Why do teachers become burnt out and broken? Because they care

Elizabeth Diacos

By Elizabeth Diacos
Community contribution / January 15, 2020

I came across a post on Facebook recently that said words to the effect that no child wants to have a teacher who is miserable every day.

I think this deserves some critical reflection.

When you teach, you give everything of yourself - it’s pure Stanislavsk, you ...

French Language Teacher

Canberra Grammar School Red Hill ACT

This is an exciting opportunity for an educator who believes that language learning opens doors to new cultures, perspectives and opportunities.

Teaching - Secondary / Aug 11, 2026

Teaching Aides & Special Needs / Aug 11, 2026

Head of Department - Physical Education - Rochedale State High School

Department of Education and Training (Queensland) Brisbane

We are seeking an enthusiastic, strategic and highly collaborative Head of Department - Physical Education to lead and inspire our Physical Education team and contribu...

Teaching - Secondary / Aug 11, 2026

By Elizabeth Diacos

Community

Elizabeth is a career transition coach for educators, founder of Larksong Enterprises and host of the Get out of Teaching podcast. A lover of learning, and all things creative, honesty is one of her top character strengths. She holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology and a Grad Cert in Organisational Coaching. Elizabeth helps heart-centred teachers who have given their all to forge a pathway out of Education and into a life they love. www.larksong.com.au

Similar news

School news / Two thirds of NSW teachers burnt out School news / How I beat burnout, Part 3: ‘Teachers don’t become teachers because they want desk jobs’ School news / 'Burnt-out' NT teachers take pay offer

Latest comments

Hear, hear! Also, assuming we can compare student results to their results from two years ago, where is there any REP...

— Kylie Murphy on An Evolving Beast: The Question Missing From The Naplan Debate

Top events

School news / Deal sweetener: signing bonus dangled in front of teachers as third strike looms

Public school teachers in Victoria are in line for a one-off bonus under the State Government’s latest pay and conditions offer designed to head off a third statewide strike.

School news / ‘Not enough’: Minister wants school bullying training included in ITE courses

Preservice teachers could soon have to undergo significant anti-bulling intervention training as part of their degree, the federal education minister has indicated.

School news / Keeping up with smart glasses: how the tech could affect your school

The growing popularity of smart glasses, and the concerning emergence of budget options, is raising questions about whether Australian laws and communities are prepared for the widespread adoption of the technology.

School news / Sweltering summers and heatwaves linked to poorer mental health in kids: new research

As record-breaking heat grips communities worldwide and Australia prepares for an intense El Niño summer, new research provides the first global review linking high temperatures and heatwaves to poorer mental health in children and young people.

Opinion / More mandates are not the answer to stagnating NAPLAN results: opinion

Every August, the same ritual plays out. NAPLAN results are released, and within hours the negative stories emerge.

School news / Our big challenge is learning how to use AI without outsourcing our own thinking

As governments and technology companies here and overseas move to rebuild public trust in artificial intelligence through new regulation and transparency measures, one educational neuroscientist says they’re addressing only half the problem.

School news / Essential and free for schools: practical financial literacy workshops are changing lives

A report last year confirmed what many economists and finance experts have long feared: Australia has failed to build strong foundations in financial literacy across the generations, and it should set off alarm bells across the nation.

School news / Suspend the use of AI and 1:1 devices in schools: teachers, parents launch new petition

A public petition calling for generative AI to be removed from Australian schools and a return to device-free learning is quickly gaining momentum.

School news / NAPLAN 2026: push for pen and paper tests as literacy results dive

A return to pen and paper testing is among the options being considered by education ministers in a bid to correct plummeting literacy and numeracy results.

School news / NAPLAN numeracy: Year 3 slump raises alarm on curriculum and instruction

Despite some green shoots in Australian students’ numeracy outcomes, this year’s national NAPLAN data has revealed a concerning pocket of decline at Year 3, prompting alarm amongst experts and policymakers.

Comments