Teachers face rise in bullying by parents and students

Australia’s teachers are facing an alarming increase in bullying, harassment and physical violence from students and parents, a study by La Trobe University in Melbourne has found.

An online survey of 560 teachers revealed that 80 per cent had experienced some form of bullying by parents and students over the past 12 months. Around 10 per cent said they had been hit or punched.

A concerning finding is that 86 per cent of participants in the opt-in survey were female teachers, suggesting that women are more likely to be bullied or physically assaulted by parents and students.