Mandurah Catholic College Implements Doorbell Cameras to Monitor Student Toilet Access
A private high school in Mandurah has sparked controversy by installing doorbell-style cameras outside toilet blocks to track student visits during lesson times. Mandurah Catholic College requires students to press a button and look into a camera for reception staff to verify teacher permission before entering bathrooms, as part of a broader effort to curb anti-social behavior on campus.
Parental Concerns Over Privacy and Consent
A mother with two children attending the school expressed significant unease about the surveillance measures, describing them as an invasion of privacy. "It's almost like an invasion of privacy for them," she stated. "Because if they're needing to go to the toilet, they need to go. They shouldn't need to face a camera to get permission to go to the toilet." The parent, who wished to remain anonymous, also raised alarms about potential access to the recorded footage, remarking, "They're basically recording our kids going to the toilet."
She further noted that she did not recall receiving prior notification about the camera installations or being asked for consent, highlighting a communication gap. However, PerthNow has learned that the college communicated this change to parents during Term 4 of the previous year.
School's Justification and Policy Implementation
A spokesperson for Catholic Education WA defended the initiative, explaining that Mandurah Catholic College has implemented several policies to reduce anti-social behavior in toilet blocks. These include restricting "unnecessarily large groups" from entering the facilities. The spokesperson clarified, "In Term 4 of 2025 a security measure to monitor anti-social behavior was implemented, however this measure does not involve cameras facing the toilets or storage of footage." They added that the system has led to a "drastic reduction in anti-social behavior."
This approach aligns with practices in many schools that discourage toilet use outside break times to prevent issues like vaping and vandalism, though the use of doorbell cameras and intercoms for monitoring is not common in Western Australian schools.
Expert Insights on Surveillance and Student Wellbeing
Wellbeing expert Catherine Smith, a senior lecturer in wellbeing science at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Education, cautioned against over-reliance on surveillance. She argued that while such measures might be framed as enhancing safety, they can negatively impact students' dignity, privacy, and trust. "When surveillance is used in place of more relational, supportive and educative responses, it could erode trust between students and staff," Dr. Smith explained.
She emphasized the importance of bathrooms in school life, noting, "Bathrooms are not trivial or neutral spaces in school life. They are tied to bodily privacy, menstruation, disability access and dignity. For some students, they are also spaces of fear or vulnerability, including around gender and safety. Some young people feel safer going during class when the space is quieter and more manageable."
The debate continues as schools balance security needs with ethical considerations, prompting discussions on how best to address behavioral issues without compromising student rights and wellbeing.
