Melbourne High School business manager accused of $400,000 theft

A manager, who oversaw a $20 million annual budget, has faced court over theft-related charges after a probe into the prestigious school’s finances.

Melbourne High School’s business manager is facing theft charges. Picture: David Geraghty

The well-respected business manager at Melbourne High School who allegedly stole more than $400,000 from the school has fronted court to face theft-related charges.

Frances Walshe, 64, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday after she was charged with 16 offences including theft and obtaining financial advantage by deception.

During the brief hearing, Ms Walshe’s defence barrister, Bernie Balmer, said a plea offer had been made to prosecutors.

Prosecutor Phil Raimondo asked for a four-week adjournment to allow time for the Office of Public Prosecutions to consider the offer.

No details of the alleged offending were heard in court.

Ms Walshe appeared via video link from home and remained silent during the hearing other than to confirm she could hear the court.

The matter was adjourned to July 27.

Ms Walshe, who oversaw the school’s $20 million annual budget, resigned from her position at the prestigious government school in November last year.

The former business manager is alleged to have stolen more than $400,000 from Melbourne High School over the past decade, while receiving accolades for her work, the Herald Sun can reveal.

Police media have confirmed the Ms Walshe has been charged with 16 charges including four counts of obtain financial advantage by deception and theft related offences.

Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged the 64-year-old woman following alleged deceptions at a school in Melbourne alleged to have taken place between 2012 and 2021.

It’s understood she had been under investigation for several months due to financial anomalies with the school finances.

Melbourne High School, which dates back to 1854, has 150 staff and 1370 boys from year nine to 12.

Its revenue comes primarily from the state and federal governments, buoyed by $3.5 million in student fees and parent contributions

As recently as 2020, Ms Walshe was praised in the school’s annual report for maintaining “the school finances and records in a most efficient and effective manner”.

Ms Walshe has also been on school council as minute taker and had oversight of a number of school projects involving the Melbourne High School Foundation, the school’s Building Fund and the Annual Giving Appeal.

Ms Walshe is due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday for a committal mention.

She is one of 23 Victorian staffers that have been suspended by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) this year so far.

A number of those have also fronted court over charges including sexual assault, abduction and child sex abuse.

The work and teaching history for more than 10 of those teaching staff has remained unavailable, with most suspended on an interim basis.

Six teachers have either been permanently suspended or disqualified from teaching this year.

One teacher, Daniel Lancefield, is currently provisionally registered, but was slapped with a nine-year teaching ban in 2013.

The VIT does not release the reasons behind a teacher’s suspension or disciplinary action.

They can suspend teachers on an interim basis while they investigate allegations.

A Department of Education spokesman said: “The Department is aware of a matter involving a former Melbourne High School employee and will continue to monitor the case.”

“As this is before the courts the Department cannot comment further,” he said.