Six former educators are seeking compensation from an Adelaide private school, asserting they were unjustly terminated for not providing evidence of their Covid-19 vaccination.
The former employees from Temple Christian College—Adrian Siegfried, Mark Treloar, Karen Chang, Andrea Mitchell, Christopher Pappas, and Stewart Robertson—argue that their dismissal in 2021 lacked legitimate grounds.
Mr Pappas had served as the school’s head of mathematics.
Mr Treloar had taught there for more than 37 years, while Mr Siegfried had been on staff for more than 17 years.
The college sacked them after they failed to submit their vaccine proof before the deadline given to them by the school.
They have approached the SA Employment Tribunal, claiming that the institution and its principal, Marcel Rijken, violated their enterprise agreement by not offering the requisite 12 weeks’ notice.
Last month, the school’s attempt to have the cases of Mr Siegfried and Mr Treloar struck out, was denied by a Magistrate.
The school had claimed the pair’s terminations had already been dealt with through a prior settlement, calling their new legal action frivolous.
The six teachers were former staff at the Temple Christian College in Adelaide (pictured)
But the magistrate disagreed, ruling that more evidence was needed before a decision could be made.
Mr. Robertson, an instructor of legal studies and workplace practices, had already achieved a separate legal victory, with the tribunal deciding he deserved payment in lieu of notice.
Previously, it was presented in court that in November 2021, Mr. Rijken issued an email to all staff, stating they had six days to submit vaccination proof or face dismissal.
The next day, he followed up with personal emails to the affected teachers, including Mr Robertson, Mr Treloar, Mr Pappas and Mr Siegfried.
Temple Christian College, a co-ed institution with locations in Paralowie, Mile End, and Marion, had 42 of its 196 personnel either unvaccinated, uncertain, or has not disclosed their vaccination status by the deadline.
The Advertiser revealed that Mr Rijken sent emails to the staff the day following the deadline, which included Mr Robertson, Mr Treloar, Mr Pappas and Mr Siegfried.
‘You may have already notified me that you do not intend to be vaccinated or will not meet the requirements,’ the email said.
‘If this is the case, I regret to inform you … your employment will cease from 11 December 2021 and you will be paid all your leave entitlements within seven days.’
Temple Christian College principal Marcel Rijken (pictured) sent an email to sacked staff
The teachers did not meet the deadline to submit their proof of vaccine to the school (stock)
The case will return to court later this year.
Earlier this year, a group of Queensland teachers and small business owners won the right to challenge the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates, after the Court of Appeal granted them leave to appeal.
The case involved seven teachers who were sacked for refusing to get vaccinated and 12 small business owners who say the mandates devastated their livelihoods.
In 2024, a judge ruled that Queensland Police and Ambulance policies about vaccine mandates breached part of the state’s Human Rights Act.
