The number of violent incidents in West Australian schools has remained high this year, with new figures revealing more than 1000 reports were made to the Department of Education in the first term alone.
Figures obtained by WAtoday via Freedom of Information laws also revealed that in terms 3 and 4 last year, there were just over 1400 reports of violent incidents combined, meaning that figure is on track to increase by nearly 45 per cent over the same time frame this year.
It was also revealed that 3877 students were suspended for physical aggression in term 1, 2025, and 41 students were permanently or temporarily excluded over incidents involving violent behaviour.
In comparison, those figures were 5775 and 70, respectively, for terms 3 and 4 combined last year – indicating an increase this year is already on the horizon.
Those at the coalface are also increasingly claiming workers’ compensation over the rising incidents.
In term 1, 43 teachers, six principals and 63 education assistants put in claims for compensation as a result of violent incidents.
This is a particular increase for teachers – with just 27 claims made by teachers in term 3, 2024, and 24 claims made in term 4.
Education Minister Sabine Winton said it was difficult to compare term 1 figures with those at the end of the school year due to factors like exams which meant fewer students were at school, but acknowledged violence in schools was a problem.
“Violence is an issue in our schools that, the three months that I’ve spent in the portfolio, it has come up as one of the main issues that people want to talk to me about,” she said.
“Violence and disruptive behaviour, and how it manifests in schools, is one of the key things that I’m very, very focused on.”
Winton said the issue was complex, with factors outside school grounds having an influence, including social media.
But she also said parents could play their part, whether it was on a sports field, at home or interacting with teachers.
“Parents are fronting up to school and being aggressive and violent in much larger numbers than I experienced when I was a teacher many years ago,” Winton said.
“We’re operating in a really different environment than we were before.”
Winton said she was keen to gain more insight from key stakeholders.
“Quite often the media or the public wants to talk about violence in schools and excluding kids and suspending kids, which I think is absolutely critically important – there’s zero tolerance – but we also need to actually address the underlying reasons why kids are behaving in certain ways, and they’re usually complex reasons,” she said.
“Disruptive behaviour which leads to violence is one of the key things of concern to teachers and principals in schools, and so next term I want to convene a roundtable of the key stakeholders to see what more schools need to support them.
“I don’t think people will be coming up with new ideas. I think it will be highlighting success stories in schools and making sure we provide support.”
Opposition education spokesman Liam Staltari had some stronger words about the new figures.
“Violence in WA schools has surged to record levels – it’s clear from these figures that the government’s current approach to safety in schools is failing and more needs to be done,” he said.
“Our teachers do amazing work and every teacher deserves to feel safe, but rising workers’ compensation claims and direct feedback that I receive all tell the same alarming story.”
Staltari said the longer the government delayed effective action on school violence, “the worse this situation will become”.
“There must be strong consequences for violent behaviour that principals, teachers and parents can have confidence in,” he said.
“The government must invest more in diversionary programs to support at-risk students and to ensure WA schools are a safe place to work and learn.”
Staltari said separate data he had received in parliament showed that in term 1, 374 public primary school teachers and 285 secondary school teachers resigned.
Of those, 113 and 56, respectively, were re-employed.
He said in comparison, for all of 2024, 672 primary teachers and 547 secondary teachers resigned, indicating another “concerning spike”.
“WA public school teacher resignations have doubled in the past five years and State School Teachers’ Union WA survey data shows that 83 per cent of surveyed teachers have considered quitting in the last four years,” Staltari said.
“Stress, burnout and rising violence are taking a significant toll. Clearly, the threat or reality of violence and extreme bad behaviour in schools is another pressure for teachers under strain.”
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