Geraldton’s GROH housing shortage leaves teachers out in the cold

Some Mid West teachers have been forced to live in hotels and other temporary accommodation because of a shortage of government-owned housing. Under the Government Regional Officers’ Housing program, the Department of Communities provides properties to other government agencies and departments, which are sub-leased to eligible employees. The program acknowledges the challenges teachers face moving to the country and how finding a suitable house is an important part of keeping them in the regions. State School Teachers Union WA senior vice-president Matt Jarman said the State Government had reduced the supply of government housing across the State. “Geraldton and surrounds have experienced teachers living in hotels and other temporary accommodation,” he said. According to one social media post, a teacher at Geraldton Senior High School is currently living in an Airbnb while they wait for permanent accommodation. “The attraction and retention of public sector workers in regional areas including teachers does not seem to be a high priority for the Government given the state of GROH,” Mr Jarman said. “GROH was initially designed to attract and retain quality teachers to the regions by supplying good quality housing, however, both supply and maintenance have not been maintained and the Government has so far not allocated the funding the scheme needs to improve.” A spokesperson for the Department of Communities said “the department manages 570 GROH properties in the Mid West Gascoyne region, 217 of which are currently allocated to the Department of Education”. Out of the 171 GROH properties in Geraldton as of March 1, 52 are allocated to the Department of Education. “The State Government has committed $200 million to expand and improve the State’s GROH stock across regional WA over the coming four years,” the department spokesperson said. “There are currently 17 new GROH properties under construction across the State with planning under way for a further 35 properties.” The SSTUWA believes more has to be done to address the issue. “The Country Housing Authority existed from the 1960s to 2008 with the purpose to attract and retain teachers and support other essential public sector staff. It was consumed by the Department of Communities,” Mr Jarman said. SSTUWA is calling for the CHA to be revived, with an independent board, so that the needs of teachers and other essential staff can be met to best support regional communities such as Geraldton.