Media Articles

2026

More than half of Australia’s school principals intend to quit – report

Bullied, slut-shamed, overworked: why Australia could lose an ‘entire generation’ of school principals

Physical violence, bullying from parents: why half of school principals want to quit

‘It is a seriously difficult role and only getting harder’: school principals speak about stress, violence, and abuse in their jobs

Job satisfaction key to principal wellbeing and retention – report

‘Principals are at breaking point’: ASPA calls for urgent action following findings in ACU wellbeing survey

School principals report rising violence, threats and abuse from students and parents alike

ACU principals survey reports worsening levels of anxiety, depression

2025

Study reveals alarming spike in critical incidents at Australia’s schools | The Educator K/12

AUDIO: Graeme Goodings speaks with Assoc Prof Theresa Dicke from Australian Catholic University on serious school incidents taking toll on principals.

Principals report increase in critical incidents at schools including assaults and violent threats

2024

2023 Survey Online Media Articles

School principals faced with machetes, spears and knives as report reveals soaring classroom violence

One in two principals plan to quit, survey finds

Despite escalating violence and mental health pressures, principals remain resilient: ACU survey

Australia is sleepwalking into a crippling exodus of school principals

Principals Near Breaking Point Due to Heavy Workloads

Another year, another damning report on principal health and wellbeing: What is to be done?

Australia: Violence Escalates And Mental Health Suffers But Principals Remain Resilient, ACU Report

2023 Survey Print Media Articles

‘I have been ground down’: about 50% of Australian principals and other school leaders are thinking of quitting

2023 Survey Broadcast Media

2022 Survey

Number of principals planning to quit or retire triples since 2019 – report

‘Breaking point’: Principal’s wellbeing at an all-time low

Half of school principals ‘at risk’ of serious mental health issues

Australian School Principals' Health, Wellbeing at Risk: ACU Study

School principals reveal real reason they’re quitting

Canberra school principals experience highest rate of violence and abuse in Australia, survey finds

School principals are reaching crisis point, pushed to the edge by mounting workloads, teacher shortages and abuse

School principals are reaching crisis point, pushed to the edge by mounting workloads, teacher shortages and abuse

2021 Survey

Surprising job where HALF of high-powered professionals are threatened with violence - and why it's only going to get worse

How teachers and principals can bounce back from burnout

‘The straw that broke the camel’s back’: School principals opt for retirement as burnout bites

AUDIO: New survey finds high record of principals experiencing burnout

School principals facing record levels of stress and burnout: survey

Infographic: Principal health and wellbeing

2020 Survey

Aggressive, violent parents to be banned from schools in Victoria

Australian school principals at risk from violence, burnout, stress and self-harm, wellbeing survey finds

School principals suffered immense stress and heavy workload in 2020

Australian Principal Occupational, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey 2020

A snapshot of school leaders’ health and wellbeing in a ‘horror’ year

Global pandemic heaps more stress on stretched principals

School principals subjected to violence

How is principal health and wellbeing tracking in 2021?

2019 Survey

Queensland high school principals stressed and depressed, academic survey finds

How parents are making principals’ lives hell

Principal health and wellbeing report 2019 released

Australian school principals under strain, over 40% assaulted in 2019

Queensland's school principals the most burnt out in the nation

'No relenting' on violence towards principals at NSW schools

Riley Report finds half of Tasmania principals have been threatened by parents

40% of Australian principals are victims of physical violence