Clifton Springs Primary School unisex toilets have students, parents concerned

The opening of gender neutral toilet blocks at a Bellarine Peninsula primary school has parents concerned for their children’s privacy and safety. TAKE OUR POLL

Clifton Springs Primary school parent John Burke is not happy his daughter Charli, 7, has unisex toilets. He is among hundreds of signatories in a petition to have the blocks changed. Picture: Alison Wynd

New gender neutral toilet blocks at a Geelong primary school have raised concerns for student safety and privacy, parents say.

Clifton Springs Primary students returned from spring school holidays to three new toilet blocks at the newly built school – all unisex.

Instead of separate male and female toilet blocks, the new blocks are mixed and include three female, three male, and two unisex cubicles.

Clifton Springs Primary School is undergoing a massive redevelopment. Picture: Alison Wynd

The new blocks are part of the state government’s universal design policy and have been incorporated into other schools.

But some parents are up in arms about the change, including dad John Burke, whose seven-year-old daughter attends the school.

Mr Burke said when plans for the school’s rebuild were announced in 2021, he was told there would be male and female toilets “as normal”, plus a separate unisex option.

Mr Burke said his young daughter was nervous to use the new bathrooms, after a week of the new facilities being in place.

“It’s very upsetting, and we’re all very angry,” he said.

“We’re fine about the (unisex) toilets – we’re saying they should also have male and female rooms, how it’s always been.

“If you can spend millions on a new school, why can’t you spend a little bit (more) on a separate room for girls, and one for boys?”

Mother Jessica, whose has three daughters at the school, launched a petition on October 7 calling for the school to change the shared toilets to one unisex, one female, and one male block.

The online petition garnered more than 650 signatures within two days.

It’s understood four parents have expressed concerns directly to the school.

Jessica, who withheld her surname, said signatories supported gender neutral bathrooms.

However, she said students and parents had raised privacy and safety concerns.

She said young girls would feel uncomfortable asking for help in unisex facilities if they started their period.

The Clifton Springs Primary unisex toilet blocks include six female, three male, and two unisex cubicles. Picture: Supplied

“Everyone should be able to feel safe,” she said.

“It’s ridiculous that they’ve taken away so much privacy.”

Jessica said religious, trauma, abuse, and puberty concerns had also been raised.

An education department spokesman said the eight new toilets were installed to add to existing bathrooms.

“The overwhelming majority of families at Clifton Spring PS have welcomed the design and installation of the new toilets, which were developed in consultation with school leadership,” he said.

Originally published as Clifton Springs Primary School unisex toilets have students, parents concerned