The aim of this research project is to conduct a longitudinal study monitoring school leaders’ (principals and deputy/assistant principals) health and wellbeing annually.

This report from this longitudinal study of Australian school leaders finds that many are experiencing bullying, intimidation, and high levels of stress.

Not enough is being done to help stressed and overworked school principals cope with the ever-increasing demands of the job. This report reveals little is being done by private school employers, Catholic Education Offices or State and Territory governments to ease the burden school principals are carrying.

The survey has run nationally every year since 2011 in response to growing concern about principals’ occupational health, safety and wellbeing. Since the project began, approximately 50% of Australia’s 10,000 principals have taken part. Many have completed multiple surveys.

The results of this survey, run annually, demonstrate that principals and deputy/assistant principals experience far higher prevalence of offensive behaviour at work each year than the general population, and they collectively score below the general population average for wellbeing.