A Christian Brother convicted twice for sexually assaulting boys was appointed headmaster of a Melbourne Catholic boys school a few years after the religious order became aware of his abuse.

Rex Francis Elmer, who last week pleaded guilty to two charges of indecently assaulting boys at St Vincent’s Boys’ Orphanage in South Melbourne, was removed from St Vincent’s in 1976 after a welfare officer who inspected the orphanage complained that he had “interfered with” boys who lived at the home.

Christian Brother Rex Francis Elmer tried to hide his face after pleading guilty in the County Court in Melbourne on Monday. Credit:Simone Fox Koob

Despite that finding, the Christian Brothers first appointed him principal at St Joseph’s, a Catholic boys’ primary school in Warrnambool - only to remove him in 1981 after more allegations were made regarding his time at St Vincent’s.

The Age can now reveal that the religious order, which also runs St Kevin's College in Toorak, then moved Elmer again in 1982 - this time to run Parade Preparatory College in Alphington. He was appointed as administrator - effectively principal - of the Year 5 to Year 8 campus.