Yipirinya School principal Gavin Morris charged with alleged physical assaults on children

A Red Centre school principal has been charged over allegations of physically assaulting children. Find out when he’ll face court.

Yipirinya School Principal Gavin Morris at Yipirinya School, Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Latest: A Red Centre principal is out on bail – with a court date set – after he was arrested over allegations of historic aggravated assaults.

Northern Territory Police in a statement late on Thursday confirmed a 46-year-old man arrested on August 8 had been charged with five counts of historic aggravated assaults at a school in Alice Springs.

This masthead understands the man to be Yipirinya School Principal Gavin Morris, who will appear in Alice Springs Local Court Tuesday, August 13.

Police said the man is currently out on bail.

Red Centre principal arrested for alleged physical assaults on kids

Initial, August 8: An outspoken Red Centre school principal – who also sits on the Alice Springs town council – has been arrested on allegations of physically assaulting children.

The Australian on Thursday morning reported Yipirinya School principal Gavin Morris had been arrested for allegedly “physically assaulting multiple children”

The allegations are not of a sexual nature, according to The Australian.

No charges have been laid.

The broadsheet reported Mr Morris had been arrested on the morning of August 8, after NT police visited the school during the week.

Speaking to The Australian, a Yipirinya staff member said police had asked about an alleged incident which they said took place two years ago.

Yipirinya School Principal Gavin Morris has been arrested. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The Yipirinya staff member told the newspaper they had never seen or had complaints about Mr Morris “mishandling or being rough with children”.

In a statement, Northern Territory police confirmed a 46-year-old man had been arrested in “relation to historic aggravated assaults at a school in Alice Springs”.

“On the 20th June 2024, police received reports of historic physical assaults on children at the school. It is believed the alleged assaults occurred on multiple separate occasions in 2023,” the police statement said.

“The six (alleged) victims were aged between eight and 13-years-old at the time of the assaults, and police will allege the man was an employee of the school at the time.”

Police said the man was expected to be charged later on Thursday.

Gavin Morris. Picture: Josh Hanrahan

Speaking to media, Chief Minister Eva Lawler said she had limited information about the alleged incident, but that Mr Morris would be expected to temporarily stand down while the criminal matter was unresolved.

“These charges against Gavin Morris are very, very serious,” she said.

“I’m very concerned. All teachers know that, through teacher registration, you cannot manhandle a child. You can’t touch a child.

“We have had teacher registration since (2004) in the Northern Territory, and the consequences of any manhandling of a child is that you lose your teacher registration.”

Teachers who lose their registration are banned from the profession across the country.

Ms Lawler said she had worked with Mr Morris during her time as Education Minister.

“He was worked very hard in (Yipirinya) School to improve attendance and drive outcomes,” she said.

“If he has been charged it will be a case that we monitor closely.”

NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price – whose mother Bess Price is an assistant principal at the school – said she was “shocked” to hear the allegations.

“It’s a surprise, an absolute surprise,” she said.

“My concern first and foremost is always with the children of Yipirinya school. They’re the most vulnerable in our community.

Minister Mark Monaghan and Chief Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Those kids need to be able to go to school, and get confident, and get their education. They need it more than any kid in Central Australia needs schooling.”

Alice Springs Town Council Mayor Matt Paterson said he was made aware of the arrest on Thursday morning.

“In regards to Councillor Morris standing down, that’s a decision for him to make in due course and will be his decision,” he said.

Mr Paterson said due to the ongoing nature of the police investigation, he would not be making further comment.

The allegations come less than a week after the school celebrated Mr Morris and his fellow school leaders on Principal Appreciation Day.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the school thanked Mr Morris for his leadership and hand in creating a “culturally safe” space.

“Thank you for all your leadership and consistent commitment in making Yipirinya a culturally safe and an engaging school for our kids,” the statement said.

“Your work is sure to set the kids up to be our future leaders one day.”

An Education Department spokesman said they were “aware of the matter”, but would not provide further comment due to the matter being under investigation by Police, and said Yipirinya School was an independent, non-government institution.