School chaplain and Scout leader Paul Worsnop charged over child abuse material

An Auburn High School chaplain who volunteered as a Scout leader and at Carols by Candlelight has been charged over child porn.

Paul Worsnop was active in several organisations and charities including Victoria Police. Picture: Norm Oorloff

A school chaplain, police volunteer and long-serving Scout leader has been charged with possession of child abuse material, the Herald Sun can reveal.

Paul Worsnop, who was hired as a school chaplain at Auburn High School in Hawthorn East in 2015, had his teacher’s registration cancelled in January 2022 by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

Mr Worsnop was active in several organisations and charities, and blessed the 2020 Victoria baton as part of the national police motorcyclists’ Wall To Wall ride in honour of fallen officers.

A spokesman for Victoria Police said: “A volunteer has been charged following an investigation by the joint anti-child exploitation team. The volunteer was stood down from Victoria Police in August, 2021.”

It is understood that volunteer is Mr Worsnop.

Mr Worsnop blesses the Victoria baton for Wall To Wall ride in honour of fallen police officers.

Mr Worsnop, who has been a Scouts district leader since 2010, has been prohibited from playing any further role in the organisation.

Jon McGregor, executive manager of Scouts Victoria, said that in August last year “we were informed that Victoria Police had opened an investigation into possession of child pornography”.

“In line with our policies, he was immediately suspended, and we reported the information to the Commission for Children and Young People”.

“Child Safety is our highest priority and Mr Worsnop will not be returning in any capacity.”

Mr Worsnop has been part of the Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight services for more than 45 years along with a number of his family members.

Vision Australia CEO Ron Hooton said all volunteers “must hold current police and Working with Children checks. Vision Australia regularly audits our volunteer base to ensure individuals meet these requirements”.

“Anybody who is unable to meet these requirements is immediately unable to volunteer with Vision Australia in any capacity,” Mr Hooton said.

A Department of Education spokesman said that as Mr Worsnop’s matter was before the courts, they were unable to comment.

He will appear in the Magistrate’s Court in May.

Mr Worsnop is one of six teachers so far in 2022 who have had their registration to teach suspended or disqualified by the VIT.

These include Kayla Nicole Rizzo, 24, of Keysborough, who had her provisional registration as a teacher cancelled in January following an investigation by Dandenong police’s sexual offences and child abuse investigation team.

Ms Rizzo was charged with five counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16, grooming for sexual conduct with child under 16, persistent sexual abuse of a child under 16 and possess child abuse material.

In 2021, 38 teachers were subject to VIT disciplinary action, compared to 40 in 2020.