Swan Hill College students demand repairs for disgusting toilet blocks

High school students from Victoria’s north have penned a petition demanding urgent upgrades for their broken, “pungent” smelling and “unhygienic” toilet blocks.

High school students from Victoria’s north have penned a petition demanding urgent upgrades for their broken, “pungent” smelling and “unhygienic” toilet blocks.

High school students from Victoria’s north have penned a petition demanding urgent upgrades for their broken, “pungent” smelling and “unhygienic” toilet blocks.

Swan Hill College school captain Dekota Barber created the petition — which has gained more than 860 signatures — after a school wide survey found majority of students felt uncomfortable using the toilets.

Students said the toilets had a disgusting smell. Picture: Supplied.

“They are unhygienic, outdated and not a welcoming space for those in their private moments,” Ms Barber wrote on the petition.

“All toilets should uphold dignity and privacy and be a space available to use by all, despite gender orientation.

“The current toilets systems leave pungent smells fumigating the air, broken toilets are a common occurrence and unusable dispensers are only the beginning of the atrocious state of these bathrooms.”

Ms Barber warned students would become more anxious to use the bathrooms if they remained in a state of disrepair.

“If things continue to stay the way they are this will only increase the anxiety surrounding using the toilet facilities at school,” she said.

“Everyone deserves the right to relieve themselves, why are Swan Hill College students any exception?”

A wood panel has been used to cover up a hole in the wall of the girls bathroom. Picture: Supplied.

Toilet paper has been thrown on the roof and graffiti has been scrawled on the walls. Picture: Supplied.

Swan Hill College has submitted a capital works funding submission to the state government for upgrades to its facilities.

It also received $370,785 in funding for maintenance projects in 2025, a $101,667 increase from the previous year.

“Our record investment in school infrastructure is delivering for our hard working school communities, while ensuring we continue to be recognised as the nation’s education state,” a state government spokeswoman said.

“We support small building projects, such as refurbishing student toilets, through our Capital Works Fund grants.”

Swan Hill mayor Stuart King dubbed the school toilet block a “sh-t situation”.

“I have offered the school captains support so they can the basics of something that the school needs, and that is a decent set of dunnies,” he said.

Swan Hill College will receive a response for its capital works funding submission by the end of the year.