State School Teachers’ Union WA president Matt Jarman said there was a “long-standing issue with security” in some of the state-owned regional housing, organised through the Government Regional Officer Housing program (GROH).
“A system where some newly arrived teachers get given wheel clamps at their induction because their homes don’t have secure garages is a dysfunctional one,” Jarman said.
“Having to back your car up to your door because the security screen hasn’t been fixed is unacceptable.
“Insufficient security measures during construction and subsequent failures to maintain properties and make urgent repairs is unacceptable.
“We need to address these issues across the GROH system.”
The Department of Education said it was aware of only one instance of a home burglary of a teacher in Kununurra and one involving “another staff member”.
“Every staff member has the right to feel safe at work and in their home environments, and it is distressing when these incidents occur,” a spokeswoman said.
“The department has not been made aware of any other instances of this nature involving staff members in the Kimberley.
“There has been one reported incident in the Pilbara.”
A spokesman for Catholic Education WA said they had not been made aware of any specific issues impacting staff in teacher housing.
This masthead is aware of at least three teachers who have been burgled recently, including twice at one property.
The department said it tried to support teachers who didn’t feel safe going home.
“In any circumstance where a tenant is seeking other accommodation, we will work to make alternate accommodation arrangements for staff to ensure they are supported,” the spokeswoman said.
“In the first instance, we encourage staff to report a crime directly to WA Police.”
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Youth crime was again thrown into the spotlight last week when a Kununurra local took footage of a group of children chasing police in a stolen car through a residential area of the town.
It’s the latest high-profile incident in the Kimberley’s fight against youth crime, which has been ongoing since at least 2021.
Crime often increases in the wet season up north, with children less likely to go home at night due to hot temperatures.
The government is yet to mandate air-conditioning in state-owned housing.
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