Member for Roe Peter Rundle stands with the community of Munglinup who continue to seek government regional officer housing (GROH) for teachers for their school.
In 2018 land was allocated by the Shire of Ravensthorpe specifically for teacher accommodation. The Department of Education provided approval for a purpose-built residence to support teaching staff.
Mr Rundle said, “The Munglinup community received multiple assurances from the Department that the project would proceed, and significant preparatory work was undertaken. However, after prolonged delays, the decision was made to redeploy the house and Munglinup was deemed not a high priority. This outcome was deeply disappointing for the Munglinup school and wider community.”
Mr Rundle said, “The lack of housing for teachers is known to create flow on effects in the community and is creating a high turnover of teachers at the school.
Teacher turnover is unsettling for students and parents leading to poorer educational outcomes. A kindy student having three teachers in the first semester does not set them up for educational success. No parent, urban or rural, would find that scenario acceptable.”
Mr Rundle added, “Attracting and retaining teachers at Munglinup depends on having suitable accommodation in the town. Teacher recruitment repeatedly stalls at the first hurdle; accommodation.
Minister Carey’s office states GROH housing is available, but that accommodation is a distance away in Jerdacuttup (38km), Cascades (44km), Esperance (110Km) and staff are forced to travel unacceptable distances to get to and from work.”
“Potential employees for businesses in the area are seeking a stable education for their children and will choose to go elsewhere if they feel this is not offered in the town”, Mr Rundle said.
Mr Rundle has raised these concerns with the Government many times in Parliament including a grievance in 2023 to the Minister for Housing who did not respond with anything practical for the community.
Mr Rundle also took aim at the Minister for Education saying, “The Minister ignores the warnings and continues to accept that some teaching positions have an element of danger and that it is okay.”
Mr Rundle said, “It is not okay. To provide this level of education, teachers need to be assured their safety and welfare are a top priority when they apply for these positions.
Teachers are driving long distances to work with the added worry of large agricultural machinery on the roads and driving into the sun both ways, never mind the expense.”
Mr Rundle is urging the Ministers to reconsider, “The Shire of Ravensthorpe has offered the land. The community were promised the housing, but that decision was revoked.
Every effort should be made to give current students and those who attend in the future an education with teacher stability, equitable to any other student in the state. It should not be a privilege, and it should not come with conditions.”
Mr Rundle said, “Geographically, it is essential that the Munglinup Primary School remains open. In an isolated area, the access to education should not be a question of logistics.”
I ask the Ministers responsible – again – to provide a workable solution to this teaching housing issue to assure the Munglinup community they are not forgotten.”
