Teacher Jason Morgan Suspended After Tribunal Findings

An Australian school has suspended New Zealand teacher Jason Morgan after a disciplinary tribunal revealed he made inappropriate sexual remarks to students during his time working at a New Zealand school.

The case has raised significant concerns about teacher conduct, student safety, and international employment oversight in education.

Morgan had previously been censured by the Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal in New Zealand for inappropriate behaviour involving students. However, because he had already relocated overseas and began teaching in Queensland, Australia, the tribunal’s disciplinary powers were limited.

The situation drew attention when the details of the tribunal decision became public, prompting authorities in Australia to take action.

Background Of The Case

Jason Morgan was employed as both a teacher and a boarding house assistant at a New Zealand school in 2023. The incidents occurred during Term 1 and Term 2, while Morgan was supervising students in a boarding environment.

Part of Morgan’s role involved hosting a daily reflection activity known as the “thought of the day.” This session was intended to help boarding students relax before bedtime and reflect on different topics.

However, according to the Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal decision, Morgan used this time to make several sexually inappropriate comments and jokes in front of students.

Because Morgan had already moved overseas and taken a new teaching job, the tribunal was only able to issue a formal censure rather than stronger disciplinary measures.

Inappropriate Comments Made To Students

The tribunal found that Morgan made multiple sexual remarks and inappropriate questions during these discussions with students.

Some of the statements reported by students included:

• “Would you have regular sex with a seven out of ten or have a one-night stand with a nine out of ten?”
• “Would you sleep with an absolute ten out of ten if she was crazy?”
• “How long would you wait to have sex with a dead girl?”

These remarks were made during casual group discussions with boarding students. The tribunal concluded that the comments were unprofessional, inappropriate, and unsuitable for a school environment.

Offensive Banter Directed At A Student

In addition to the questions posed during group discussions, Morgan also engaged in inappropriate banter with an individual student over several days while other students were present.

During one exchange, Morgan reportedly told the student that he would “come on your mum’s back.”

According to the tribunal decision, Morgan later apologized to the student after making the comment.

However, the incident still formed part of the disciplinary findings due to its sexual nature and the inappropriate power dynamic between a teacher and student.

Additional Comments During Hunting Discussion

Another instance described in the tribunal findings involved Morgan speaking to students about hunting.

While discussing the topic, Morgan allegedly told students:

“Be careful you boys don’t f* goats**.”

This comment was also determined to be inappropriate and offensive, especially given that it was said in front of multiple students under his supervision.

Complaint And Morgan’s Resignation

Following the complaints about his conduct, Morgan voluntarily resigned from his position at the New Zealand school.

Despite the resignation, the case proceeded through the Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal, which examined the allegations and ultimately issued a formal censure.

However, because Morgan had already moved abroad and secured employment in Australia, the tribunal was limited in the disciplinary measures it could apply.

Employment In Australia And School Response

After leaving New Zealand, Morgan began teaching at Chanel College in Queensland, Australia.

The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) was aware of Morgan’s professional background, according to the tribunal decision.

When the issue became public, Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton, which oversees Chanel College, issued a statement confirming that Morgan had been suspended from his duties.

A spokesperson explained:

• The college recently became aware of concerns relating to Morgan’s conduct in a previous teaching role overseas.
• The teacher has been suspended from all duties while an investigation is underway.
• Relevant authorities have been notified.

The spokesperson also emphasized that student safety and wellbeing remain the school’s highest priority.

Reaction From Former Students

A former student who attended the school during the time of the incidents expressed shock that Morgan had continued teaching in Australia.

The student said it was unacceptable for someone who had made sexual jokes about students to remain employed in an educational environment.

The former student also alleged that additional comments may have been made beyond those listed in the tribunal decision, which made students uncomfortable at the time

Role Of The Queensland College Of Teachers

The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing teacher registration and professional standards in Queensland.

A spokesperson for the organization stated that it cannot comment on individual registration cases or professional conduct matters.

However, the tribunal decision confirmed that the QCT was aware of Morgan’s background.

Journalism And Reporting On The Case

The case was reported by Brianna McIlraith, a Queenstown-based journalist who covers court proceedings across New Zealand’s lower South Island.

She has worked in journalism since 2018 and frequently reports on legal, business, and financial matters.

Her reporting brought further public attention to the disciplinary decision and Morgan’s subsequent teaching role overseas.

Conclusion

The suspension of Jason Morgan in Australia highlights ongoing concerns about teacher accountability, student protection, and cross-border employment in education systems.

While the New Zealand Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal censured Morgan for inappropriate sexual comments made to students, its authority was limited once he moved overseas.

Following the public release of the tribunal findings, the Australian school where Morgan was teaching has now suspended him pending investigation, emphasizing its commitment to student safety and wellbeing.

The case underscores the importance of strict professional conduct standards and transparency in the education sector to ensure students remain protected in learning environments.

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