WIMMERA principals have agreed with the finding of a new report that state school leaders are experiencing more stress and threatening behavior.
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The 2016 Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey found that principals have almost double the levels of stress and more than twice the number of sleep issues than the general population.
The study, in which the Australian Catholic University surveyed about 50 per cent of Australia’s 10,000 principals, found that depressive symptoms were about 10 per percentage points higher in principals.
The survey found an increase in the number of principals experiencing violence or threatening behavior, at 44 per cent compared with 38 per cent in 2011.
Horsham Primary School principal Chris Walter said he agreed with the report’s overall findings.
“The findings are consistent with what happens here at our school and talking to colleges around the region as well,” he said.
“I can’t speak for others but the job has changed a bit.”
Stawell Secondary College principal Nick Lynch said he had noticed principal wellbeing and stress was being spoken about more during principal meetings.
“There is more awareness in the workplace, it is okay to speak up and say I have a problem,” he said.
“Teachers also have a big workload and that needs to be addressed as well.”
Mr Walter said he had experienced more threatening behavior in the last few years.
“Some parents can get particularly cranky, and I do understand that they are very protective of their children but the way some parents, not all and it’s only a minority, approach things is pretty extreme,” he said.
“While I have had threatening phone calls, it often is a phone call rather than a one-on-one confrontation, it also needs to be recognised the office staff often get these calls as well.”
Mr Walter said stress and sleep issues were also a known element in the workplace.
“Teaching is one of those professions where you don’t just walk out the door and leave it all behind you,” he said.
Mr Walter said the government had increased support for principals and he considered it a great job.
“We have some rubbish to deal with, but seeing the kids achieve pays you back very well,” he said.