A former deputy principal says he was forced out of a Tasmanian Catholic school after revealing he was in a de-facto relationship, while two students have described systemic bullying and isolation.
The three gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry into discrimination and bullying in schools this week.
Sam Johnstone was deputy principal at Marist Regional College in Burnie from 2021 until he was stood down in late 2024.
He told the inquiry he disclosed a relationship with a female colleague while going through a marriage breakdown.
“I was treated as though I was morally compromised and had been involved in criminal-type behaviour at a time when I was already deeply vulnerable and needed support and care,” he told the inquiry.
There was no finding of professional wrongdoing, yet Johnstone was told he could not continue as a leader or teacher at any Catholic Education Tasmania school.
He resigned and signed a non-disclosure agreement which stated no misconduct had occurred.
“I lost my role. I lost my vocation. I lost my community, when I needed all of them the most,” he said.
Amilie Courtney, a 17-year-old transgender student at St Patrick’s College, recalled being treated as a “problem to be managed rather than a person to be supported”.
On school camps, Courtney was placed alone in a tent roughly 100 metres from other students.
“While everyone was forming friendships and memories, I was physically and socially separated,” Courtney said.
Courtney described being bullied in Year 9 when classmates repeatedly shouted a former name until Courtney left in tears.
“No child should have to trade their dignity for an education,” Courtney said.
Leon Pecl, a transgender former student at Mount Carmel College from 2009 to 2019, recalled staff routinely ignoring homophobic bullying.
Pecl described being interrogated about sexuality in maths class while the teacher kept marking work.
“The majority of staff ignored loud and explicit homophobia and transphobia,” Pecl said.
Pecl lodged a complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner in 2024 but saw no outcome.
The Archdiocese and Catholic Education Tasmania said they take bullying and discrimination “extremely seriously” and aim to provide a safe environment.
They said it would be inappropriate to respond to statements made under parliamentary privilege.
Wednesday was the inquiry’s final hearing.
