Queensland College of Teachers v Duffin

In the matter of Queensland College of Teachers v Duffin, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal was tasked with assessing the conduct of a teacher in relation to an inappropriate relationship with a student. The dispute centred on the teacher’s conduct, which began when the student was 16 years old, and whether it met the expected standards of behaviour for teachers. The tribunal was also required to determine the appropriate sanction for the teacher's actions.

The legal issues the tribunal needed to address included whether the teacher's conduct constituted grounds for disciplinary action under section 92(1)(h) of the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 (Qld) and what sanction would be appropriate under section 160 of the same Act. The tribunal had to consider the nature of the relationship and the impact of the teacher's actions on the student and the broader educational community.

The tribunal concluded that the teacher's conduct did indeed satisfy the disciplinary ground under section 92(1)(h) of the Act. It found that the relationship was exploitative and constituted a serious breach of professional ethics. Consequently, the tribunal ordered the cancellation of the teacher's registration, prohibited the teacher from reapplying indefinitely, and mandated that the teacher pay the College's costs. Additionally, the tribunal imposed a non-publication order to protect the identity of the student and any other relevant parties, except where necessary for statutory compliance.