Teacher Burnout: Regeneration or Destruction?

As an educator who has experienced burnout, I've spent the past few years reflecting on why so many educators face challenges in teacher wellbeing. In my research for my book (coming soon), I have found parallels in Aboriginal cultural burning practices that provided new insights into teacher burnout. 

Cultural burning, as practised for over 60,000 years by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, refers to cool fires intentionally lit during mild weather to manage land. This moderates the impact on the land and encourages regrowth. After doing research on cultural burning, Indigenous fire practitioners explained how cultural burns promote biodiversity and land health. 

I saw strong similarities to teacher burnout.

Like a fire that can spread if left unchecked, stress and overwork start small but have potential for wide-ranging impacts. When burnout hits, it ravages one's personal and professional life. As with fire, early intervention is key to avoiding total devastation.

My own burnout journey began in 2008 after directing a large school drama and dance production. By September, I felt unhealthy and knew something needed to change. A decade later, taking on too many roles led to a bout of shingles. Most extreme was 2020, when workplace stress caused a pain in the neck (literally and figuratively) and forced me to leave the classroom. 

Each time, burnout impacted not just my physical and mental health, but also negatively influenced my home life. I struggled to manage responsibilities outside of work while burnt out. My stories show how teacher burnout extends far beyond the individual.

Indigenous practitioners emphasised the importance of land and people management. Victor Steffensen said proper care prevents destructive fires, just as supporting teachers' wellbeing could circumvent burnout. Glen Wilcox connected land health to cultural identity - reflecting how burnout can cause teachers to lose their professional identity.

In schools, certain leadership can "choke" good teachers and curb their growth, paralleling how the invasive plant bracken spreads. When mismanaged, teachers experience a loss of identity and passion for the job. 

To regenerate the teaching profession requires a collective effort.

Just as cultural burning involves cooperation across communities, teachers must work together to advocate for positive changes supporting wellbeing. With early intervention and prioritising self-care, burnout can be prevented from spreading on individual and systemic levels.

Only then will teaching flourish as a sustainable career path.