New research finds that principals are more stressed by the rising number of critical incidents in schools

One Tasmanian principal said they once sat in their office crying after a ‘critical incident’ at school, with new research showing principals in the state are the worst off nationally. Inside the study.

20 October, 2022: Generic photo of Woodville High School. Picture by Kelly Barnes

“Weighed down, stressed, anxious, unsafe, unsupported, burnt out, and struggling” are the feelings that principals around Australia have told a group of researchers behind a report outlining the rising number of critical incidents at schools.

The new data from the Australian Catholic University (ACU) has found that more than 80 per cent of principals have had to deal with critical incidents in their schools, including violent security threats, mental health crises, suicide attempts and medical emergencies.

The research also revealed that Tasmanian and Western Australian school leaders reported the most incidents of “high” or “extreme” severity.

In addition, Tasmania had the second highest instance of principals dealing with two or more critical incidents.

Generic school students, school kids, classroom, teacher Picture: Getty Images

Around 350 principals around Australia participated in the ACU research, including Tasmanian school leaders.

A number of Tasmanian principals participated in focus groups and interviews with researchers.

“There just seems to be more knife incidents and more violence happening within schools. So, it’s becoming commonplace,” one Tasmanian principal said.

“We need to do something about that because we want our schools to be safe places to be.”

A principal from the state who spoke to researchers said critical incidents had resulted in compounding trauma and stress for them.

“I think post a critical incident, so the individual impact, you operate at a very different level, a heightened level.

“You’re on; you’re just switched on. Physiologically, you can feel it; you can feel the change in yourself.

“The adrenaline’s on in there. Sense of a loss of control.”

Another principal said that “things aren’t getting better.”

“It’s not fun being exposed to this stuff every day, not without the supports in place.

“There’s nothing coming into place, so, yes, I’m actively looking for other work and will leave when I get it.”

Generic school exam picture.

One principal told researchers that it had taken a toll on them.

“There have been days following big incidents where I’ve sat crying in my office at work. And what happens about that?”

“You wipe your tears, and you walk out the door, and you keep going, and you keep going, and you keep going.

“Because there isn’t a process for a principal to be able to say, I just need a day; I just need to catch my breath.”

Many of the Tasmanian principals interviewed or participating in the focus groups said the most significant issue was a lack of support.

“Maybe offer some training on critical incidents and the critical incident response. Because until you’re dealing with one, you don’t know what to expect.

“I’m quite an experienced principal, and that’s still nearly beyond my own capability.”

The study’s Chief Investigator, Theresa Dicke, said the research was alarming.

“The data and comments from school leaders highlight serious and significant fears about the increasing nature and severity of critical incidents in schools and the ongoing capacity of burdened school leaders to continue to have the resilience to deal with them.”