Canberra school principals experience highest rate of violence and abuse in Australia, survey finds
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Loading... - Milan Klein
- 22 Mar 2023
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Three in four principals in Canberra have been subjected to threats and physical violence — the highest rate in the country — according to a new survey of school leaders.
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) surveyed 2,500 principals nationwide about their mental health and wellbeing.
The Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey 2022 found rates of violence and intimidation against principals were at their highest level since the survey began in 2011.
ACU investigator and former principal Paul Kidson said a third of the violence and abuse came from parents.
"Some of these individual circumstances are complex, and I don't want to minimise the complexity that some of them could have," he said.
"But it's the attitude that says: it's my right as a parent or caregiver to be threatening and be abusive."
In the ACT, 73.2 per cent of principals who responded to the survey reported being subjected to physical violence, while 75.6 per cent noted they had been threatened.
'Tempers are frayed, stresses are high'
Mr Kidson said there had also been a 64 per cent jump in the number of respondents who had triggered a "red flag" for risks of serious mental health concerns. Read More…
