Ballarat High School music teacher Damien Woods charged with child sex abuse

Ballarat High School staff have been urged not to share any information with parents after a senior teacher was charged with child sex offences.

Damien Woods has had his teaching registration suspended by the state’s teaching regulator.

A senior music teacher at Ballarat High School has been stood down after being charged with a range of alleged child sexual offences.

Damien Woods, 47, who was the director of music at Ballarat High School for the past 25 years, has had his teaching registration suspended by the state’s teaching regulator on January 24 after multiple students came forward with allegations of child sex abuse.

It’s understood parents came to the school on Tuesday afternoon looking for answers about the teacher’s suspension, which has left the entire school community “shocked”.

The school’s principal Gary Palmer addressed staff members late on Tuesday and was visibly distraught.

It’s believed he was advised not to address staff about Mr Woods while the matter was before the courts, but once the Herald Sun published its story online on Tuesday, Mr Palmer held a staff meeting.

In an email sent to staff on Tuesday evening, the school urged them not to discuss the charges with parents or students.

“As this matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, we are unable to comment further but wanted to reach out to you to let you know of the supports available to you and our students,” it read.

Damien Woods was the director of music at Ballarat High School.

“I’m aware that some students and parents may approach you today and in the coming days to ask questions about this matter.

“If that happens, please respond by advising them that the school is aware of the matter, and is taking appropriate steps to respond to it, and that the safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority.

“Please do not discuss or share any other information about this matter with parents or students at this time. If parents approach you with particular concerns, please refer them to me.”

The email also said that Mr Woods will not return to the school while the investigation is ongoing.

“The staff member will not return to school while the case is continuing and he has been suspended from teaching by the Department of Education,” it read.

“His registration has also been suspended on an interim basis by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

“We were very concerned to learn of this and I assure you our number one priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our students.”

The Herald Sun understands staff were “very upset” about the serious allegations.

A Victoria Police spokesman said detectives from the Ballarat Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team arrested a man from Alfredton on Thursday, January 19 in relation to child sex and grooming offences.

“Police executed a warrant at an Alfredton address and seized items of interest, before arresting the man,” the spokesman said.

“The man was subsequently interviewed and charged with grooming offences, sexual activity directed at a child and sexual penetration.”

Shockwaves from the revelation of Woods’ teaching suspension are reverberating through the Ballarat community.

Ballarat Arts Foundation chair Paula Nicholson told the Herald Sun Woods had resigned from his position as an associate with the foundation on Saturday evening.

In 2020, Woods was interviewed by another publication about online learning during the pandemic.

He said he made sure every student had the right instruments at home and had been “tailoring lessons” to suit different group sizes.

In 2021-22 – the latest figures available – the Victorian Institute of Teaching resolved more than 3700 reassessments of disclosable court outcomes.

It also refused the registration of 37 applicants who had serious conduct matters.

The VIT also suspended the registration of 20 teachers on an interim basis who posed an “unacceptable risk of harm to children”.

Woods is due to appear at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court for a committal mention on April 20.

The Department of Education released a statement saying that Mr Woods “is not currently working at the school and has been suspended from teaching” by the department.

“Mr Woods’ registration has been suspended on an interim basis by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.”

The statement said that “the school is communicating with parents and staff about this issue before students returned to school”.

“Wellbeing supports are in place and available for any students or staff who may require it.”