Education chief Dawn Penney cleared of bullying claim by Fair Work Commission

Claims the CEO of a leading Christian schools organisation bullied and belittled a co-worker have been thrown out by the Fair Work Commission.

The Fair Work Commissoin has dismissed claims Dawn Penney, the head of the Council for Christian Education in Schools, bullied and belittled a co-worker.

Bullying claims against the CEO of a leading Christian schools organisation have been thrown out in the Fair Work Commission.

Deputy President Alan Colman strongly refuted claims that Dawn Penney, the head of the Council for Christian Education in Schools, bullied and belittled a co-worker.

Claims of victimisation, intimidation and aggressive behaviour were levelled at Ms Penney and the council’s communications director Shirley Culhane by communications co-ordinator Margaret Trainor.

The council, which is now known as Korus Connect, was formerly known as Access Ministries, a body that a decade ago provided religious instruction teachers to 70 per cent of Victorian schools. Numbers dropped to almost zero after legal changes to the program.

Ms Trainor told the commission that her mistreatment by Ms Penney and Ms Culhane was connected to her objection to having employees return to office after Covid, which she did not support.

She believed Ms Penney was preparing a “constructive dismissal” meaning she would have no option to resign.

The allegations centred on five incidents, including an office discussion during which Ms Trainor was told by Ms Culhane: “Oh, Maggie, that is poor theology”.

Member Colman ruled the comment was not made in a “scoffing tone” but was instead a “frank but reasonable remark”.

On another occasion, Ms Trainor claimed she was “berated” in an open-plan setting for talking about a four-day week and was told by Ms Culhane to “just drop it”.

The judge found Ms Culhane did not berate her, raise her voice or use an aggressive tone.

Other instances of aggressive and intimidating behaviour included the closure of the office during the holiday period, which Ms Trainor thought was linked to her bullying complaint. This was also labelled “ unfounded” by Member Colman.

He concluded that Ms Trainor “believes that she has been subjected to unreasonable behaviour” but that the claims could not be substantiated.

“I note that the parties have much in common, including a shared faith, a commitment to a common cause, and, in my view, a measure of good will towards one another. All concerned want Mrs Trainor’s employment to continue and to be successful. I am confident that this will be the case,” he said.

The council has been contacted for comment.

Deputy president Alan Colman dismissed claims Dawn Penney, the head of the Council for Christian Education in Schools, had bullied and belittled a co-worker.

Claims of victimisation, intim­idation and aggressive ­behaviour were levelled at Ms Penney and communications director Shirley Culhane by communications co-ordinator Margaret Trainor.

Ms Trainor told the commission her mistreatment was connected to her objection to having employees return to the office after Covid, which she did not support.

She said she believed Ms Penney was preparing a “constructive dismissal” meaning she would have to resign.

The allegations centred on five incidents, including a discussion where Ms Trainor was told by Ms Culhane: “Oh, Maggie, that is poor theology.”

Mr Colman ruled the comment was not made in a “scoffing tone” but was instead a “frank but reasonable remark”.

He concluded Ms Trainor “believes that she has been subjected to ­unreasonable behaviour” but that the claims could not be substantiated.

“I note that the parties have much in common, including a shared faith, a commitment to a common cause, and, in my view, a measure of goodwill ­towards one another. All concerned want Mrs Trainor’s ­employment to continue and to be successful. I am confident this will be the case,” he said.

The council has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Education chief Dawn Penney cleared of bullying claim by Fair Work Commission