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Principals\u2019 jobs have always been stressful, involving a constant juggle to meet the needs of students, staff and the community. But research suggests their roles are becoming more difficult and increasingly unsustainable.<\/p>\n
In a\u00a02024 survey<\/a>\u00a0of Australian school leaders from all types of schools, 50% reported they had been subjected to physical violence. The same survey reported physical violence incidents had increased by 81.6% since 2011.<\/p>\n In\u00a0our new report<\/a>\u00a0we investigate violence in Australian schools and the impact on school principals and the emotional demands of their jobs. This is part of a broader\u00a0four year-project<\/a>\u00a0into how to prepare and support principals for their complex roles.<\/p>\n Between July 2023 and October 2024, we asked Australian public school principals to contribute short, anonymous testimonies about a critical incident (a sudden, emotional and often traumatic event) at their schools.<\/p>\n Principals were recruited via principal association newsletters, teacher union newsletters and social media. A key aim was to provide the opportunity for principals to speak about the emotional management aspects of their work in their own words.<\/p>\n We received 298 testimonies (both written and verbal) from 256 principals across primary and high schools.<\/p>\n The testimonies showed violence \u2013 both generally in school communities and specifically directed at principals \u2013 is disturbingly routine. As one principal recounted, \u201cthat\u2019s just another normal day at school for me\u201d. A male teacher in a rural school told us:<\/p>\n I was assaulted [several] times on one day by a [new] student who was violent.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Others described being hit and bitten by students. More than half of respondents in our research (65%) described a critical incident involving physical violence, threats of violence and\/or gendered violence, sexual harassment or sexual abuse towards principals or others within the school.<\/p>\n Principals faced threats from students, parents and community members. Almost a third (29%) described a critical incident involving inappropriate behaviour from a parent.<\/p>\n For example, a female teacher at a rural primary school described how a parent harassed her after their child had been suspended for hitting another child.<\/p>\n A parent verbally abused me, [damaged] my car, took photos of my number plate and posted it on social media.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This level of violence inevitably harms school principals\u2019 mental health and their ability to stay on in their demanding jobs. The principal who had her number plate posted online told us she became extremely frightened and stopped sleeping.<\/p>\n I was anxious about being out in the community, fearing that someone was going to attack me.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Another principal \u201chad a recurring dream that I was shot in the head\u201d after dealing with aggressive parents, who made threats. Principals also described checking when driving they are not being followed by certain parents.<\/p>\nOur research<\/h4>\n
Another normal day\u2019<\/h4>\n
\u2018Do what I say\u2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n