Australian teachers are working at stress levels which are three times what is normal in the national workforce.
A new study, which researchers say is the first to examine rates of depression, anxiety and stress in Australian teachers, found nine out of 10 Australian teachers were experiencing severe stress, and nearly 70 percent said their workload was unmanageable.
UNSW Sydney’s Dr Helena Granziera said researchers found more than two-thirds experienced moderate to extremely severe symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“They experience these mental health issues at three times the national norm,” Dr Granziera said.
“The figures for depression and anxiety alone are more than double the national averages and point to a profession under immense pressure.”
She said the study surveyed nearly 5000 primary and secondary school teachers across the country.
“This is not just a wellbeing issue – it’s a workforce issue.
“Our findings show that teachers are experiencing mental health symptoms at rates far above the general population, and that these symptoms are closely linked to their workload and intentions to leave the profession.”
Dr Granziera said the research also found that workload manageability was a key factor influencing teachers’ mental health.
She said teachers who reported their workload as unmanageable were significantly more likely to experience depressive symptoms, which in turn were strongly associated with their intentions to leave the profession.
“Teachers are telling us they’re overwhelmed – not by teaching itself, but by the growing burden of non-core tasks.
“Administrative duties, compliance requirements, and excessive data collection are taking time away from lesson planning and student engagement. This is leading to burnout and a sense of professional disillusionment.”
In response to these findings, Dr Granziera said the research team recommended a multi-pronged approach to support teacher wellbeing, including:
- Policy reforms to reduce non-essential workload and streamline administrative processes.
- School-level monitoring of teacher wellbeing and workload.
- Investment in digital mental health programs tailored for educators, allowing flexible, self-paced support.
- System-wide interventions to support teacher retention and reduce burnout.
Read the full study: Teachers’ workload, turnover intentions, and mental health: perspectives of Australian teachers.
