The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-30 · by Daniel Lo Surdo
Principal Anna Girginis of Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus wrote to parents addressing recent charges against former teacher Deandra Kontou for child sex offenses involving a Newington student. Kontou had been employed at Georges River College since her dismissal from Newington College in November 2019, while police investigated the alleged rape. Principal Girginis urged students and families concerned about the matter to seek counseling or contact professional hotlines for support. The article does not specify whether the school was aware of Kontou’s ongoing investigation during her employment there.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Anna Girginis, principal of Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus in southern Sydney, addressed parents on Wednesday following the recent charges against former teacher Deandra Kontou. Kontou was charged with nine child sex offences involving a student from Newington, including grooming and sexual assault, after her abrupt dismissal from the prestigious school in 2019 due to alleged abuse. Despite ongoing investigations, Kontou continued teaching at Georges River College until she left two years later; however, police confirmed she is not accused of criminal activity during this period. The 32-year-old remains on payroll but has been placed on "alternative duties" as per her bail conditions, which ban direct contact with children under 16. Girginis encouraged students to seek counseling and professional support in light of the ongoing legal proceedings against Kontou, who appeared before Sutherland Local Court last week where she was granted bail.
Written for “Teacher Charges Rape Investigation” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The principal of the southern Sydney school where Deandra Kontou worked until she was charged over the alleged rape of a Newington student last week is encouraging students to seek counselling and contact professional hotlines while their former teacher confronts a string of child abuse offences.
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teacher → work → offences
Kontou, charged with nine offences against the Newington student, had for the past two years worked at Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus as police investigated the alleged attack that triggered her abrupt dismissal from the prestigious Sydney private school in 2019.
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that → charge → 2019
32-year-old remains on the payroll of the Education Department and has been placed on “alternative duties” while banned from teaching children under her bail conditions.
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old → remain → conditions
Police said the Newington student was under 16 at the time of the alleged abuse, and have brought charges of grooming, sexual assault and sexual touching against Kontou.
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student → say → Kontou
She is not accused of criminal wrongdoing while at the Oatley school.
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She → accuse → school
Georges River College Senior Campus Principal Anna Girginis wrote to parents on Wednesday, a week after Kontou was granted bail in Sutherland Local Court, to share information about a “matter of concern for our school community”.
“As you may be aware, a college staff member was recently charged with child sex offences,” Girginis wrote.
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Girginis → write → offences
If you are concerned regarding the impact of this matter and wish for your child to access counselling, please contact the college to arrange this when classes resume.”
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classes → regard → this
The Oatley school community has been in shock since the charges against Kontou were reported by media on Monday.
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charges → report → Monday
One parent, whose daughter was taught society and culture by Kontou, petitioned Girginis for answers about Kontou’s employment on Tuesday, telling the principal she was “deeply concerned” the Sutherland woman was allowed direct contact with students while she was being investigated for child abuse offences.
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she → teach → offences
“I believe parents are entitled to understand how student welfare and safety have been protected in this situation,” the parent wrote to the principal.
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parent → believe → principal
Girginis didn’t address in the letter whether the school was aware of the police investigation when Kontou was hired or during the course of her employment.
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Kontou → address → employment
Kontou was removed from the school as detectives prepared the charges against her, and the NSW Education Standards Authority has revoked her accreditation.
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Authority → remove → accreditation
Kontou was dismissed from Newington in November 2019, shortly after allegations against her were conveyed to college staff.
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allegations → dismiss → staff
She also led a year 7 mentorship group while at the Stanmore college, where she went by her maiden name Haralambidis.
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she → lead → name
Kontou was granted conditional bail in Sutherland Local Court last Wednesday to return to her home in Sydney’s southern suburbs.
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Kontou → grant → suburbs
She is banned from entering schools or undertaking teaching jobs that require contact with children, contacting the alleged victim and any prosecuting witnesses, or being in the company of a child without another adult present.
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that → ban → adult
Kontou is required to report to Sutherland Police Station weekly, surrender her passport and not enter an international point of departure from Australia.
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Kontou → require → Australia
She will next appear at Burwood Local Court on November 25.
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She → appear → November
The school, founded in 1863, started accepting girls into its classrooms this year following a highly contentious decision that led to courtroom showdowns and a broader culture war over the merits of all-boy schools and toxic masculinity.
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that → found → schools
Be the first to know when major news happens.
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news → know → ?
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