Taxpayers fork out more than $800,000 for security guards sent into South Australian schools

It cost upwards of $800,000 – that’s $20,000 a week – for security guards to patrol SA public schools during school hours last year, new data shows.

Taxpayers forked out upwards of $800,000 for security guards to patrol South Australian public schools during school hours last year, new data shows.

The figure has prompted questions about the effectiveness of behaviour support policies – but the Education Minister says implementation of security has been a successful tool for many schools.

Information released to One Nation MLC Sarah Game under Freedom of Information shows a total $815,206 was spent on security patrols in 2022 – but the names of the billed schools were redacted.

Of the total, $428,163 was paid to SA Police and $387,043 to private security firms.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game.

Ms Game said the frequency of violent schoolyard incidents captured on video was alarming.

“So serious are these events that security guards are being deployed into South Australian schools experiencing an epidemic of bullying and violence,” she said.

“As parents remove their children from schools for their protection, the Education Department continues to bury its head in the sand assuring parents and the community that its behaviour support policy and bullying prevention strategy are adequate, and evidence-based.”

Ms Game in August asked questions in parliament about the Education Department’s policy, including what evidence is it based upon and whether it has impacted the rate of assaults.

But she said she has not yet received responses.

The government did not provide The Advertiser with a figure for how much money has been spent on security guards in schools since Labor took government, or a comparison with figures from previous years.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said it was clear to him while Labor was in opposition that the number of incidents in schools was rising.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said schools are getting the resources they need to get on top of violent incidents. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Morgan Sette

“All jurisdictions across Australia are experiencing this issue – and we’re not wasting a moment in addressing it,” he said.

“I have always said that I will ensure schools get the resources they need to get on top of incidents – and the additional investments we have made is clear evidence of that.”

Education Department chief executive Professor Martin Westwell said the Behaviour Support policy endorses a “positive behaviour support approach”, which he said is widely accepted as best practice in behavioural science.

“We are tackling this head on though there is no one solution to this issue,” he said.

“There is no burying our heads in the sand – we are tackling this issue head on and hosting violence prevention roundtables, bullying prevention programs and additional resources and support for both students and staff.”

South Australian Secondary Principals’ Association chief executive Jayne Heath disagreed there is an epidemic of violence and bullying in schools.

Following a spike in violent and anti-social incidents in 2022, the state government earlier this year unveiled new plans to stamp out rising anti-social behaviour.

At the time, the government said a $14.2m wellbeing boost would be spent based on needs of “most disadvantaged and complex schools”.