Bialik College staff member dismissed after students view inappropriate images on laptop 

Melbourne school, Bialik College has dismissed a staff member after students in Years 6 and 7 briefly saw adult images on the employee’s laptop during a class session last week.

The incident occurred last Tuesday, 2 December, during the Year 6 to 7 Transition Day, at the end of a video presentation, when the laptop inadvertently displayed thumbnail images of another adult. According to a letter sent to parents, at least one of these images did not pass any test of reasonableness to be shown to children.

In a statement later that day, Principal Jeremy Stowe-Lindner said, “The college can confirm that an isolated incident occurred this week in which a staff member’s laptop briefly displayed inappropriate adult imagery to a small number of students. The staff member self-reported immediately.

Stowe-Lindner said the college acted within minutes to initiate its Child Safety and HR processes and promptly notified the statutory authorities.

He added that the staff member’s employment has been terminated following the college’s processes.

The principal also confirmed that a technical investigation found the protective systems functioned as designed and that there is no ongoing risk to students.

He said, “We have issued an unreserved apology in our community communication and to individual families.”

Parents were informed by email and were told the incident was “deeply unfortunate”. The message acknowledged the “completely inappropriate situation that has exposed children to at least one image that they should not see.” It said the images should not have been on a school device or brought into the workplace.

The letter also reassured parents that “no children or child-related images or actions are any part of this situation”. It noted the school’s HR and Child Safety Policies were implemented, including an immediate report to the relevant statutory authorities.

A technical review carried out by the school found its protective systems had worked as designed and that there was no ongoing risk to students. The investigation, led by the college’s IT team, established how the incident transpired.

Within less than 48 hours, the college undertook a swift workplace investigation in line with statutory reporting obligations and college policies.

The college apologised “unreservedly” to the students and families affected and said it remained committed to the highest standards of child safety. The letter asked for the former staff member and their family to be afforded dignity and privacy as they confront the consequences.

It provided advice for parents discussing the situation with their children, recommending a focus on lessons about avoiding recording images or situations that may be embarrassing to self or others; sharing concerns with trusted adults immediately, as children did in this case; and avoiding rumours and speculation, to focus on the facts.

Parents were invited to contact Director of Wellbeing and Inclusion for further discussion, with the Psychology and Counselling Team also available.

Established in 1942, Bialik, in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, has around 1000 students and is regarded as one of Victoria’s leading Jewish schools, with consistently high VCE and NAPLAN results.