-old student’s evidence is expected to centre on an incident on June 14 last year which resulted in maths and drama teacher Simon Parris receiving a written warning.
Mr Parris was one of five staff members to leave the elite Toorak private school amid a child grooming scandal in February.
He is now seeking reinstatement in the Fair Work Commission.
The departing staff included former principal Stephen Russell and head of sport Luke Travers who gave court references for convicted child groomer Peter Kehoe, an athletics coach.
Fair Work Commissioner Tim Lee said the student was as a “key matter in the case” against Mr Parris.
The school’s lawyers described the boy as the “person most affected and/or aggrieved” by Mr Parris’ alleged conduct.
Commissioner Lee ruled last week that a six-day hearing, scheduled for August 17-24, will be will delayed until after December 2 to allow the student to finish exams.
The student’s father argued his son wanted to finish his VCE and does not “want to engage in conduct that will divert him from his studies”.
He told the commission that his son was “anxious at the prospect of giving evidence” and not in the best interests of his mental health. The student’s father said he was worried about his son’s welfare due to the alleged conduct of Mr Parris.
Commissioner Lee agreed it was “most certainly in the interests of [the student] that he not attend the hearing during his VCE”.
Mr Parris’ lawyers argued the delay was unreasonable and was causing him stress and anxiety. They argued the “14 June incident” was addressed at the time and Mr Parris received a written warning.
They said the boy was not required as a witness because he was “only involved in one matter in the whole factual matrix”, although Commissioner Lee dismissed this argument.
Mr Parris is under investigation by the Victorian Institute of Teachers which has suspended his membership, making him unable to work as a teacher in this state.
The school and Mr Parris’ lawyer have been contacted for comment.
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