Primary School Principals in Counselling

The Age, Denise Ryan, 20 August 2007

 

According to a recent report commissioned by the Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA), an increasing
number of principals are suffering from stress and are seeking counselling.

Independent researcher Dr Kathy Lacey, who surveyed 2600 primary school principals and teachers during 2004-05, found that the demands of the job are affecting principals’ health and wellbeing. The research showed that principals
deal with an enormous amount of conflict and therefore suffer from chronic stress. Dr Lacey has found that a majority
of principals seek independent counselling so that they do not appear to be weak.

Dr Lacey believes that schools should re-examine the support systems in place for primary school principals. The
research also found that poor salary combined with a heavy workload has led to a significant drop in the number of aspiring principals.

The report shows that states and territories vary in the level of support they give to primary school principals. It found that independent schools offer the least amount of support to their principals, whereas Catholic schools offer the most.

APPA president Leonie Trimper insists that schools should offer counselling and paid sabbatical leave to all primary
school principals so they can ‘mentally refuel’.

Ms Trimper also says that ‘the expectations are so much higher than they have ever been and yet principals don't have the resources to do what the government is asking them to do.’

 

 

 

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