Queensland College of Teachers v DRR

This matter involved an application by the Queensland College of Teachers to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for disciplinary action against a teacher, DRR, who was alleged to have engaged in sexualised behaviour with a former student. The case was heard and determined on the papers. The Tribunal found that the teacher had engaged in inappropriate behaviour, including sending text messages and emails of a personal and intimate nature to the former student, and that he had behaved in a way that did not satisfy the standard of behaviour expected of a teacher. The Tribunal ordered that the teacher's registration or permission to teach be cancelled and that he be prohibited from reapplying for registration as a teacher for not more than 30 months from the date of the decision. The Tribunal also ordered that in the event that the teacher seeks registration as a teacher in Queensland after the expiry of the prohibition period, certain notations be entered in the register regarding the teacher. The Tribunal noted the breach in the Deputy Principal's responsibility in his failure to act and not immediately responding to the former student's phone call. The Tribunal also considered the issue of publication of the teacher's name and decided to continue the non-publication order made in relation to the teacher's name, the former student's name, the names of the schools, and the names of the teacher's wife, the complainant, and the former student's former classmates.