Former St Kevin’s College teacher charged with criminal offences

A former St Kevin’s College teacher has been charged with criminal offences relating to his alleged conduct towards a student.

A teacher from St Kevin’s College has been charged with criminal offences.

A teacher from St Kevin’s College has been charged with criminal offences, the prestigious school’s head has told parents.

Principal Deborah Barker contacted parents on Wednesday afternoon to say former staff member Michael Junkovic from the years 2014 and 2018 had been formally charged over “alleged conduct with a student during his employment at St Kevin’s College.”

Mrs Barker told parents the school was made aware of the matter in February last year.

She said Victoria Police, the Commission for Children and Young People and the teacher’s most recent school Carey Grammar were immediately contacted.

The teacher has been charged by detectives from Bayside sex offences and child abuse investigation team.

Mr Junkovic was the Social Justice Officer at St Kevin’s College organising functions such as the Have a Ball Foundation in 2017. The foundation provided sports balls to disadvantaged outback children.

The Victorian Institute of Teachers lists the man’s teaching accreditation as being suspended as of December 29, 2020, without any reason being listed.

The news was met with shock by staff and parents who were advised on Tuesday and Wednesday by the school. A parent who did not wish to be named said: “When will it end? And how many more cases are being withheld from parents?”

Mrs Barker wrote that student support and access to school psychologists had been made available to students.

“By being proactive and transparent in addressing these issues, as painful as it is for us as a school community, we will ensure that we continue to build a safe environment that promotes student wellbeing, learning faith and fullness of life,” her message said.