Victorian primary school teacher investigated after rubbing sunscreen on child

A Victorian principal stood down for “inappropriately” rubbing sunscreen on a student’s chest is a step closer to getting back into the classroom.

A Victorian principal was stood down for ‘inappropriately’ rubbing sunscreen on a student’s chest.

A Victorian school principal was stood down amid a police investigation he sexually assaulted a six-year-old student while rubbing sunscreen on her chest.

The Herald Sun can reveal detectives from the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team launched a probe into the man, who is in his early 60s, after CCTV captured him on two occasions applying the sunscreen to the pupil’s neck and chest area in his office.

He was also investigated for inappropriate behaviour at the small country Victorian primary school after being caught on camera checking an eight-year-old girl’s heart rate by pressing her breast area.

Ultimately, police found there was “insufficient evidence to support a charge of sexual assault of a child”.

But a disciplinary investigation resulted in him being suspended and his working with children clearance cancelled.

The Victorian Institute of Teaching found he “posed an unacceptable risk of harm to children” and the interim suspension was necessary to protect students.

While the Department of Justice and Community Safety revoked his clearance after being satisfied a “reasonable person” would not allow their child to have contact with him while he was engaged in child-related work.

The details emerged as the school leader this week won a two-year legal fight to have his working with children check reinstated in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Tribunal member Michelle Quigley ruled there was no evidence his conduct was “of a sexual or physically harmful nature”.

The principal was investigated by the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team.

“On the contrary, (his) conduct demonstrates care, concern and a pragmatism and willingness to assist his students,” Justice Quigley said.

“The interactions are fleeting during a busy workday, and after helping the students (he) promptly returns to his work.”

The tribunal heard the man was a “significant contributor in the community” and needed the check so he could return to the education sector and continue volunteering with Life Saving Victoria and the CFA.

His lawyer Fiona Knowles argued the pupil he twice applied sunscreen to in late 2020 was “susceptible to sunburn”, which was why her mum had provided sunscreen for staff to use on her daughter.

Ms Knowles said the CCTV footage captured him telling the girl “don’t do that” when she started unbuttoning her dress and the second button accidentally came undone.

She also told the tribunal the school principal checked the heart rate of the other girl, who suffers from scoliosis and a heart condition, at the mum’s request.

The student had recently collapsed, so she had asked staff to check her daughter’s heart by pulling up her shirt and placing a hand on her chest.

Justice Quigley said the man was an “excellent candidate for active contribution in the community” as both a teacher and a volunteer.

“I have no hesitation in finding that it is in the public interest that he be granted a working with children clearance,” she said.

“It would be a travesty to find otherwise in the circumstances of this case.”