Teacher watchdog disciplined 15 educators, school leaders in first half of this year

More than a dozen teachers and principals have been suspended by Victoria’s education regulator in the first six months of the year. See the full list here.

Langwarrin Park Primary School principal Richard Barren has been charged with possessing child abuse material. Picture: Supplied.

A primary school principal was among 15 educators disciplined by the teaching regulator in the first six months of 2025, with some facing court for their alleged actions.

The Victorian Institute of Teaching may suspend a teacher on an interim basis if it believes the educator poses an unacceptable risk of harm to children.

Circumstances that may impact a teacher’s suitability to teach include being charged with a criminal offence, being the subject of a disciplinary investigation or breaching conditions on their working with children check.

Read on to see which teachers were suspended or had their teaching registration cancelled in the first six months of this year.

Justin Marks

Former Tarneit P-9 College teacher Justin Marks has been suspended on an ongoing basis, after the school reported him to Victoria Police.

The maths and science teacher was first suspended on an interim basis in December 2024 after he was charged with allegedly committing a sexual offence.

This was upgraded to an ongoing suspension as his case continues to be heard at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Outside of maths and science, Mr Marks also specialised in physical education and outdoor education, and previously taught at Melton Secondary College, including VCAL – now called VCE Vocational Major – classes.

Tarneit P-9 College science and maths teacher Justin Marks has been suspended on an interim basis. Picture: Facebook

Troy Ollis

The teacher watchdog suspended former MacKillop College English educator Troy Ollis after he was arrested and charged by police in January for allegedly possessing and producing child abuse material and sexual abuse.

He was interimly suspended on January 17, before the VIT later upgraded the suspension.

Mr Ollis will reappear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 20.

MacKillop College teacher Troy Ollis was suspended by the VIT in January. Picture: Supplied

Richard Barren

Former Langwarrin Park Primary School principal Richard Barren will stand trial in the County Court, after he pleaded not guilty to eight charges including possessing child abuse material and transmitting child abuse material.

Mr Barren was suspended by the teaching regulator in February after Australian Border Force officers allegedly found child abuse material on his personal mobile phone during a baggage search at Melbourne Airport on January 26 after he flew home from a US holiday.

In a search warrant on a Mornington Peninsula home on the same day, police seized a number of other electronic devices for further forensic examination.

Mr Barren will next appear before court on June 26.

Yu Blake

Prestigious private school Chinese teacher and year 12 exam assessor for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Yu Blake, was suspended on an interim basis in February.

Prior to her suspension, Ms Blake worked at Haileybury and was employed by a number of state schools as a maths teacher.

It is understood Ms Blake allegedly breached Haileybury’s policies around professional expectations but the allegations are not criminal in nature.

She continues to be suspended on an interim basis by the teaching regulator.

Ben Dance

Former Thomastown East Primary education support worker Ben Dance, found himself on a “name and shame” Facebook page in March after he was charged with knowingly possessing child abuse material.

Unlike other teachers who faced disciplinary action by the teaching regulator, Mr Dance couldn’t be suspended by the VIT as education support staff aren’t registered with the organisation.

They must have a Working with Children’s Check to work at a school.

Mr Dance is due to front court on July 9.

Orhan Sahin

Science teacher Orhan Sahin was suspended by the teaching regulator in June last year before he was charged with allegedly committing a child sexual offence.

The former McClelland Secondary College teacher made headlines in May after letters from multiple schools were circulated online informing parents Mr Sahin had been charged.

Prior to his time at McClelland, Mr Sahin worked as a casual relief teacher in 2022 and was a graduate teacher at Frankston Heights Primary School from July to December 2018.

He is due to face court again on June 12.

Justin Farrugia

St Francis Catholic College maths teacher Justin Farrugia was handed an interim suspension on May 15 after allegations emerged of an incident involving inappropriate conduct with a student who is no longer at the school.

Mr Farrugia was first employed by the school in 2018, back when it was called Catholic Regional College Melton.

School newsletters indicate Mr Farrugia was also a Year 8 homeroom teacher for the Francis house in 2021 and was the Mathematics Domain Leader in 2022.

It’s understood Mr Farrugia was directed not to teach at the school at the start of this year as investigations into allegations made against him continue.

No charges have been laid.

Other teachers suspended by the teaching regulator this year

In addition to the above educators, another six teaching staff were suspended by the VIT this year.

These teachers include Ciara Bowne, Adam Jensen, Raffaele Scarfo, Laura Anne Hill, Christopher Powell, Hayden Cooper and Nakate McKay.

The nature of the allegations made against these teachers are unknown, but the Herald Sun is not suggesting they all relate to criminal offences.

Originally published as Teacher watchdog disciplined 15 educators, school leaders in first half of this year