More Melbourne teachers cop suspensions

Multiple teachers from Victorian schools have been suspended on an interim basis by the teaching regulator.

Former Caulfield South Primary School teacher Justin Cole has been suspended on an interim basis. Picture: Rob Leeson

Four more Victorian teachers who have taught at both public and private schools have been suspended on an interim basis by the teaching regulator.

Justin Cole, who has worked at Caulfield South Primary School as a leading teacher, was suspended on an interim basis on January 27.

And Carly Pinwill, who has taught at Rosewood Downs Primary School, was suspended on an interim basis on January 31.

The Victorian Department of Education said it was aware of the interim suspensions of a former teacher at Caulfield South Primary School and a teacher at Rosewood Downs Primary School.

The interim suspension for former Caulfield South Primary School teacher Justin Cole came into effect on January 31. Picture: Rob Leeson

Neither Mr Cole nor Ms Pinwill are currently teaching at a school as per the conditions of an interim suspension.

In addition, Gershon Rapke was suspended on an interim basis on January 13. Mr Rapke was a three/four class teacher in the remote Northern Territory school at Nganmarriyanga. He previously taught in the junior schools at Bailik College and Yesodei Hatorah College.

A spokeswoman for the Territory Department of Education said Mr Rapke finished working at Nganmarriyanga in January 2020.

Donald Bruce May was also suspended on an interim basis on January 24.

In other news from the Victorian Institute of Teaching, Benjamin Quansah has been disqualified from teaching until March 15, 2023

Ngan Nguyen has been suspended from teaching until August 31, 2023

Other recent interim suspensions include Ballarat High School music head Damien Woods

The Herald Sun revealed earlier this week 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.

Ballarat High School music teacher Damien Woods had his teaching registration suspended.

A Victoria Police spokesman said detectives from the Ballarat Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team arrested a man from Alfredton on Thursday, January 19 in relation to child sex and grooming offences.

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

Salesian College teacher Melissa Adela and Nicole Anne Jones were also suspended on December 23.

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”.