Parliamentary Inquiry Reveals Bed-Sharing and Naked Principal Incidents at Sydney School
A state parliamentary inquiry heard that students at Redeemer Baptist School were required to share beds with teachers and that the principal was seen walking naked past a child's bedroom during a homestay.
During the third day of a state parliamentary inquiry into Redeemer Baptist School and its church, former students described disturbing practices at the institution. Emma Hughes said that in 1998, overcrowded cabins forced students to share beds with teachers, a situation she called inappropriate and unsafe, though she reported no abuse. Edward Garth, who was 12 at the time, told investigators that principal Jonathan Cannon walked out of a bathroom naked and passed his bedroom during a homestay, leaving the boy shocked.
Hughes also recalled intense, isolated Bible study camps where children were cut off from parents and subjected to emotionally harsh treatment, including a boy being forced to recount his brother's death on a microphone. The school’s leadership, including Jonathan Cannon and elder Russell Bailey, refused to appear before the committee. The inquiry has previously heard allegations of dog-collar wear, corporal punishment and financial misconduct at the school.
Why it matters
The testimony highlights potential abuse and unsafe conditions in a private school, prompting scrutiny of its governance and child-protection practices.
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