O'Hara v Victorian Institute of Teaching

The Applicant's state of mental health concerns us greatly. In our view, this is a clear case in which this teacher's registration should be cancelled. No other course is open to us. The Applicant has not obtained any treatment for his psychiatric condition and it appears that he never will.
It is totally unacceptable that a man so lacking in insight and so clearly mentally ill should be allowed to teach children in Victoria. Whilst the Applicant remains in his present delusional state, we go so far as to say he should never be registered to teach in Victoria. If Mr O'Hara does wish to be able to teach at some time in the future in Victoria, he must obtain some immediate medical help for his condition. If he does not, then his past reputation as a good and caring teacher will not be enough to enable him to teach again.
This inquiry would not have taken place had the Victorian Institute of Teaching not been established. In our view, the need for a body such as the VIT to assess and screen teachers presently teaching in schools, or wishing to enter the profession of teaching, has been amply demonstrated by the facts of this case.

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