Australia’s Teachers and School Leaders are Fighting Back Stress & Burnout

Principals, school leaders, and teachers have to endure a lot. They have a tremendous workload, regularly do overtime, and face an ever-changing work environment. While trying to be a mediator, educator, teacher, and caregiver for students, parents, and colleagues all at once, it is easy to forget their own well-being. Thus, it comes as no surprise that they are struggling with high burnout rates and chronic stress. Read more about the pressure this profession is facing and find out what strategies can be implemented to escape the stress tunnel.

Mental Health Crisis in School Leadership in 2020

The Australian Principal Occupational, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey drew nationwide attention to the tough working conditions of the education sector. Back then, 2,590 school leaders across all states and territories have been surveyed on the Australian education system. More than 40 % of them reported being exposed to threats of violence or being a victim of physical violence, 97 % of them were working overtime (70 % more than 56h/w), 84% of Australian teachers have thought about leaving the profession in the past year, and 30 % have been considered at risk of self-harm, occupational health problems or serious impacts to their quality of life.

“I feel like I am drowning, I can never get ahead of the job.”

Anonymous educator, 4 years into the teaching job

What is Causing School Staff’s Distress?

Tremendous Workload: Staff put in excessive hours to work on extra-curriculum programs and get everything done which not only kills engagement in the long run but also results in high levels of burnout and stress.

Overcomplicated Administration: School staff’s workload volume is at its highest, partly because of administrative work that does not even have student learning at its core.

Constant Change: New technologies, teaching models, and the rising impact of AI shift children’s behaviour, parent’s expectations, and teacher’s workstyle.

Deeper into the stress tunnel

Normally when we experience stress, a triggering event pushes us into a metaphorical tunnel where our body initiates a stress response (adrenaline is released, digestion shuts down, heart rate increases). When the triggering event has gone away, we exit the stress tunnel and return to a state of homeostasis where we feel safe. However, in the hectic of everyday life teachers and school leaders often don’t find the time to process and find their way out of the stress tunnel.

How can teachers and principals bounce back from burnout?

According to the Educator (https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/how-teachers-and-principals-can-bounce-back-from-burnout/279908), it comes down to these key measurements when teachers and school leaders are facing burnouts or stress at work.

Delegate where possible
Work in 50-minute chunks
Be present
Make lists of things you can and cannot control
Draw a line
Do something fun and different
Insert a third space at the end of the day

The light at the end of the stress tunnel

One of the common sources of stress was the perception of teachers within the community and the lack of awareness of society towards their challenges at work. The survey of 2020 as well as the subsequent programs resulting from this have, however, successfully tackled this issue. School leaders’ sleep problems, health risks, and stress levels are already decreasing, while their work-life-balance, wellbeing, and levels of resilience are now increasing again, but we still need to make an effort to support, appreciate, and value school staff at all levels.

REMEMBER: When you are thinking, ‘I shouldn’t be getting stressed’ shift your attention to ‘Ok I am stressed, so I must implement some measures to help me reach the end of the stress tunnel.’

The Educator. (2023, June 16). New report reveals some good news for principal health and wellbeing. https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/new-report-reveals-some-good-news-for-principal-health-and-wellbeing/280804

The Educator. (2022, December 7). Federal taskforce needed to tackle mental health crisis in school leadership — Major report. https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/breaking-news/federal-taskforce-needed-to-tackle-mental-health-crisis-in-school-leadership--major-report/275867

The Educator. (2023, April 21). Australian principals at breaking point, national study warns. https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/australian-principals-at-breaking-point-national-study-warns/279813

The Educator. (2023, April 28). How teachers and principals can bounce back from burnout. https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/how-teachers-and-principals-can-bounce-back-from-burnout/279908