Recruitment and retention problems are major concerns among Australian school leaders, according to the 2020 Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey.

In a year that included major bushfires and the Covid-19 pandemic principals reported worsening results from long-term health indicators, such as sleeping troubles and depressive symptoms.

They faced greater demands, longer work hours and 83 per cent were subjected to offensive behaviour, including threats of violence, actual violence and bullying.

School leaders worked an average of 54.5 hours per week in 2020 and during the school terms 22 per cent worked more than 60 hours per week.

"Having navigated their schools through the tough and uncertain conditions of 2020, the combination of continuous stress and eligibility for retirement has resulted in 6.8 per cent of school leaders reporting their intention to retire in 2021," the report, from researchers at Australian Catholic University and Deakin University, said.

The report made several recommendations including the provision of more professional learning around emotional aspects of leadership.

Read the full report.