Australia’s school principals at breaking point: Urgent action needed to support leadership wellbeing 

 The NSW Secondary Principals’ Council (NSWSPC) has called for urgent action to address alarming levels of stress, workload intensification and occupational violence affecting school leaders, as revealed in the findings of the 2024 Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey. 

The Australian Catholic University’s (ACU) latest national report, which surveys thousands of school leaders across the country, confirms that principal wellbeing is at crisis levels, with unrelenting workloads, mental health challenges, and increasing instances of aggressive parent and community behaviour making the role unsustainable. 

Key findings from the 2024 survey: 

• More than 50% of school leaders are seriously considering leaving the profession. 
• More than 90% work more than 50 hours per week, with nearly all working through school holidays. 
• Violence and security threats remain the most common critical incidents experienced by principals, with more than 43% reporting direct exposure. 
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) scores among school leaders remain significantly higher than the general population. 
• Sheer workload, teacher shortages, and student mental health issues are among the top sources of stress for principals. 

NSWSPC President Denise Lofts said the findings confirm what principals have long warned about – without systemic change, Australia risks losing an entire generation of experienced school leaders. 

“The data is clear—school principals are exhausted, overwhelmed, and at breaking point,” Ms Lofts said. 

“The increasing pressures of leading schools, combined with aggressive behaviour from a minority of parents and growing student mental health concerns, are making the role unsustainable. 

“While we welcome recent policy discussions at a national level, including the Federal Government’s education roundtables and ‘right to disconnect’ legislation, much more needs to be done. Solutions must be implemented now to ensure we retain and support our school leaders.” 

NSWSPC’s Call for Immediate Action: The NSWSPC is calling for urgent action from the NSW Department of Education and the NSW Government, aligned with recommendations of the NSWSPC’s 2024 draft Principal Wellbeing Position Paper: 

1. A whole-of-government approach to reducing occupational violenceImmediate funding for proactive anti-violence strategies, including clear and enforceableconsequences for aggressive parent and carer behaviour.
2. Expansion of professional learning in de-escalation strategies and mental health support for principals.
3. Urgent reforms to workload and policy implementationEstablish a Principal Support Allocation that allows leaders to focus on teaching and learningrather than excessive administration.
4. Develop a realistic approach to policy change management, ensuring new initiatives do not further increase principal workload.
5. Enhanced mental health and wellbeing support for principalsExpansion of dedicated principal wellbeing programs and access to professional supervision.
6. Improved resourcing and staffing for school mental health programs, reducing the burden on school leaders.
7. A long-term commitment to addressing workforce shortagesImmediate investment in teacher recruitment and retention programs to relieve pressure on schoolleadership teams.
8. Development of structured career progression pathways for aspiring principals, ensuring succession planning for the future.

“The message from principals is clear; we need real, targeted action to address the root causes of this crisis—not just more consultation or temporary fixes,” Ms Lofts said. 

The NSWSPC will work with policymakers to implement urgent reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability of the principalship in NSW public schools. 

Media Contact: Denise Lofts President, NSW Secondary Principals’ Council 0438 540 901 president@nswspc.org.au