Staff Bullying in Catholic Schools

Abstract

This article reports the findings of research into staff bullying in the Catholic schools of a large metropolitan area in Australia. A summary of the responses from over two hundred staff members to a survey instrument containing both closed-format and open-ended components is presented. It was found that a large percentage of teachers (97.5%) perceive they are or have been bullied. Specific examples of staff bullying and the adverse effects of bullying upon the targets and employers are included. This article highlights the relevance of the research to the teaching profession and identifies some of the legal and industrial implications of the phenomenon. Protocols and strategies aimed at preventing and responding to claims of bullying are advanced as well as the identification of a need for additional research.