Ground Zero.

Former teacher, deputy principal and Victorian Department of Education senior staff member Mr Ben Sacco is familiar with the challenges facing school leaders. With more than 20 years in the education sector, he draws on his experience in his current role as the Managing Director of Education Economy, a national education consultancy which supports schools to respond to student behaviours of concern, teacher retention and school culture.

“The findings in The Silent Cost mirror insights from Education Economy’s Capture Survey across Australian schools, which identifies key ‘at risk factors’ that contribute to workplace adversity, such as stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue,” Mr Sacco says.

“What we find is by identifying these risks early, we can better prepare schools to reduce the frequency of the challenges that directly impact staff health and wellbeing.”

Similar to Dr Fraser’s observation that educators have become de facto social workers of society, Mr Sacco says schools are becoming ground zero for unaddressed social trauma, without the support systems found in other frontline sectors.

“This isn’t just a wellbeing issue, it’s an economic one. High stress and burnout among educators naturally increase staff turnover and recruitment costs, reducing productivity and engagement across our education system,” he says.

“Without targeted, preventive measures, such as robust systemic support, responsive classroom behaviour strategies, and mental health resources, the pipeline of effective education professionals weakens. This not only threatens staff wellbeing but also undermines student outcomes and the broader economy.”

The Source: Education Matters Magazine

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