The ACT has responded to union calls for immediate action to address wellbeing and safety concerns in the Territory’s schools.
The call, from the Australian Education Union, ACT Branch (AEU ACT), came after the Australian Catholic University (ACU) published its 2022 Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey which found ACT school principals experienced the highest rate of violence and abuse in Australia.
Releasing the survey results, ACU said it found that three in four principals in Canberra had been subjected to threats and physical violence.
It said the survey revealed “red flag” alerts jumped by 18.7 percentage points across the country last year – a 64.26 per cent increase since 2021.
“Red flag alert emails are triggered when school leaders are at risk of self-harm, occupational health problems or serious impact on their quality of life,” ACU said.
“The emails alert principals to contact employee support services,” it said.
“Principals in the Australian Capital Territory triggered the most alerts with 58.5 per cent of school leaders identified to be at risk of serious mental health concerns.”
ACU said the marked jump in threats, physical violence and cyberbullying against principals saw ACT principals report the highest rate of physical violence and/or threats from students at 80.5 per cent, followed by the Northern Territory (75.5); Western Australia (57.2); Tasmania (55.9); Queensland (51.7); New South Wales (46.6); South Australia (43.3); and Victoria (32.8 per cent).
Branch President of AEU ACT, Angela Burroughs called on the ACT Government to immediately implement a 10-point action plan, including to regularly conduct the Safe Work Australia-validated People at Work survey for all staff and apply its recommendations.
The action plan also recommended direct consultation with staff; clear guidance to schools on suspensions; ensure work safety procedures were appropriately tailored to the needs of all staff; and provide clear advice to the community that violence towards front-line workers in schools wouldn’t be tolerated.
Responding to AEU ACT’s 10-point plan, Minister for Education, Yvette Berry said Government had already allocated $1.14 million to establish the Safe@School Taskforce, which was leading a system-wide transformation to improve the safety and wellbeing of ACT students and staff.
Ms Berry committed the Territory to working with principals to ensure greater certainty for funding occupational violence responses in schools, and communicating a strong message to Canberrans that violence towards front-line workers wouldn’t be tolerated.
