Families in Rothwell are deeply concerned as Grace Lutheran College allegedly instructed students to delete deepfake nude images of female pupils, created and shared by a male classmate, potentially hindering a police investigation and leaving victims feeling unsafe.
The disturbing incident came to light after parents lodged police reports starting in May 2024, with more families following suit in July of the same year. The digital images, which falsely depicted female students in explicit poses, were reportedly created by altering “innocent photos” taken from Instagram using artificial intelligence and then distributed on Snapchat.
School’s Response and Alleged Hindrance
According to aggrieved parents and students, when the deepfake images were first brought to the attention of Grace Lutheran College staff over a year ago, the school reportedly advised the girls that it was “a police matter” and that they should report it themselves.
A significant concern raised by parents is the allegation that the school asked students to delete any such images from their phones, which families claim resulted in the destruction of crucial evidence and prolonged the police investigation. One parent stated that the school’s response was “terrible” and that they had “failed in their duty of care.”
College leaders, David Radke and Kate McKenzie, maintained in an email on 11 June that the college became aware of the matter around mid-May 2024 and took “immediate action” in line with its policies. They stated this included “wellbeing checks, offering free counselling appointments, and preparing safety plans for the affected students.”
They also noted that families were encouraged to report the matter to the eSafety Commissioner or Queensland Police. Mr Radke further asserted that the Queensland Police were “simultaneously notified” when the college became aware. However, a parent reported that police informed her in October that the school had not filed a report, and police identified the boy by tracking his IP address.
Victims’ Ongoing Safety Concerns
Despite police charges laid against the male student on April 19 for possessing and distributing child exploitation material under the Youth Justice Act, the boy was not expelled from Grace Lutheran College. This decision has left the victims feeling “unsafe and distracted” while still attending school alongside him.
A student expressed her distress, stating that screenshots of the deepfakes still exist and that she worries the images could “turn up in our future and others will not understand we did not post them ourselves.” The victims felt the school did not believe them and dismissed their concerns as “drama.”
Parental Push for Accountability
Parents have continually pressed the school and its governing body, Lutheran Education Queensland, for stronger disciplinary action, including the boy’s expulsion.
In a 8 June 2025 email to the school, parents directly stated that the school did not report the incident to police and that a staff member “wrongly told students to delete the images which destroyed the evidence.” They emphasised the need for an “immediate response on the next steps” given that over a year had passed since the images were created.
In response to parents’ demands for expulsion, college leaders stated it was “not appropriate for parents to demand disciplinary outcomes.”
They reiterated the college’s cooperation with police but also highlighted that the school has “very limited authority to access a student’s personal device” and requires “evidence that beyond doubt directly links the boy” to the images for further disciplinary action. The police investigation is now understood to be concluded, with no further action taken by authorities against the charged student.
Broader Digital Safety Concerns
This incident at Grace Lutheran College marks the second time a Lutheran Education Queensland school has been embroiled in a nude social media scandal. Another case involved Good Shepherd Lutheran College in Noosaville, where illegal images were reportedly posted on Snapchat, with the school becoming aware in February but police not being notified until May.
The student involved in that incident was also not expelled. These cases highlight the ongoing challenges schools face in navigating digital harm and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students in an evolving online landscape.
Published Date 16-Jun-2025
