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More Support To Keep Principals Happy And Healthy

11 May 2018

Victoria’s principals and assistant principals will get the support they need to do their jobs, with a new $5.2 million support and well-being package from the Andrews Labor Government.

The Labor Government’s new Principal Health and Wellbeing Strategy will support Victoria’s 3,000 government school principals and assistance principals to stay healthy and happy at work with a suite of new programs and resources.

It includes seven new pilot initiatives that will tackle head on the mental and physical challenges faced by principals across Victoria.

A new online School Policy Templates Portal will help reduce principal workload by streamlining the process of developing and implementing school-level policies on topics ranging from anaphylaxis to bullying and school uniforms.

Principals can also access additional Departmental support to help them respond to complex school matters including students with challenging behaviours, while another pilot is giving school leaders the chance to participate in wellbeing supervision sessions with an experienced psychologist.

Other new initiatives under the strategy include an early intervention program that allows principals to confidentially access health providers to positively manage their physical and mental health, and a new mentoring program that will pair principals with their more experienced peers for advice and support.

More than 180 principals have already accessed the strategy’s free and confidential health checks, which are being delivered by independent workplace medical firm InjuryNET and include a medical examination covering pathology, lifestyle and mental health.

Victorian principals have been extensively consulted as part of the Principal Health and Wellbeing Strategy’s development, with more than 3,000 principal class and regional staff participating in forums and providing feedback on a principal health and wellbeing discussion paper in 2017.

The full strategy is available at http://education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/safetyhw/Pages/PrincipalHWB.aspxExternal Link

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“We know our principals work incredibly hard to give Victorian kids a great education. This is all about developing effective evidence-based programs, support structures and resources that help them stay healthy and happy in the job.”

“Victorian principals are at the forefront of creating the Education State, so we’re proud to be giving them the support and tools they need to positively manage their mental and physical health.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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