An Aboriginal school in Mparntwe/Alice Springs has spoken publicly for the first time after its former principal, Gavin Morris, was found guilty of assaulting several students.
Last week, the former head of Yipirinya School - a bilingual school for over 300 Indigenous students in both primary and secondary - was found guilty of four counts of aggravated assault.
Mr Morris, who was appointed principal in 2021, was accused of assaulting boys aged between eight and 13 in 2023, prompting an investigation.
Alice Springs Local Court Judge Anthony Hopkins also found Mr Morris not guilty of one count of aggravated assault. He ruled Mr Morris' use of force could not be justified as defensive conduct or as a means of disciplining or managing the children.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Yipirinya School said the court case related to "events that happened under a previous leadership between 2021 and 2024," and that they do not "reflect the values, culture, or current practices of Yipirinya School today".
"Over the past 12 months, we have seen a great turnaround," the statement, signed by current Yipirinya principal Justin Colley, read.
"The school has made significant progress in making the school a safe place for its students and staff, focusing on whole-school safety and wellbeing, teaching and learning, and improved community trust."
In his ruling, Judge Hopkins said the evidence given by the boys, other students, teachers, assistants, and parents was largely credible.
In one incident, the court found Mr Morris had pulled a 12-year-old boy from a playground fight and placed him in a headlock that caused pain, restricted his breathing, and made him feel afraid. In another, he grabbed boys by the ears and twisted them after they made a mess with paint and glitter at a childcare centre.
An assistant teacher who witnessed the latter incident told the court she was so shocked she suffered a panic attack and was unable to intervene.
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Mr Colley said the school wanted to "recognise the strength, spirit, and bravery of the students, families, and communities" affected by the proceedings.
"Their courage throughout this difficult time is something we deeply admire and respect," he said.
"Under the current leadership team, Yipirinya has undergone a complete transformation. Child safety, wellbeing, quality education, and the learning of language and culture sit at the heart of everything we do.
"We have introduced and strengthened staff training and built a school culture grounded in respect, care, and accountability. It feels great to walk through the school today and see the positive results after such a challenging year."
Mr Colley acknowledged that the court case had been "hard for many in our community".
"We want to say that our focus remains on making sure that every child continues to learn in a safe, supportive, and culturally strong environment," he said.
"Yipirinya School will always be here: standing strong to help Aboriginal children thrive in quality education and with cultural strength."
Mr Morris, who resigned from the Alice Springs Council in March this year, remains on bail until his sentencing on December 8.
With AAP
