A shocking revelation has rocked one of Australia's oldest independent Indigenous schools, Yipirinya, near Alice Springs. The former principal, Gavin Morris, was convicted of physically assaulting four students, sparking a crisis that has put the school's future in jeopardy.
This isn't the first time Yipirinya has faced management issues. In fact, it has been under statutory management for more than five years, with an investigation by the Northern Territory government last year uncovering "serious issues" in its governance.
Now, the school is facing the potential redundancy of 20 staff members, a move that the school community warns could lead to its "collapse."
Morris was appointed by the former Northern Territory government in 2021 to lead the school, which was already under statutory administration due to financial troubles. However, in 2024, he was charged with five counts of physically assaulting students aged between eight and 13. He pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty of four of the five charges in October this year. These charges included choking a student, putting another in a chokehold, and painfully grabbing students' ears.
But here's where it gets controversial: during the trial, it was revealed that Morris directed racial slurs at students during two of the incidents. The judge rejected the argument that Morris was restraining misbehaving children, stating that his behavior was "not justified."
An independent investigation into the school last month raised even more serious concerns. Conducted by George Zapcev, the investigation highlighted a range of governance issues, including the school council's approval of an $85,000 pay increase for Morris without a clear rationale, the use of school funds to pay for staff cars and private accommodation, and the continued payment of salaries to staff who were not present at school.
Zapcev also found that Morris had directed staff to enroll children with high levels of disability, likely beyond the school's capacity to meet their needs, in order to boost enrollment numbers and funding. He also employed unqualified staff and pleaded guilty to hiring two unregistered teachers in 2024, resulting in a $5,000 fine.
Furthermore, Zapcev cited over 60 formal complaints of bullying in the workplace in 2024, suggesting a toxic culture that does not promote a healthy and safe environment.
In response to these findings, the current statutory manager, Stuart Reid, announced that up to 20 employees would be made redundant to ensure the school's long-term viability. However, this decision has been met with resistance from the school community, who argue that these cuts will prevent the school from functioning properly.
The Australian government provides most of the funding for non-government schools, with the Northern Territory government contributing the remainder. Funding is calculated based on enrollment numbers, and the latest data shows that Yipirinya employed a significant number of staff relative to its student attendance rate of just 31%.
A public letter on behalf of Yipirinya staff last month warned that without intervention, the school would "collapse." They called for a pause on redundancies, emergency funding, and the restoration of Aboriginal statutory management.
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, has been consulting with the school's staff and has secured a two-year extension from the federal education minister, Jason Clare, to repay the school's debt of $3.7 million, pushing the deadline to 2031. This extension aims to provide time for the school to stabilize and reconsider any redundancies.
The federal member for Lingiari, Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, has also spoken out, emphasizing the critical role Yipirinya plays in engaging children from town camps in the formal education system. She called for a reevaluation of any staff redundancies, stating that the community has been deeply saddened by the damage caused by the former principal.
The current principal, Justin Colley, acknowledged the strength and spirit of the students, families, and communities affected by the court case, stating that the school has undergone a "complete transformation" under new leadership, with improved staff training and accountability measures.
