More than 1200 West Australian public school teachers resigned in 2024, new figures show, with nearly 20 per cent of those citing high levels of stress and the resulting burnout as a key reason.
The latest figures, revealed in parliament last week, showed 230 teachers called out those problems in their departmental exit surveys.
This was out of a total 672 resignations from public primary schools, and 547 from public secondary schools.
Opposition education spokesman Liam Staltari said the new figures showed teacher resignations had more than doubled between 2019 and 2024.
“The fact that 230 of these teachers cited stress or burnout as a major factor in their decision to resign in 2024 certainly reflects feedback I’ve had from those at the coal face,” he said.
“Teachers and principals do amazing work every day, but sadly on this government’s watch the risks of burnout are growing, as these stark figures highlight.
“The government must step up and help them handle the high workload and stress of the complex modern classroom.”
State School Teachers’ Union WA president Matt Jarman said the increase in resignations since 2022 reflected deep systemic issues that had been developing over more than a decade.
“Public school teachers in WA have been subject to declining real-term funding, increased administrative and behavioural complexity in the classroom, and a substantial rise in workload intensity,” he said.
“The teaching profession reported a lack of support from the Department of Education, with teachers and school leaders describing an environment in which they felt increasingly undervalued and disrespected.
“These pressures culminated in widespread dissatisfaction, contributing to an increase in staff attrition.”
Jarman highlighted the Facing the Facts review released at the end of 2023, and said the number of teachers leaving due to stress and burnout remained consistent with that report.
He said it was also reflective of a broader systemic problem of workplace safety – including the behaviour of some students and visitors – a “contributing factor that remains unresolved”.
The union also holds concerns for early career teachers in relation to burnout.
State School Teachers’ Union WA president Matt Jarman.Credit: Holly Thompson
Jarman said young teachers were particularly vulnerable to burnout and disengagement, with 61 per cent of the teachers leaving the profession aged under 30.
The Department of Education has previously stated the increase in teacher resignations, which first spiked in 2022, was “due in part to strong labour market growth in WA combined with the impact of COVID-19”.
“The impact of the pandemic has prompted many teachers to reconsider their career choice,” they said.
Jarman said COVID had intensified existing challenges, but was not the primary cause of long-term attrition.
“Despite efforts since 2023 to reduce workload and increase teacher numbers, the effects of these negotiated outcomes are still filtering through the system,” he said.
“Teachers continue to self-report to the union instances of escalating pressures, and we remain concerned workload is still not being adequately addressed, including the slower than planned recruitment of school leaders.”
Department of Education people services executive director Karen Roberts said, although it was still early in the school year, it was “positive to see teacher resignations are down almost 10 per cent as at the end of April 2025, compared to the same time last year”.
But she admitted teacher attraction and retention was an issue of national significance.
“The Department places a high priority on the health and wellbeing of its employees and continues to introduce new supports so teachers can focus on what they do best – teaching students,” Roberts said.
“Teachers and school leaders are also being supported through the recently signed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, which included a 12 per cent pay rise for teachers over three years and significantly enhanced conditions.”
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