Kimberley College, Carbrook

Kimberley College, Carbrook
Location
35-41 Kruger Road, Carbrook, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27.68017°S 153.23454°E / -27.68017; 153.23454
Information
School type	Private
Motto	With Courage and Compassion
Established	2000
Principal	Glenn Johnson
Teaching staff	50 (2023)
Grades	Prep to Year 12
Enrollment	742 (2023)
Website	Official site

Kimberley College is an independent coeducational primary and secondary school located in the Logan City suburb of Carbrook, Queensland, Australia.[1][2] It is administered by Independent Schools Queensland, with an enrolment of 742 students and a teaching staff of 50, as of 2023.[2] The school serves students from Prep to Year 12.[1][2]

History

The school was established on 1 January 2000,[3] being founded by Paul Thomson, who served as the principal until he was dismissed in May 2018 for mismanaging the school's funds.[4] The original school was located in Mount Cotton but moved to its current location on Kruger Road in 2003.[5]

In 2017, less than two percent of students at the school were taking the NAPLAN test due to parents having the knowledge that they could withdraw them under philosophical or religious grounds.[6] While the principal denied actively encouraging withdrawals, he acknowledged that NAPLAN can cause significant and unnecessary stress for students.[6]

In 2018, after a financial audit was conducted by the school's board, it was revealed that the foundation principal, Paul Thomson had taken roughly $800,000 from the school, which approximately $700,000 of it was spent on vacations for him and his family.[4] The school community was divided on the issue, with separate online petitions being created, some for the principal to be dismissed and others for him to be kept.[4]

After a through police investigation on the matter was conducted, which was sparked when the Education Department alerted police in August 2018, it was revealed that the principal gave himself "$221,000 in backpay, spent $819,000 on luxury overseas trips and accrued $197,000 on the school's credit card."[7] After raids were conducted through July and August of 2019, which seized documents, computers and mobile phones, the former principal, along with his associates, were arrested and charged by September.[7][8][9] It was reported that approximately $4.6 million was taken from the school between the period of 2012 and 2018.[8] As of March 2023, court proceedings were still ongoing.[10]

Demographics

In 2023, the school had a student enrollment of 742 with 50 teachers (48.6 full-time equivalent) and 26 non-teaching staff (24.1 full-time equivalent). Female enrollments consisted of 415 students and Male enrollments consisted of 327 students; Indigenous enrollments accounted for a total of 2% and 9% of students had a language background other than English.[2]

See also

• List of schools in Greater Brisbane

References

1. "Kimberley College (Carbrook) | Department of Education". Schools Directory. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
2. "ACARA Data Access Program - School Profile 2023". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
3. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland schools". Queensland Department of Education. 14 April 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
4. Clarke, Harry (1 August 2018). "Principal accused of financial mismanagement admits 'bending rules'". Nine News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
5. "Carbrook". Logan City Council. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
6. Rebgetz, Louisa (9 May 2017). "NAPLAN opt-out principal says Australia must 'wake up' to student stress". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
7. "Former principal among four charged over fraud at prestigious private school". Nine News. 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
8. Vujkovic, Melanie; McKenna, Kate (17 September 2019). "Former principal charged over alleged $4.6 million private school fraud". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
9. Lynch, Lydia (17 September 2019). "Ex-principal and family charged with fraud". The Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
10. Brennan, Aisling (7 March 2023). "Principal, family accused of embezzling millions from Kimberley College". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.

External links

• Schools website