Vic: Teachers not coping with workplace stress - report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2008
Vic: Teachers not coping with workplace stress - report

More than 600 Victorian teachers have been forced off the job because of workplace
stress in the past three years .. with Workcover paying out more than $17 million in compensation.

Workplace stress was the most common problem affecting teachers in the past three years
.. with more than 600 teachers taking stress leave .. and 234 Workcover payouts.

The figures obtained by Fairfax under freedom of information .. reveal 26 teachers
won payouts following assaults by students or parents.

There were 40 cases of teachers and principals being exposed to workplace violence
.. and 163 suffered harassment.

Victorian Premier JOHN BRUMBY yesterday announced that executive contracts would be
offered to top principals to take jobs in underperforming schools .. and a $10 million
leadership institute in a bid to improve educational standards.

But the Australian Education Union branch says workplace stress discouraged some from
applying for principals' positions.

The union says it's heard of several cases of parents threatening teachers .. and punching
or kicking principals.

AAP RTV jrd/fdf

KEYWORD: TEACHERS VIC (MELBOURNE)

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