Martyn Childs, a church worker at the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Spyridon, was dismissed after seven months on July 14 following an intimate relationship with a colleague that involved exchanging explicit images. When the affair ended, Mr Childs allegedly contacted his former partner intimidatingly and an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) was taken out against him. The parish deemed his behavior unprofessional and inconsistent with workplace health and safety standards, leading to his dismissal. Despite arguing that his treatment by the church was biased and unfair because his colleague was not dismissed, Deputy President Tony Slevin upheld the parish's decision, finding sufficient evidence of valid reasons for Mr Childs' termination.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Martyn Childs, a worker at the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Spyridon, was dismissed on July 14 after only seven months of employment. The dismissal followed an affair with a female colleague that ended in her obtaining an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) against him. Childs argued his case for unfair dismissal before the Fair Work Commission (FWC), claiming that since his lover had not been dismissed, his own termination was unjust. However, it emerged that she had actually resigned from her position. The FWC rejected Child's application and denied a requested extension due to lack of exceptional circumstances regarding a knee injury and his mother’s ill health. The decision highlighted multiple conduct-related issues leading to the dismissal, specifically the undisclosed intimate relationship between Childs and his colleague.
Written for “Affair Leads To Dismissal Court Case” on 2026-09-17,
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Published: | Updated:
A church worker who was sacked over an intimate affair with a colleague, which ended in an AVO being taken out against him, has failed in claiming he was unfairly dismissed.
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he → publish → him
Martyn Childs worked at the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Spyridon for only seven months, before he was dismissed on July 14, after which he texted his former employer saying he would 'see them in court'.
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he → work → court
In his application to the commission, Mr Childs asserted his dismissal was unfair because the woman he had an affair with had not been dismissed.
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he → assert → affair
However, the parish pointed out that she had actually resigned.
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she → point → ?
Mr Childs also sought an extension for his application, which was filed one day late.
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which → seek → application
He explained that his reasons for the delay were because of a knee injury he had suffered while at work, as well as his mother's ill health.
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he → explain → work
This request for an extension was declined after the FWC found they could not establish exceptional circumstances.
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they → decline → circumstances
However, the FWC's published decision outlined the events leading up to Mr Child's dismissal, which was prompted by 'a number of conduct-related issues', namely 'an intimate relationship' with a colleague, which 'he failed to disclose' to the church'.
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he → publish → church
According to the decision published last Friday, Mr Childs 'received sexually explicit images and videos from his colleague' which he 'failed to appropriately discourage or report' to the parish.
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Martyn Childs worked at the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Spyridon for only seven months, before he was dismissed on July 14
When the relationship ended between the two, Mr Childs allegedly 'repeatedly contacted his colleague in an intimidating way', the FWC's decision states.
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decision → work → way
The parish then became aware that an apprehended domestic violence order was taken out against Mr Childs in response to that contact.
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order → become → contact
He also allegedly made 'inappropriate and threatening comments about another senior colleague' the FWC's decision said.
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decision → make → colleague
The parish considered that Mr Childs' conduct was 'inconsistent with the standards expected of a senior employee, particularly regarding workplace health and safety and the trust required in his role'.
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conduct → consider → role
Prior to a final decision being made regarding his dismissal, Mr Childs was given opportunities to respond to the allegations during interviews and a 'show cause meeting'.
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Childs → make → interviews
According to the published decision, Mr Childs did not deny the conduct but asserted that the church's investigation was 'biased' because it was not conducted independently.
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According to the decision published last Friday, Mr Childs 'received sexually explicit images and videos from his colleague' which he 'failed to appropriately discourage or report' to the parish
He also argued that other colleagues within the parish would use threatening behaviour, and that such conduct was not unique to him.
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In considering the application, Deputy President Tony Slevin found there had been a valid reason for dismissal, noting Mr Childs 'concedes that the conduct that led to the dismissal occurred'.
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that → consider → dismissal
Furthermore, Mr Childs' argument about his colleague and former affair partner not having been dismissed, 'carries little weight given her resignation,' Deputy President Slevin found.
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Slevin → dismiss → resignation
Deputy President Slevin also considered that Mr Childs was offered 'procedural fairness' and an adequate opportunity to respond, and found that bias was not evident 'on the face of the documents provided'.
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bias → consider → documents
is this fair and accurate based on the judgement.
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this → base → judgement
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