More than half of Australian principals have reported considering leaving the profession due to deteriorating mental health, an increase in threats, and experience of physical violence.
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) has conducted an annual study since 2011 and surveyed teachers and senior staff on their basic psychological needs. The latest survey found that 53.2 per cent of Australian school principals have considered quitting their roles, a figure that rises to 63.7 per cent among principals in New South Wales, exceeding the national average.
Findings from the 2024 Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Survey reveal the demanding pressure school leaders face, as 54 per cent are experiencing threats and 50 per cent are experiencing physical violence. The physiological effect is becoming apparent with anxiety and depression rates remaining high in NSW.
Additionally, the current reported working hours of senior staff are between 60 and 70 hours per week, while the average principal works around 56 hours. This is ultimately contributing to the mental health decline amongst principals and the incline to leave their positions.
For UOW education students preparing to enter these environments, this new data is raising concerns about the sustainability of the career, the support needed and whether the system they are about to step into is already in amidst the chaos. UOW teaching student Emily Black has expressed her doubts about entering this system when she graduates.
“I do think some of the subjects don’t prepare you for the [job] as well as they should, but you do also learn a lot more when you’re in the classroom and in the environment,” she said.
“There’s always going to be people wanting to leave teaching, it’s just like any other job.
“I think there is a possibility that teaching might not be a sustainable career, as you can see these challenges in the statistics, it is possible but there is a chance that it will all workout.”
