Ribbons tied to Ballarat High School gates after music teacher Damien Woods suspended

Ribbons and signs have been tied to the gates of Ballarat High School after a teacher was charged with alleged child sexual offences.

Damien Woods was director of music at Ballarat High School for 25 years.

Ribbons have been tied to the front gates of Ballarat High School after a senior music teacher was stood down and 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, 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

Colourful ribbons and signs saying “duty of care” have been tied on to the school’s front gates on Sturt St.

It’s understood multiple community members began tying ribbons to the school’s gate late last week.

Ribbons have been tied to the gates of Ballarat High School.

The movement, also known as “loud fence” and first set up in Ballarat, involves tying ribbons outside a school or church to stand in solidarity with survivors of sex abuse.

The Herald Sun first revealed last month that Mr Woods was suspended from teaching and charged by police with child sex and grooming offences.

“The whole situation has really left us with a sick feeling,” she said.

“We send our children to school with the hope that they are safe and it’s very distressing when you hear about something like this.”

The Herald Sun has also been told that senior school leaders have asked staff to “remain silent” about the matter.

“There have been a lot of questions from concerned parents but staff have been told not to say anything,” one source said.

“The truth is staff have been left in the dark regarding this situation and they hope to get more answers soon.”

The movement is known as ‘loud fence’ and involves tying ribbons outside a school or church to stand in solidarity with survivors of sex abuse.

In an email sent to staff last month, 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.

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”.

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

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