Teachers' and Principals' Hauora / Health and Wellbeing Survey 2021
Since 2016, NZEI Te Riu Roa has commissioned comprehensive and quantitative research into principals' hauora. These surveys have provided us with very rich, valuable evidence around the increasing stress and workloads that principals are experiencing. Teacher members in primary, intermediate, kura, area and special schools have been invited to participate in the same survey since 2019.
We need you to add your voice to this year's survey!
Accessing the survey - past participants
If you have completed the survey in previous years you would have received a survey link from both Deakin University and NZEI Te Riu Roa at the end of July. This would have been sent to the email address you previously used to register. It is likely to be an email address that is not your school email address. If you cannot find the email from Deakin in your inbox, please check your junk folder.
Accessing the survey - new participants
You would have received an email from NZEI Te Riu Roa at the end of July with either the teacher or principal survey link. We encourage you to use your personal email address to register.
If last year you completed the teacher survey and have since become a principal, deputy principal or assistant principal, or vice versa you will need to switch surveys. If this is the case please get in touch with Deakin University at info@educatorhealth.org. They will reply within one working day.
Which survey do I fill out?
- If you are a principal, teaching principal, deputy principal or assistant principal please fill out the principal survey.
- If you are a classroom teacher, SENCO, RT, RR teacher, ORS teacher, please fill out the teacher survey.
- If you have changed roles since last year please get in touch with Deakin at info@educatorhealth.org. They will respond within one working day.
Why do we undertake this annual survey?
The Hauora / Health and Wellbeing Survey is a longitudinal research survey that monitors the complexity of your work over time and tracks how changing demands and resources impact your professional and personal lives.
The results from this survey will be vital for us to illustrate the situation in our schools and the urgency of our claims as we head into collective agreement negotiations next year.
Even if you have filled out the survey before we need you to fill it out again with regards to the last year. By filling out the same survey each year this gives us extremely valuable data showing the trends in our schools. The more of us who fill it in the more robust and accurate the results.
Using survey data we can also illustrate to the public the reality that educators face each day. As we gear up to our next campaign we need public support to put pressure on the government to increase their investment in the education of our tamariki.
The survey will also give you personal and private feedback, and information about any steps you need to take to improve your wellbeing.
It will take about 45 minutes to one hour to complete the survey, and you can stop at any time to complete it later.
Have a question? Please have a read of our FAQs below. If your question is not answered there please email Deakin University at info@educatorhealth.org and state which survey you are completing. They will get back to you within one working day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Accessing the survey
- Filling out the survey as a group at school
- Which survey do I fill out?
- I am a new participant, how do I register to access the survey?
- I know I have done the survey in the past, but I can't seem to log in or have forgotten which email address I used.
- I have forgotten my password or want to change my password.
- Who do I get in touch with if I am having issues?
- What do I do if I have lost the email with the survey link attached?
- I have been sent an email from Deakin University as I was a past participant of the survey. Which one do I fill out? The link NZEI Te Riu Roa sent out or the link sent from Deakin University
- I am a past participant and have not received an email from Deakin University yet, but I have received an email from NZEI Te Riu Roa. What do I do?
About the survey
- When does the survey close?
- Why do we do these wellbeing surveys?
- How will this survey benefit me?
- Who is eligible to fill out these surveys?
- How long will it take to fill out?
- My workload is already heavy and now I need to take an hour out of my day to do this?
- Why do I need to indicate which school I work at?
- What exactly is being surveyed?
After the survey
- What is the individual health and wellbeing participant report and how do I access it?
- Can I withdraw from the survey?
- What happens after I have filled it out?
Privacy
Accessing the survey
Filling out the survey as a group at school
Which survey do I fill out?
- If you are a principal, teaching principal, deputy principal or assistant principal please fill out the principal survey.
- If you are a classroom teacher, SENCO, RT, RR teacher, ORS teacher, please fill out the teacher survey.
- If you have changed roles since last year please get in touch with Deakin at info@educatorhealth.org. They will respond within one working day.
I am a new participant, how do I register to access the survey?
Click on the invitation link for new participants in the email from NZEI Te Riu Roa, sent end of July. If you cannot locate an invitation email please get in touch with MSC at nzei@nzei.org.nz
On the registration page please enter your email address (personal rather than school address preferred) and a chosen password twice. You will receive an email containing a verification code that you must input to complete the registration. Please note the code will expire after 20 minutes.
Now, you are ready to login.
I know I have done the survey in the past but I can't seem to login or have forgotten which email address I used
If you have completed the survey in the past but cannot login or have forgotten which email address you used please first check the inboxes and spam/junk folders of all email addresses you have access to.
We encourage participants to register using their personal email addresses so it is likely that you signed up with that rather than your school email address.
If you still cannot access the survey please get in touch with Deakin University at info@educatorhealth.org and mention which survey you are completing.
Deakin will reply within one working day.
I have forgotten my password or want to change my password
When logging in using the 'past participants' link click the 'Forgot password' button. Once there type in the email address that you are registered with and click 'Send password'. Copy and paste the one-time password back into the Forgot Password window, along with a new password of your choice (repeated twice). Once this is successful you are ready to log in.
If you are still having trouble get in touch with Deakin at info@educatorhealth.org
Please mention which survey you are enquiring about in your email.
They will reply within one working day.
Who do I get in touch with if I am having issues?
If you are a new participant to the survey and have lost the survey registration link please get in touch with Member Support Centre at nzei@nzei.org.nz. For any other queries, for example not able to access the survey, you have done the survey in the past but have forgotten which email address you used or no longer can access the email address, if you have changed roles and need to change surveys, or any other technical issues, please contact Deakin at info@educatorhealth.org. When you email them please state which survey you are filling out. They will respond within one working day.
What do I do if I have lost the email with the survey link attached?
Get in touch with the Member Support Centre at nzei@nzei.org.nz and they will send you a link.
Make sure you specify whether you need to fill out the teacher or principal survey and whether you are a past or new participant.
I have been sent an email from Deakin University as I was a past participant of the survey. Which one do I fill out? The link NZEI Te Riu Roa sent out or the link sent from Deakin University?
You can either use the link from Deakin or the 'past participants' link from NZEI Te Riu Roa. They are the same link. The main point is that if you have completed the survey in the past you click on the 'past participants' survey link so that it links to your previous years' data rather than registering as a new participant.
The exception to this is if you have changed roles since you last completed the survey. If that is the case please get in touch with Deakin University at info@educatorhealth.org and state which survey you think you need to fill out. They will respond within one working day.
I am a past participant and have not received an email from Deakin University yet, but I have received an email with a link from NZEI Te Riu Roa. What do I do?
You can use the 'past participant' link in the NZEI Te Riu Roa email. If you have forgotten which email address you used in part surveys please email Deakin University at info@educatorhealth.org and state which survey you are trying to fill out. They will respond within one working day.
About the survey
When does the survey close?
You have until 10 October 2021 to complete the survey.
Why do we do these wellbeing surveys?
The results from this survey will be vital for us to illustrate the situation in our schools and the urgency of our claims as we head into collective agreement negotiations next year.
Even if you have filled out the survey before we need you to fill it out again with regards to the last year. By filling out the survey each year this gives us extremely valuable data showing the trends in our schools. The more of us who fill it in the more robust and accurate the results.
Using survey data we can also illustrate to the public the reality that educators face each day. As we gear up to our next campaign we need public support to put pressure on the government to increase their investment in the education of our tamariki.
How will this survey benefit me?
The data gathered will provide much needed evidence that will inform our upcoming collective agreement negotiations to address the workload and wellbeing of educators.
The survey will also give you personal feedback as to where your wellbeing is at and if you need to take necessary steps towards more selfcare. (See the question about 'How to access your report')
The survey will provide a quantitative snapshot of all the personal stories that educators have shared with us about their workload and wellbeing. It will also provide an opportunity for your voice to be heard about the impact on you of the current situation in schools.
By every teacher, senior leader and principal filling out the survey, we will be able to collect valuable data about the actual state of wellbeing in the sector.
If you are needing extra support with your health and wellbeing please click on this link to see a list of support services and professional organisations you can get in touch with.
Who is eligible to fill these surveys out?
- All Principals covered by the Primary Principals' Collective and the Area Schools Principals' Collective.
- Assistant Principals and Deputy Principals covered by the Primary Teachers' Collective and the Area Schools Teachers' Collective
- All teachers', RTLB's, ORS teachers, relief teachers covered by the Primary Teachers' Collective and the Area Schools Teachers' Collective
Read the next FAQ to make sure you fill out the correct survey!
How long will it take to fill out?
The survey takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour to complete.
If possible, we encourage you to complete the survey in one session. However, you do not have to complete the survey all at once and you can complete your survey over multiple sessions if you choose to. When you complete a page and click "Submit", your responses are automatically saved. There is no "Back" button. You can leave the partially complete survey at any time by clicking "Save & Return Later". You will receive an email and can use the link in this email to resume your progress at a time that suits you.
My workload is already heavy and now I need to take an hour out of my day to do this?
- You could speak to your principal about using time during or instead of a staff meeting time to complete the survey
- This is an ideal opportunity to start a conversation in your school around wellbeing practices that could be implemented at school policy level, for example, a policy of not sending emails after 5pm.
Why do I need to indicate which school I work at?
There are unique identifiers for each school which provides more accurate data for the researchers to analyse the social capital of the environments that teachers and principals work in.
Social capital is the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively.
The answer to this question will not be able to identify any individuals.
Privacy of participants is kept strictly confidential and no individual or school will be identifiable in any reporting of the results.
Why do I need to indicate which school I work at?
Six key areas of educators' work environment and health and wellbeing are covered in the survey:
- Demands at work: employee psychological, cognitive and emotional demands
- Work organisations and job contexts: employee freedom to use and develop their skills at work and employee freedom to decide how their work is organised
- Interpersonal relations and leadership: support from colleagues and supervisors, social climate at work and job rewards
- Work related personal impact: how well the organisation of work fits with individual employee's needs and commitments
- Values at the workplace: information from management is trustworthy, conflicts are resolved fairly and work is evenly distributed
- Health and wellbeing: employee work-related health and wellbeing
What is COPSOQ II? What is the AQoL-8D?
Deakin are using these questionnaires as they have been demonstrated to be valid and reliable.
The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire COPSOQ II is an instrument that has been used globally to measure work stress in many occupations. Using the COPSOQ II will allow Deakin to look at job stress and psychosocial health and compare it to a global dataset.
The AQoL-8D is a health-related quality of life instrument developed by researchers at the Centre for Health Economics at Monash University. Using the AQoL-8D will allow Deakin to compare your quality of life against public norms.
After the survey
What is the individual health and wellbeing participant report and how do I access it?
This personalised report gives feedback and in-depth analysis into your personal work environment and work practices. This enables educators to engage with and reflect on their health and wellbeing in the workplace and provides opportunities for health and wellbeing promotion and development.
Once you have completed the survey login to https://educatorhealth.org/login and enter the same login details you used for the survey.
Once logged in, participants click MyReport to access your report. Click here for more detail about how to read your report and what each score means.
Can I withdraw from the survey?
If you agree to participate, you can withdraw from the survey at any time. You can request your contact details to be removed so that Deakin do not contact you again, simply contact them at info@educatorhealth.org
The research is conducted independently of NZEI Te Riu Roa and we only receive an aggregated report.
We strongly recommend you provide a private email address, not one linked to your school. That way no one else can access your personal Health & Wellbeing report.
NZEI Te Riu Roa's involvement is contributing to the financial cost, the demographic questions and sending the survey link to members, and using the results to further our campaign goals.
What happens after I have filled it out?
- You will receive a personal wellbeing report on the new educator health platform. The access details are sent to the email address you provided.
- Should you receive a personal email with a 'red flag' we urge you strongly to contact the various supports that will be listed in the email.
- Once we have the final overall report with collated data we will determine how best to make use of the findings. This includes sharing information with members, determining what information is released publicly and incorporating findings into other work.
Privacy
Will the survey be confidential?
Yes, protecting your privacy is of most importance to us. The Educator Health and Wellbeing team at Deakin University operate independently from all employer groups, professional associations and unions. The survey and research has full ethics approval and adheres to all Deakin University guidelines.
How will my identity be protected?
The privacy of participants is kept strictly confidential and no individual or school will be identifiable in any reporting of the results. Your data is not accessible to anyone but the researchers at Deakin and is de-identified before any analysis.
How will the survey data be managed?
Data collected during the survey allows the Deakin researchers to understand the environmental and personal factors relevant to educators' wellbeing. All data is stored in Deakin's secure servers and encrypted files. Raw data will never be shared.
Are there any risks associated with participating?
Some of the survey questions are of a personal nature. Should this cause you any distress you may which to seek help such as counselling. Deakin has provided a list of support services and professional organisations that may help you. See the FAQ which has the list.
Is participation voluntary?
Participation in the survey is completely voluntary. It is up to you whether you choose to participate. No employer or professional association will know if you choose to participate in this research.
Key findings from the 2020 Hauora Health and Wellbeing survey for teachers and principals
Conducted by members of Research for Educational Impact (REDI), based at Deakin University, Melbourne, the research gathered data from 2415 primary school teachers and 473 principals across Aotearoa. Long working hours, heavy workloads and time pressures were cited as factors contributing to high levels of teacher stress. Teachers and principals also reported a lack of resourcing and difficulties accessing learning support as other major sources of work-related stress.
Check out our hauora webinar below.
You can also download some info regarding support agencies for members should you need more support.
Survey results
Hours worked during school term
Primary school teachers in New Zealand work very long hours. Almost half work more than 50 hours per week. Primary principals work even longer hours. 70% reported working more than 50 hours per week. A large proportion reported working more than 55 hours a week (45.5%) and around one in five school leaders (19.9%) reported working more than 60 hours per week. Too many teachers and principals are working hours that place them at high risk of experiencing adverse psychological and physical health outcomes.
Stress at work
In this year's survey, sheer quantity of work was reported as the biggest source of stress for primary school teachers and principals alike. For both groups, a lack of time to focus on teaching and learning was reported as the second biggest stressor. In both years of the survey (2019 and 2020), these two stressors have far exceeded the other sources of stress listed in the survey. The next biggest sources of stress were related to student learning needs and access to support. Concerns for student mental health were also high on the list for both teachers and principals.
Demands at work
The survey tests for five variables related to demands at work and assesses these against the general population. The five variables are Quantitative Demands, Work Pace, Cognitive Demands, Emotional Demands and Demands for Hiding Emotions.
In 2020, New Zealand primary school teachers and principals reported experiencing all five demands at work more often than the general population. Both groups reported experiencing more work than they can complete and regularly having to work at a fast pace. They regularly deal with emotionally challenging situations (emotional demands) and frequently must conceal their emotions at work (emotional labour).
Work-life balance
The study also measures the possible consequences of work on family/personal life. The focus is on two areas, namely conflict regarding energy (mental and physical energy) and conflict regarding time. This year's results indicate that teachers and principals experience high levels of conflict between work and home lives, well over one standard deviation above the rate of the general population. This result has serious implications for the long-term future of school personnel as their work is creating significant work-life stress. This finding should cause considerable concern for policy makers, as it relates directly to the Quantitative Demands of the role.
School resourcing
Primary school teachers reported various types of student related issues as a significant source of stress. Student behaviour and learning issues and a lack of support to deal with students' additional needs caused teachers' stress. Principals reported that resourcing needs and teacher shortages were significant sources of stress. They were also concerned for the mental health of their staff.
Access to support
While a lack of access to resources such as learning support was a source of stress for teachers and principals alike, both groups reported receiving support from professional relationships with their colleagues, suggesting that this is a major factor helping teachers and principals' cope. However, this is not enough as the evidence shows that high job demands, and low job resources may cause job strain and eventually result in burnout.
Conclusion
Too many teachers and principals are under significant stress and working hours that place them at high risk of experiencing adverse psychological and physical health outcomes. This result has serious implications for the long-term future of school personnel as their work is creating significant work-life stress. These findings should cause considerable concern for policy makers. We need to increase teacher supply and decrease teacher workloads to enable teachers and principals to do their work in a sustainable way. We also need to increase the provision of, and access to, learning support to ensure that our tamariki are best equipped to reach their potential.
