Bendigo Senior Secondary School teacher Kirsten Louise Thomas in court over sexual assault, rape charges

A Bendigo drama teacher will fight historic allegations she raped and abused a student, a court has heard.

A Bendigo drama teacher will fight historic allegations she raped and abused a student, a court has heard.

Kirsten Louise Thomas faced the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for a committal mention, after she was charged by the local sexual offence and child abuse investigation unit in May.

The 46-year-old Eaglehawk woman is facing historic charges from the 2000s, with allegations she indecently assaulted a child.

The court heard police allege Ms Thomas “kissed the face, neck and mouth and simultaneously fondling the vagina of the complainant while she was not consenting” and raped her.

The defence sought permission to cross examine witnesses — students and teachers — about the “consistency of the allegations”.

Bendigo teacher Kirsten Louise Thomas leaves the Bendigo Magistrates' Court accused of sexually assaulting a student in the 2000s. Picture: Gianni Francis

The defence is alleging “potential collusion” between witnesses, raising concerns over a late night phone call between a former teacher and a student complainant.

The court heard the incident allegedly occurred after a night out at a venue, when it’s alleged Ms Thomas took the student back to her home.

Ms Thomas denies all the allegations, and says the student didn’t ever attend her home or stay there.

The court heard Ms Thomas was intending to take the matter to trial.

Ms Thomas, who taught theatre and drama studies at Bendigo Senior Secondary College as recently as July 2023, was suspended from teaching on April 3 this year, according to the Victorian Institute of Teaching’s Register of Disciplinary Action.

The school sent a note to parents and offered support to students and families.

In April, an education department spokesman said the charges were “extremely distressing for the school and local community”.

“We encourage anyone who has experienced any form of abuse as a current or former student at a Victorian government school to report it to both the Department of Education and to Victoria Police so we can support them and take appropriate action,” he said.