Palmerston’s Good Shepherd Lutheran College slammed by relief teacher

A Darwin principal says student and staff safety is his “priority” after receiving a scathing email sent by a relief teacher who slammed the school as being riddled with violence for “hours on end”.

It's been confirmed Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Palmerston, launched an investigation after a relief teacher sent a lengthy email to the school's principal bemoaning the violence they witnessed. Source: Good Shepherd Lutheran College.

A Darwin principal says student and staff safety is his “priority” after receiving a scathing email sent by a relief teacher who slammed the school as being riddled with violence for “hours on end”.

The concerned relief teacher sent the critical email to Principal Matthew Qualischefski of Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Palmerston, after filling in for a few days.

The relief teacher claimed a group of up to half-a-dozen boys were causing “utter mayhem” without meaningful consequence.

“This caused the classroom to become unsafe for both students and staff,” the email said.

“Everyone in that classroom was at risk of assault and injury – some staff and students were assaulted.”

The email listed a variety of alarming incidents as having occurred, including students being punched and forced to the ground, running on top of desks and benches, verbal abuse, teachers being kicked, chairs being thrown at staff and more.

The complainant, who has more than 15 years’ experience as a relief teacher, accused the school of throwing them into a situation where they had “no awareness of the level of violence that regularly occurs in this classroom”.

“I sincerely hope that you will consider making changes to consider the safety of students and staff at the school,” the email read.

“The requirement of a safe learning environment and workplace comes before the needs of any students who are exacting violence upon others around them.”

When contacted by the NT News, the relief teacher said they were yet to learn what came of their complaint.

Principal Matthew Qualischefski says an investigation was launched following the complaint. Source: Good Shepherd Lutheran College.

Mr Qualischefski, however, maintained the school took staff safety seriously and said the complaint had been dealt with.

“Good Shepherd Lutheran College holds the safety of all children and staff as a priority,” he told the NT News.

“The college leadership work with all staff to deliver quality teaching and learning to all of our students.

“The complaint was investigated and responded to appropriately.”

Mr Qualischefski said the school provide its personnel adequate support in behaviour management.

“Teachers and students are provided with additional developmentally age-appropriate supports as required through; leadership staff guidance, specific training, working with parents, allied and medical health professional inputs, and appropriate interventions.”

The official complaint has come to light as classroom violence continues to mount in the Territory, with a survey showing more than 73.7 per cent of NT principals and school leaders reporting they were subjected to physical violence – compared to the national average of 49.6 per cent.

NT Principals’ Association (NTPA) president Carolyn Edwards said the data demonstrated more needed to be done.

“The data is clear — workload demands, violence, and mental health challenges continue to escalate for school leaders across the Northern Territory,” she said.

“We simply cannot ignore what the data trends have been telling us for well over a decade now.”