Department of Education confirms unisex toilets installed at Brisbane State High School

Allegations of students urinating on toilet seats and sanitary bins have emerged after it was confirmed that a prestigious Brisbane high school has gender-neutral toilets on campus. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Gender-neutral toilets have been installed at Brisbane State High School. Picture: David Clark

• Unisex toilets: War we can’t get right

A prestigious Queensland high school has converted a female-only toilet block to unisex with accusations of male students intimidating female classmates, urinating on toilet seats and sanitary bins after the change was introduced just three days ago.

The Department of Education has confirmed that Brisbane State High School has changed some toilets to unisex at the school.

It is necessary under Department of Education and Queensland Human Rights Commission requirements for schools to have a proportionate mix of gender specific as well as unisex toilets, but the department could not confirm how many schools across the state had them.

Brisbane State High School. Picture: David Clark

The Courier Mail has obtained a notice sent out to students on the school’s intranet advising of the conversion of the P Block toilets in the Merivale St campus to unisex over the school holidays, with the unisex toilets operational from Monday of this week.

“Over the school holidays, the P Block toilets were converted to Unisex Toilets for all students to utilise,” the notice read.

“You will notice that the sanitary bins have been placed in every second cubicle and signs have been added to appropriate doors to indicate this.

“This is now a shared space and should be treated with respect by all students using the facility.”

The notice that was uploaded on the Brisbane State High School intranet advising of the opening of the unisex toilets. Picture: Supplied

The notice comes amid reports emerging of boys intimidating girls, as well as urinating on the toilet seats and sanitary bins in the unisex toilets block.

The Courier Mail has been told by a concerned parent of three girls at the school that the toilets had become unusable for female students, even if they were brave enough to go to a cubicle with groups of boys loitering outside.

“You have boys using those cubicles that were originally for girls pissing everywhere, including on the sanitary bins in those limited stalls that now have them,” the parent said.

“The school is already under pressure for these sorts of amenities, it has no suitable facilities for change rooms for girls in the school, which is one of Queensland’s premier sporting schools and yet the girls have to get changed in toilet blocks before and after school for PT and now you have this situation arising.

“It’s creating a very negative experience for the girls of the school.”

The Department of Education has acknowledged a “behaviour incident” at Brisbane State High School related to the unisex toilets. Picture: David Clark

The parent went on to criticise the lack of consultation over the installation of the unisex toilets.

“The only communication and or consultation was an obscure note on the student intranet on Monday morning, it was news to everyone,” the parent said.

“Critically, the issue isn’t so much about the need to cater for diversity, diverse students and diverse recognition, but with the way it was consulted, the lack of comms and lead in to a pretty significant change for young girls.”

A map of the Brisbane State High School campuses. Picture: David Clark

Another parent at the school supported the move.

“I think it’s a good idea as it provides neutral facilities for those students that are non-binary,” the parent said.

“It’s only one set of toilets so all other toilets are still gender separated.”

They went onto say that they were “not surprised” over the lack of consultation regarding the unisex toilets.

“I’m not surprised they didn’t tell us beforehand, it would have given the naysayers too much opportunity to kick up a fuss and if it’s a directive from EQ then they had to do it.”

In a statement, a Department of Education spokesperson confirmed that unisex toilets are located on site at the school and acknowledged a “behaviour incident”.

“Brisbane State High School has confirmed this is now the situation at the school,” the spokesperson said.

“The introduction this term of a dedicated unisex toilet facility is available to anyone who wishes to use it.

“The school continues to provide separate girls and boys toileting facilities on both campuses.

“The school is aware of a recent behaviour incident which occurred near, not inside, a school toilet facility and this has been managed appropriately in line with the school’s student code of conduct.

“Allegations that male students were intimidating girls or urinating on the toilet seats and sanitary bins in this toilet facility are unfounded.

“The school takes all parent complaints seriously and deals with them as they arise.”