A high school teacher who used Grindr to exchange sexually explicit material with a teenage student has been banned from teaching for three-and-a-half years.
In a decision delivered on 25 March, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) also ordered teacher “AKW” to provide a psychologist report and evidence of professional practice training with any re-registration application.
The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) made a discipline application to QCAT under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 (Qld) in relation to AKW, who used the name “Daddy” on the dating app to communicate with 15-year-old “Boy” over two days in October 2021.
AKW was suspended in November 2021, and removed himself from the QCT register in October 2023.
In October 2021, “Student A” downloaded the app, and created an account by saying he was aged 21 to counter the app’s 18-plus age requirement.
When using the app at the school, Student A noticed one messenger was “100 metres away”. Neither Student A nor AKW was aware of the identity of the other. After AKW sent photos, Student A recognised AKW as a teacher.
“Sexualised messaging between the two continued for a few days with teacher AKW making several attempts to meet Student A,” QCAT members Poteri, Baxendell and English said.
“After becoming concerned by the messaging, Student A advised AKW that he was 15 years old. AKW questioned him about when he would be turning 16 and Student A replied that he would turn 16 the following month,” they said.
“AKW continued interacting with Student A after that time … When asked by teacher AKW if he had any more photos, Student A sent a photo that he had located on the internet.”
Student A then emailed school staff including the principal, and the Queensland Department of Education Ethical Standards Unit.
AKW, who was aged about 40 at the time, was initially charged with using the internet to procure children under 16 under the provisions of Section 218A(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld). When he appeared in court, a nolle prosequi was presented and he was discharged.
Student A admitted to police he had used the Grindr app “with mischievous intentions to engage in ‘trolling’ persons he did not know”.
The members found the ground for disciplinary action under the Act was established.
They said mitigating factors included AKW’s expression of remorse and insight; that the conduct occurred over two days only; and that AKW had a previously unblemished record.
Aggravating factors included that AKLW had about 18 years teaching experience, and that his behaviour continued after he became aware the student was 15 years old, including the comment “Who knows it could be a month until we can play anyway…Got any more pics little boy?”.
“This comment reinforces the lack of both insight and full appreciation of Child Protection Principles that are part of Mandatory All Staff Training every year,” the members said.
“Teacher A was willing to engage in sexual innuendo with a 16-year-old boy. As an approved teacher the community would expect that teachers do not engage in such interaction with underage children.
“Having an attraction towards persons of school age is of a great concern to the panel.”
The members agreed with the QCT that the appropriate sanction be a prohibition on AKW reapplying for teacher registration for three-and-a-half years.
They also agreed to an order that if reapplying for registration, AKW must provide an independent psychological report addressing his understanding of issues including professional boundaries, legal obligations, risk identification, trust, ethics, and appropriate communication and behaviour with students.
Their orders also included a requirement that he complete an online learning program on professional practice and professional boundaries for teachers.
AKW is eligible to apply for re-registration on 11 May this year.
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