The ABC has obtained a letter signed by all teachers at Tennant Creek High School in the Northern Territory, stating every single one of them feels unsafe at work.
The letter reflects a school at breaking point, describing an increase in violence towards teachers, low attendance rates, and crippling staffing shortages.
In the letter, teachers at the remote school, which sits about 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs, said they needed urgent help to go on teaching.
One teacher, who provided a statement to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, said the school was traumatising for students and staff.
They are one of the 17 teachers at the school who last month penned the letter to the Northern Territory Education Department.
The letter begins with the following statements:
This union sub-branch notes that conditions at the Tennant Creek High School have deteriorated to a point whereby staff are no longer able to maintain a safe learning environment.
Following a meeting of the union sub-branch, 100 per cent of Tennant Creek High School teaching staff have agreed unanimously with the following statements:
I feel unsafe at work.
I am not able to provide a safe learning environment for students (provide duty of care).
It is a challenge to carry on.
The letter goes on to describe "an escalation in critical incidents involving student violence", as well as staff shortages and extremely low morale within the teaching staff.
Another teacher, who also spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, said police have been regularly attending the school to break up violence or attend to break-ins.
They said teachers often end up in danger when violence breaks out at the school, and that teachers are being assaulted in efforts to de-escalate student violence.
They also said students are being hospitalised as a result of violence on the school site, and that sometimes staff are having to put themselves at risk of injury to protect students.
Calls for cultural advisors in class
Community leaders in Tennant Creek say more needs to be done to ensure the school's many Indigenous students are properly supported in class.
Patricia Frank, whose grandchildren will attend the school in upcoming years, said she wants to see full-time cultural advisers in class to reduce disruptive behaviour.
"I'm a traditional owner of Tennant Creek through my grandmother's side, my father's mother," she said.
"I feel that Tennant Creek High School should have a cultural adviser, a female and the male to work with young [people], so they can learn both ways."
Education Department to conduct school review
Northern Territory Education Department deputy chief executive Saeed Amin said he welcomed the feedback from teachers and the community.
"We continue to work with local Aboriginal groups in that space," he said.
Mr Amin said the school environment described in the letter was something the department took "extremely seriously".
"When concerns are expressed, we respond and we have done that in this case," he said.
Since receiving the letter, the Education Department said it had twice met with school staff.
Following the meetings, the department said it would undertake a whole-school review, increase staff training, and investigate the use of CCTV on the school site.
Australian Education Union NT branch president Michelle Ayres said the situation was "heartbreaking".
"The teachers … they're quite a young staff and they're very passionate," she said.
"They're there because they want to see great outcomes for these children.
"It's a little bit heartbreaking to hear that they're under so much strain."
'We need to do a better job'
Ms Ayers said a teacher shortage across the Northern Territory is leaving many schools understaffed.
She called on the Northern Territory government to reverse its four-year public service wages pay freeze, which includes the wages of public school teachers.
"I'm having conversations with teachers every day from across the Northern Territory who are burned out and tired and looking at wage offers and wage increases across Australia going, 'Why shouldn't I take a job in Melbourne?'" she said.
One of the teachers who spoke on the condition of anonymity, however, said the current problems were not about money.
"It's about having a safe place to work … for students and teachers," they said.
"I care deeply for my students, but I constantly feel like I am letting them down.
"We need to do a better job."
