Union says Umbakumba teachers living in fear, terrorised with knives, machetes

The union representing Territory education staff has called for teachers in a remote NT community to be relocated immediately, with teachers reportedly living in fear from being terrorised by youths with knives, machetes and other weapons.

THE union representing Territory education staff has called for teachers in Umbakumba, Groote Eylandt to be relocated immediately, with teachers reportedly living in fear from being terrorised by youths with knives, machetes and other weapons.

Australian Education Union NT (AEU NT) branch president Jarvis Ryan said increased violence in the community led to about half a dozen teaching staff being victims of break-ins, often during the middle of the night, by intruders wielding machetes and axes.

Mr Ryan said they had damaged school buildings and vehicles, leaving behind large weapons, with some offenders as young as 11-years-old. He said the Department of Education has been requested to remove the teachers to Alyangula.

“The ongoing threat to employee safety in their homes and in their workplace is causing significant psychological harm to the teaching staff working at Umbakumba,” he said.

“They have made it clear to the union and the Department that they are committed to their work and turning up every day and doing the best they can for the students – but they are unwilling to continue to be expected to live in a community where their safety at night cannot be guaranteed and they cannot even be assured of a good night’s sleep.

“Despite Umbakumba notionally having a police station, it is often not staffed and police often do not respond to calls for help after hours as they are close to an hour away and have limited staffing capacity. Police and most other public servants are not accommodated in Umbakumba – they have houses in Alyangula.”

“The union believes the Department is failing in its duties as an employer under the Work Health and Safety Act to provide a safe working environment for its employees. In a remote community such as Umbakumba, this responsibility extends to housing provided by the employer.”

Mr Ryan said Work Health and Safety incident reports had been lodged and the union would now be referring the matter to NT WorkSafe for investigation.

He added the violent behaviour and unrest in the community was not new and that the Department and government’s ‘failure’ to address it had contributed to a revolving door of principals and teaching staff in recent years, with several going on workers’ compensation after being victims of occupational violence.

He said in the most serious case, a female teacher was so seriously injured she may never work again.

“More broadly, what we are seeing in Umbakumba is evidence of a failing strategy by the NT Government. Groote Eylandt is supposed to be the jewel in the crown of Michael

Gunner’s Local Decision Making policy, however two of the three communities on the island are so dysfunctional it is not safe for public servants to live there,” he said.

“This school is churning through multiple principals per year because it is not a safe working environment. And the Department is not listening to its staff and making the necessary changes to address the problems.”

Mr Ryan called on the chief executive and the Education Minister to show leadership and concern for the wellbeing of employees by immediately agreeing to relocate employees until it is deemed safe to live in the community.

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“Many years ago, it was determined that it was not safe for teaching staff to reside in Angurugu and they were relocated to Alyangula. Umbakumba is now in the same category,” he said.

“Failure to act on this matter is an abdication of leadership and the employer’s responsibility to protect the wellbeing of its employees. Government officials may not be able to fix community dysfunction overnight, but they can do far more to look after hardworking teaching staff who are putting themselves in harm’s way to try to provide an education for children.”

An NT Education Department spokeswoman said the safety and wellbeing of staff was of the upmost importance.

“The department is aware of community unrest in Umbakumba with senior department officials visiting the community last week to discuss these issues with all staff at the school,” she said.

“We are working with the community to co-ordinate a meeting with Elders to work together to restore a safe environment in the community. Colleagues from police and Territory Families will be invited to attend this meeting.

“All staff have been offered support through the Employee Assistance Program and to remind them that they department will provide the support they need to feel safe in their workplace and their community.

“Acknowledging the concerns from our teachers about unrest in community, we are urgently working with our colleagues at Territory Families, Housing and Communities to investigate an alternative housing option for staff who may require it.

“The department has also requested an urgent review into the security of staff houses at Umbakumba.

“This morning, a formal request was made to NT Police to increase their presence in the community.

“The union has been advised of the above and the department welcomes further conversations with them in relation to this matter. The department is committed to responding to the issues staff raise and working collaboratively with the union to support all staff.”