When Leadership Time Is Lost, Everyone Pays
ACU research reveals the $206m cost of offensive behaviours on school leaders
‘The Ripple Effect’, an APPA supported research project on ‘How Offensive Behaviours Impact School Leaders Productivity’, has brought national attention to an issue primary principals have been raising for some time: violence and offensive behaviour in schools is consuming leadership time and undermining our core work.
When Leadership Time Is Lost, Everyone Pays
The research shows that almost nine in ten principals experienced violence in the past year, with many dealing with multiple forms: physical aggression, threats, cyberbullying and sexual harassment. Around 40 per cent of principals now spend at least a day each week managing these incidents. That is time taken directly away from leading teaching and learning, developing staff, supporting students and strengthening school communities.
Putting a financial lens on this matters. The estimated cost of lost productivity exceeds $206 million annually, not because principals are ineffective, but because their expertise is being diverted into managing conflict, harm and recovery. This is not simply a wellbeing issue; it is a workforce, safety and system issue.
Primary schools are particularly affected. Students account for most physical violence, while parents are responsible for the majority of cyberbullying, threats and sexual harassment directed at school leaders. In some cases, principals have redesigned offices for safety, engaged security support or ultimately left the profession due to stress and ill health.
Principals are resilient, capable and deeply committed to their communities. But resilience must not be a prerequisite for enduring harm. Our profession should not accept violence as part of the job.
If we want strong schools and improved outcomes for children, we must protect leadership time and leadership wellbeing. Principals should be doing what they do best – leading learning, building teams and shaping the future – not constantly managing aggression and its aftermath.
