The latest ACU Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey confirms what many school leaders already feel — the role continues to intensify, not ease.
The report highlights that principals are working “dangerously long hours” and experiencing increasing emotional load, complexity and moral stress . At the same time, excessive workload remains the number one concern for staff wellbeing, unchanged over recent years .
Top 10 Issues Facing Principals
- Excessive workload
- Long working hours
- Mental health concerns (staff and students)
- Emotional distress and burnout
- Student behaviour challenges
- Increasing complexity of student needs
- Administrative and compliance burden
- Conflict and difficult conversations
- Lack of time for teaching and learning
- Work–life imbalance
What Can Leaders Do?
1. Reduce Workload (Don’t Just Endure It)
The report reinforces that workload is not improving. Leaders need to:
- Stop or streamline low-impact tasks
- Delegate wherever possible
- Regularly review meetings and processes
As we often say in schools: If everything is a priority, nothing is.
2. Protect Time for What Matters Most
“Not enough time for teaching and learning” is a major stressor .
- Block out time for instructional leadership
- Be disciplined about interruptions
- Focus on high-impact actions, not constant activity
3. Manage the Emotional Load
The emotional intensity of the role continues to rise.
- Build trusted support networks
- Debrief regularly with colleagues
- Set boundaries around availability
The report sends a clear message:
This is no longer about resilience alone — it’s about sustainability.
Great leaders don’t just push harder. They prioritise, protect their time and lead in ways that are sustainable for the long term.