Questions Arise Over Yipirinya School Principal’s Appointment Following Harassment Claims
Alice Springs,NT – Concerns are being raised regarding the suitability of Gavin Morris as principal of Yipirinya School in Alice Springs,following the surfacing of allegations of “harassment and bullying” made shortly after his selection. The allegations emerged in an email exchange between self-reliant consultant Nicole Travers and a Department of Education official.
Ms.Travers, who worked at Yipirinya School, emailed the official after the selection panel finalized its advice report for Morris. In the email, she relayed data provided by teacher Ms. enilane, which she described as “alarming.” Ms. Travers stated she was “not prepared to put things on paper that is second-hand information” but referenced Ms. Enilane’s account of another teacher filing a complaint against Morris regarding “harassment and bullying.” ms. Travers urged the official to contact Ms. Enilane directly.
Ms.Enilane has since confirmed to the ABC the existence of the complaint and the accuracy of Ms. Travers’s email.
Further corroboration comes from former teaching assistant Marese Peachy, who told the ABC she contacted the Catholic Education Office regarding what she described as “distinct bullying attitudes, not only towards children but to staff as well.” However, Ms.Peachy stated the complaint was withdrawn upon Morris’s departure from the school.
The Department of education official responded to Ms.Travers’s email stating, ”The process and due diligence the selection panel went through to identify a principal has been finalised.”
There is no indication the selection panel was aware of the allegations from Ms. peachy or Ms. Travers when they recommended Morris. The Department of Education official did not respond to repeated requests for comment from the ABC.
Yipirinya School, an independent Indigenous school, has recently faced declining enrollment, falling from a peak of 360 students to just 50 on Thursday, raising questions about its future.