Geelong Lutheran College teacher Cameron Fennell suspended by teaching regulator

A Geelong private school teacher has been stood down after being suspended by Victoria’s teaching regulator.

Geelong Lutheran College teacher Cameron Fennell has been suspended by the teaching regulator. Picture: Facebook

A Geelong private school teacher with a history in Catholic education has been suspended by the teaching regulator.

Cameron Fennell was recently employed as a year 9 co-ordinator at Geelong Lutheran College but was suspended by the Victorian Institute of Teaching on an interim basis on March 2.

Mr Fennell has also taught at Emmanuel College in Altona North and St Ignatius College in Drysdale.

Principal Jill Lange-Mohr from Geelong Lutheran College said the college “requires all teachers to have permission to teach from the Victorian Institute of Teaching”.

“If an issue arises in relation to a teacher’s VIT registration, the College’s protocols provide an effective framework to ensure an appropriate outcome is determined as soon as possible, placing the education and wellbeing of our students at the forefront of all decision-making,” she said.

A spokesman for the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools said Mr Fennell was employed by Emmanuel College from 2013 to 2019 and again in 2020 and 2021. He was also employed by St Ignatius, Drysdale from September 2019 to January 2020.

“He is no longer employed by Catholic education. Catholic schools are committed to the highest standards of professional conduct for staff and comply with all legislative requirements with respect to teacher registration processes,” the MACS spokesman said.

It comes as six teachers were suspended on an interim basis since January by the Victorian Institute of Teaching, with one having his registration cancelled.

So far in March, two teachers have been subject to interim suspension and one had his teaching qualification suspended until March 15.

Earlier this week, the Herald Sun revealed Davide Colombo, 26, who taught at Warrandyte Primary School last year, had his right to teach temporarily revoked.

The Victorian Institute of Teaching suspended Mr Colombo on an interim basis on March 2 after he was charged by Box Hill Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation with an alleged sexual assault in Clayton.

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.