Maintaining, Sustaining and Refueling Leaders  - A national overview of services and resources for principal wellbeing in the primary sector.

Maintaining, Sustaining and Refueling Leaders report (PDF - 138 Kb)
Press Release (PDF - 47 Kb)

Press Release: Primary school principals need greater help to preserve their well-being, says report

The well-being of primary school principals throughout Australia is being adversely affected by limited access to independent counselling and a lack of knowledge about the help that is available to them, according to a report commissioned by the Australian Primary principals Association.

APPA is one of the nation’s most authoritative education bodies, and represents more than 7,000 principals at government and non-government primary schools attended by almost two million students. The report, entitled “Maintaining, Sustaining and Refueling Leaders “, was commissioned by APPA and undertaken by Dr Kathy Lacey of Melbourne-based Right Angles Consulting Pty Ltd. This followed an APPA survey of more than 2,600 primary principals around Australia. The Lacey Report has used focus groups to survey a representative group of principals from government, independent and catholic primary schools.

The National President of APPA, Ms. Leonie Trimper, says that Dr. Lacey’s findings indicate that many principals face serious work-related problems that affects their health and well-being. Ms. Trimper says that the report also shows that many principals fear using existing non-independent counselling services - with a number paying for private counselling.

“Clearly, this report shows there is an urgent need for many employers to review the support services and resources available to principals,” says Ms. Trimper.

Dr. Lacey’s report says, in general, that principals around Australia:

• Need access to employer-funded independent counselling services.
• Often are not aware of existing counselling services and resources, and help that is available to them.
• Want employer-paid sabbatical leave to study new trends in education rather than increased annual or long service leave.

Dr. Lacey says that, as a general rule, Catholic primary schools provide the most help for principals – especially in the areas of paid sabbaticals, access to counselling, paid and supported study leave and heath check leave. Government primary schools come a poor second, with independent primary schools even further behind. “Overall, it is ironic that schools emphasise student pastoral care, yet this care doesn’t appear to extend to the principal,” reports Dr. Lacey. “Where counselling does exist most principals say they don’t use it because it is not independent and either staff or their direct supervisor will see them undertaking it, and thus the rumour mill may start,” Dr. Lacey says. “Their perception is that staff or supervisors will see the principal undertaking counselling as a sign of weakness, and as a result many struggle through a school or work related crisis without seeking help.

“In many instances, principals who rarely seek proactive counselling, often pay for external and independent counseling in times of crisis from their own pocket rather than show any sign of weakness to others.”

Dr. Lacey says that while many employers provided counselling service and resources, they were not well promoted so principals are sometimes unaware of the help that is available.

“This is also an area that needs addressing,” she has advised, adding that:  “Most schools have resources and counselling that address major problems, such as a devastating fire or members of a school’s community being killed in accidents. However, these resources rarely address the more common and chronic problems, such as ongoing and disruptive issues within a school’s community. These chronic problems are often far more stressful.”

Dr. Lacey says that an interesting aspect of her findings related to the need for principals in all sectors to have greater access to paid sabbatical leave. “Principals do not want more annual or long service leave,” she says. “They want paid sabbatical leave so they can study new developments in education. This time away from the relentlessness of the intensity of demands on principals would provide time to mentally refuel.”