Facilities & Finance

Toilet Block Upgrades – B, Q & R Block Amenities

As part of our commitment to student safety and wellbeing, The Gap has introduced swipe card access to student amenities in B Block, Q Block, and R Block (Sports Hall) from Week 4, Term 2.

This upgrade reflects feedback from students and families. Students have shared concerns about feeling unsafe in bathrooms or avoiding them altogether due to issues like vaping. These factors impact their sense of belonging and ability to fully engage at school. Parents have echoed these concerns through P&C discussions, urging the school to explore solutions. We have listened and are taking action.

Like many schools, we have experienced ongoing vandalism and misuse of bathroom facilities. While the majority of students use these spaces respectfully, repeated incidents caused by a small number of individuals continue to reduce access and divert resources.

Our School Officers and Cleaners are usually the first responders, handling issues such as wet, scattered toilet paper on surfaces and walls, graffiti removal, replacing toilet paper dispensers (approximately $85 each) and fitting new toilet seats (ranging from $9 to $30 each). These repairs and cleaning tasks are required frequently – often multiple times a week – and consume valuable staff time and school funds that could otherwise support broader operational and learning-focused activities.

When damage exceeds what internal staff can manage – such as smashed cisterns or damaged walls – we are required to engage external contractors. A single cistern replacement, including labour and materials, costs the school about $374, while wall repairs have reached up to $565 per incident. These contractor repairs have been necessary several times this year alone.

In addition, these repairs often require facilities to be temporarily closed, reducing students’ access to essential amenities and disrupting their daily routines.

See below for more.

Swipe card access, already common in new schools, will help us better protect these spaces. Unlike newer schools where this infrastructure is built-in, older schools like ours need to retrofit. We’re proud to be making a start.

We’re incredibly grateful to our P&C Association for fundraising to make this retrofitting possible.

How it works:

Students now use their ID cards to access these toilets. Exiting is straightforward – doors open from the inside just like a regular door. Staff keys remain available for emergencies, and bathrooms in Upper A Block are still accessible for students who forget their cards. Replacement cards can be ordered through Administration for $8.00.

Staff and all-access toilets in the same blocks have also transitioned to swipe access. Doors can be programmed accordingly, and alternative arrangements ensure after-hours events and facility hires are not affected.

The master plan is to roll out this upgrade across the whole school in stages. The initial step is a trial in a few high-traffic, highly vandalised bathrooms to assess the impact before considering further expansion. We thank all students, staff and families for their support during this transition.

Let’s Build a Better School Together!

Exciting developments are underway at The Gap State High School, and you can help shape our future! We’ve launched The Gap State High School Building Fund, a Tax-Deductible gift recipient fund initiative aimed at enhancing our school’s facilities and we invite you to support our vision.

How Your Donation Could Help: Every dollar raised supports projects that we hope will make a meaningful difference for our students. While we’re working hard to make these improvements a reality, please note that the following are proposed ideas:

• Cooler, More Comfortable Spaces: We’re proposing to install new fans in the Sports Hall to help keep our students cool during PE classes, assemblies, and events.

   

• More Usable Sports Areas: We’re considering adding a shade structure and improved lighting to the external basketball courts to enhance their usability in various weather conditions.

   

• A Better Spectator Experience: We’re exploring options to provide additional shade for our bleachers, so parents and students can cheer on our teams in a safer, sun-friendly environment.

   

• Enhanced Student Safety: We’re evaluating the introduction of swipe card access for bathrooms to foster a more secure and accessible space for everyone.

Your Donation = A Direct Impact Every contribution, big or small, goes directly toward these potential improvements, and donations over $2 are tax-deductible!

How to Donate: 

Make a bank transfer to:

Account Name: The Gap State High School DGR

BSB: 064-102

Account Number: 10592587

After donating, please fill out theDonation Form and email it to DGR@thegapshs.qld.edu.auto receive your tax receipt.

Want to learn more? 

Check out all the details on our website: The Gap State High School Building Fund

Let’s make The Gap State High School even better—together!