More than half of Australian public school principals have experienced physical violence, verbal abuse, gendered violence or sexual harassment at work, according to confronting new national research released today.
The study, led by Monash University in collaboration with Deakin University and the University of Sydney, draws on 298 critical incident testimonies from 256 principals nationwide and reveals what researchers describe as a growing and normalised culture of violence directed at school leaders.
Released as report three of the Invisible labour: Principals’ emotional labour in volatile times project, the research examines the emotional and physical toll of escalating violence on principals’ health and wellbeing, with female principals facing disproportionate levels of harassment and gendered violence.
More than 64 per cent of respondents described a critical incident involving physical violence, threats of violence, gendered violence, sexual harassment or sexual abuse. Principals commonly used words such as “fear”, “scared”, “vulnerable” and “frightened” to describe their experiences.
Almost nine per cent of principals reported inappropriate behaviour from parents, including stalking, harassment, aggression, physical fights, repeated or threatening emails and social media bullying campaigns.
Lead researcher Professor Jane Wilkinson said decades of underfunding in public education had left principals exposed and unsupported while working with the most disadvantaged students and communities.
“Decades of underfunding of our government schools means that public-school principals are the proverbial canaries in the coalmine,” Professor Wilkinson said. “Public school principals are expected to educate our most disadvantaged students without adequate funding, frontline services, or support.”
“Violence in schools is neither inevitable nor acceptable. But principals and highly disadvantaged communities are being forced to endure the emotional and physical brunt of this underfunding that is a key factor in escalating aggression and violence.”
The report notes Australia ranks in the bottom third of the OECD for equity in schools and argues that government schools are being held solely responsible for addressing complex social disadvantage without adequate resources or system-level support. Researchers say this is a major contributor to escalating violence.
Principals told researchers they increasingly feel unsupported by education departments during crises, with bureaucratic delays leaving them exposed to harm. Many reported relying on peer networks, mentoring and informal support to cope with the emotional load of the role.
President of the New South Wales Secondary Principals’ Council and Ulladulla High School principal Ms Denise Lofts said principals were absorbing the emotional fallout while maintaining professionalism, often at great personal cost.
“The emotional and physical violence experienced by principals stems from students, parents, staff, and community members. It is increasingly seen as normalised and as some principals describe; ‘just part of the job’,” Ms Lofts said.
“Principals are reporting that bureaucratic hurdles are delaying interventions, leaving them exposed to harm.”
Some principals reported feeling unsafe at work, with several saying they “felt at risk” or “hated going to work”. One principal described being assaulted by a parent, while another recounted recurring dreams of being shot as a result of workplace trauma.
Co-author Professor Lucas Walsh said the findings highlight the urgent need for a coordinated, whole-of-government response.
“Principals are bearing the emotional and physical brunt of escalating aggression, often in silence,” Professor Walsh said. “Their stories are often horrific and we can no longer turn away from them as people and as central figures in schools throughout Australia.”
The report makes a series of recommendations, including fully funding public schools to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard by the end of the current federal government term, legislating protections against occupational violence, and convening a national summit on school violence.
It also calls for clinical supervision for principals, revised national standards recognising psychosocial risks, targeted action on gendered violence, stronger community partnerships, and investment in community hubs to reduce pressure on school leaders.
Researchers say without urgent action, the sustainability, safety and wellbeing of Australia’s public school principals remain at serious risk.
