Teacher Burnout in Australia: A Growing Mental Health Crisis

Australia’s education system is facing a crisis that goes far beyond student results and curriculum debates. New research from UNSW Sydney reveals that 90% of Australian teachers are experiencing severe stress, while more than two-thirds report moderate to extremely severe anxiety and depression.

The study highlights what many teachers have been saying for years: unsustainable workloads are pushing educators to breaking point. Between lesson planning, marking, administrative paperwork, compliance reporting, and managing increasingly complex student needs, the demands on teachers continue to mount.

Voices From the Classroom

The pressure isn’t just being felt behind closed doors. Teachers are turning to social media, particularly TikTok, under hashtags like #TeacherQuitTok—to share their stories. In raw, unfiltered videos, educators describe being:

• Overwhelmed by administrative red tape

• Unsupported by leadership when facing difficult classrooms

• Verbally abused by students or parents

• Forced to fight for basic entitlements like sick leave

These public accounts echo the findings of the UNSW study and paint a picture of a profession in distress.

A Workforce at Risk

Perhaps the most alarming statistic is that 30% of teachers are considering leaving the profession early. At a time when schools already struggle with staffing shortages, such a mass departure would have devastating consequences—not just for teachers, but for students and families.

The burnout crisis isn’t simply about individual resilience; it is a systemic issue. Experts warn that without meaningful reform, Australia risks losing an entire generation of educators.

What Needs to Change

To address this crisis, teachers and unions have called for:

• Reduced administrative burden, freeing teachers to focus on teaching and student support

• Better access to mental health resources and wellbeing programs within schools

• Stronger protections against abuse, ensuring safe and respectful classrooms

• Fairer workloads and staffing levels, so teachers aren’t stretched beyond capacity

  
  

The Bigger Picture

Teacher burnout isn’t just an employment issue, it’s an education issue. When educators are exhausted, anxious, and unsupported, the ripple effects are felt in every classroom. Student outcomes, engagement, and wellbeing are directly tied to the health of their teachers.

If Australia wants to safeguard its education system, it must prioritise the people at the heart of it. Teachers cannot continue to pour from an empty cup.