PODCAST · education
Well-Led Schools
by Adrienne Hornby
As the rates of professional stress and burnout increase for school leaders, teachers and staff, the solution lies in how we lead our schools and prioritise workplace wellbeing to become "Well-Led" Schools - those that lead with “wellbeing in mind.”Join experienced Wellbeing Consultant, Strategist, Speaker and School Leader Adrienne Hornby for a host of inspiring conversations with experts and forward thinkers. Covering all things teacher wellbeing, school leadership and culture building - you'll walk away with ideas and recommendations on ways to evolve your leadership, create a mentally healthy workplace and ultimately influence the lives and learning of our students.
Episodes
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What Menopause Support Actually Looks Like in Schools with Mary Coustas
Women make up 72% of Australia's school workforce, and every one of them will navigate perimenopause and menopause. Many do so during peak leadership years, carrying symptoms easily mistaken for burnout. With one in two educators reporting burnout and fewer than half feeling encouraged to discuss...
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What 4,536 Australian Educators Told Us About School Staff Wellbeing
Only 57% of Australian school staff report that work positively affects their mental health, and 1 in 2 are currently experiencing burnout. When I sat down to write the Staff Wellbeing Across Australia report, I originally set out to produce a concise 10-page summary. One hundred and ten pages...
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Who Holds the Leaders? Principal Wellbeing and Sustainable Leadership with Elsie Clelland
Conditions in primary schools are more likely to be reported as positive according to our State of Staff Wellbeing in Australia report. Above-average ICSEA primary schools recorded the strongest results in the national dataset, with 67% of staff reporting high morale and 77% a positive culture....
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Rebuilding Trust and Culture in Complex Schools with Sue Chandler
Staff in below-average ICSEA secondary schools reported the toughest conditions in the State of Staff Wellbeing in Australia report, with poor leader-staff communication at an average of 71%, staff shortages at 63%, and lack of trust amongst staff sitting at 58%. The data tells a clear story of...
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Designing Work That Actually Protects Your Staff’s Wellbeing with Jason van Schie
Most schools have spent years working on staff wellbeing. They’ve written policies and frameworks, funded programs, and scheduled wellbeing days. And yet the workers' compensation data reports that education now sits among the worst-performing sectors in the country for psychological injury…
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Why Your Psychosocial Risk Assessment Isn’t Stopping Staff Burnout
Most school leaders understand that psychosocial safety is a legal obligation. Very few have figured out how to make it feel like anything more than a compliance activity. In this solo episode, I unpack the gap between obligation and opportunity, and what it actually takes to move psychosocial...
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Leaders Don’t Need More Things to Do, They Need More Time to Think with Aimee Presnall
What if the one thing that would make the biggest difference to your wellbeing, strategic clarity and positive school culture as a school leader isn’t another strategy or initiative, it’s simply more time to think? In this episode of Well-Led Schools, I’m joined for the third time by Aimee…
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From Programs to System: Building Whole-School Wellbeing That Works with Justin Robinson
Most schools have wellbeing programs or initiatives. Very few have wellbeing embedded into the way they function and flourish. That is the difference between bolting something on and creating real, lasting change. In this episode, I am joined by Justin Robinson, co-founder of the Wellbeing...
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What Educators Actually Need to Feel Purposeful Again with Glen Gerreyn
It’s the start of a new term. Some of your staff may be walking back into school running on empty, not because they don’t care, but because they’ve lost sight of why it matters. What educators actually need to feel purposeful again isn’t another wellbeing afternoon or a gratitude wall. According…
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From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset with Brad Gaynor
Burnout in school leadership is rarely dramatic. More often, it looks like a principal who has driven home in tears after holding it together all day, or a leader who lies awake at 2 am running through tomorrow’s decisions, or someone quietly building a wall between who they are at work and who...
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Ferocious Warmth: Leading with Both the Head and the Heart with Tracey Ezard
What does it really look like to lead with both strength and care — to be ferocious and warm at the very same time? In this episode of Well-Led Schools, I'm joined by leadership expert, author and speaker Tracey Ezard for one of the most energising conversations I've had on this podcast. We dive...
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Emotional Intelligence in Schools: Why It Changes Everything with Emma Gentle
Emotional intelligence is not an optional extra in schools. It is a foundational capability that influences how leaders lead, how staff relate, and in terms of wellbeing and psychosocial safety. In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Gentle, former teacher and Assistant Principal turned Emotional...
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It’s Not Just a Script: The Real Power of Restorative Practices in Schools with Kristy Elliot
If you’ve ever heard restorative practices described as “just a script” or a “soft option”, you’re not alone. In many schools, restorative language can feel confusing, incomplete or disconnected from the real work of relationships, culture and wellbeing. When that happens, staff often dismiss it…
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Who Really Shapes Morale in Schools
If you’ve ever felt the energy dip at school or amongst your team (or yourself!), you already know this episode isn’t about “morale boosters” or surface-level feel-good strategies. It’s about the deeper truth many schools miss: morale is shaped at multiple levels, and the most powerful influences...
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S3E18: Wired, Tired and Overwhelmed: The Physiology of Stress with Bianca McLeish
If you’ve worked in a school for more than five minutes, you know that stress in education doesn’t always arrive as a dramatic “I can’t do this anymore” moment. More often, it creeps in quietly through the constant rushing, the emotional load of caring for students, the relentless pace and the...
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S3E17: How Educators Can Navigate Anxiety and Build Emotional Resilience with Dr. Jodi Richardson
We’ve all experienced it to some degree…the racing heart, sweaty palms, dizziness and that fleeting sense of losing control. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jodi Richardson to talk about one of the most common yet misunderstood experiences in both our personal and professional lives…
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S3E16: Turning School Vision Into Action and Alignment with James Clanfield
When a school’s vision isn’t clear, or worse, when it exists only as words on a website, it can leave staff feeling directionless, disconnected and unsure how their daily work contributes to something bigger. Without that shared sense of purpose, culture fragments, wellbeing suffers and strategic...
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S3E15: The Three Plates of School Leadership: What Matters Most When Everything Feels Urgent with Dr. Pete Stebbins
Leading a school is one of the most fulfilling jobs you can have — but it can also feel like one of the hardest. Every day, school leaders are pulled between the demands of strategy, staff, students, and their own wellbeing. It often feels like spinning plates, where the slightest wobble in one...
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S3E14: Rethinking Workload: How AI Can Support Staff Wellbeing in Schools with Amy Green
Educators are no strangers to overwhelming workloads. From endless lesson planning and admin to keeping up with emails and data collection, the job can often feel never-ending. Add to that the constant stream of headlines about teacher burnout, and it’s no wonder many staff feel stuck in a cycle…
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S3E13: Wellbeing Strategies vs. Strategies for Wellbeing with Andrew Oberthur
When was the last time your school really paused to consider what it means for staff to thrive, not just survive? Many wellbeing initiatives in schools focus on quick fixes, such as morning teams, yoga sessions, or casual “wellbeing weeks,” which offer temporary boosts but don’t create lasting...
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S3E12: Creating Happier, Healthier Schools with Dr. Tim Sharp
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Tim Sharp, also known as “Dr. Happy”, to explore how positive psychology can transform the way schools approach staff wellbeing. Together, we unpack what truly drives happiness and resilience at work, from small daily habits to...
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S3E11: What The Latest Data Reveals About Staff and Teacher Wellbeing
In this episode, I unpack the latest research, national survey data and emerging trends shaping the state of teacher wellbeing in 2025. Drawing on insights from thousands of educators across more than 60 Australian schools, I explore what’s really impacting teacher wellbeing. You’ll learn why...
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S3E10: Creating a School Culture Where Staff Feel Seen, Heard and Valued with Daniela Falecki
Have you ever felt awkward accepting a compliment or unsure how to show genuine appreciation to someone on your team without it feeling forced? In busy school environments, appreciation often gets reduced to coffee carts and morning teas. While well-intentioned, these gestures don’t always land…
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S3E9: Building Thriving School Communities Through a Focus on Wellbeing with David Kolpak
Many schools face a common challenge: how to cultivate staff wellbeing and build a thriving culture amid fragmented efforts and wellbeing initiatives that often fall short or don’t last. Leaders want teams that feel connected, supported and energised, because when staff wellbeing flourishes,...
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S3E8: How to Structure and Support School Teams for High Performance with Dr. Pete Stebbins
When a school team feels “a bit off”, it’s tempting to think it’s a people problem, but often, it’s a structure problem. How teams are set up, supported and expected to function plays a far greater role in their success than we might assume. Without clarity around roles, norms and purpose, even...
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S3E7: Changing The Narrative: What It Really Takes To Address The Current Teacher Crisis with Brad Gaynor
Educators across the country are burning out, feeling undervalued, and walking away from the profession in increasing numbers. While the headlines often focus on pay or staffing gaps, many of us working in schools know that the issues run far deeper. The loss of trust in teachers, unrealistic...
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S3E6: Navigating Difficult Conversations in Schools with Shane Michael Hatton
Difficult conversations are a part of every educator’s world, whether it's addressing performance concerns, navigating team dynamics, or holding a student’s wellbeing at the center of a tough decision. But let’s be honest: many of us dread them. They’re uncomfortable, emotionally charged, and…
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S3E5: From Overwhelmed to Calm: Practical Strategies for Educators with Michelle Gauthier
Ever feel like your to-do list is never-ending, your inbox is overflowing, and no matter how hard you try to get ahead, you’re always playing catch-up? You’re not alone. As leaders and educators, we’re constantly juggling lesson planning, meetings, emails, student needs, and—oh yeah—our own…
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S3E4: Leading With Love to Transform Student (and Staff!) Behaviour with Bernii Godwin
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, I sit down with educator and behaviour specialist Bernii Godwin to explore what it truly means to love students on purpose. We discuss how building relationships rooted in respect, honor, and care can empower students far more effectively than...
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S3E3: Why Every School Needs a Staff Wellbeing Framework
In this solo episode, I reveal why a structured Staff Wellbeing Framework is the key to reducing burnout, improving retention and fostering a thriving school culture. Many schools believe they’re supporting staff wellbeing, but without a clear framework, efforts often rely on scattered…
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S3E2: Mitigating the Effects of Compassion Fatigue in Education - With Nichole Williams
In this second part of our conversation with Nichole Williams, Principal of Lavington East Public School, we dive deeper into the topic of compassion fatigue in education. Nichole shares her research findings, personal experiences, and actionable strategies to help school leaders and educators...
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S3E1: Trust, Teamwork, and Transformation - The Strategies That Turned a School Culture Around with Nichole Williams
Welcome to Season 3 of the Well-Led School Podcast! We’re starting the year with the first of a two-part series featuring Nichole Williams, Principal of Lavington East Public School, located on the NSW-VIC border. With nearly 20 years of experience in the NSW public education system, including…
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S2E20: The Interplay of Staff and Student Wellbeing in Schools with Tony Cox
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast, we welcome Tony Cox, founder of Wellbeing Education Solutions, to discuss the important topic of student wellbeing. Tony shares his insights on why prioritising wellbeing isn't just beneficial for students but also makes teachers' jobs easier. When...
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S2E19: How to Manage Daily Interruptions and Prioritise Wellbeing in Education with Aimee Presnall
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we welcome back Aimee Presnall, a wellbeing consultant and founder of Well-Nest, who has a deep passion for embedding wellbeing at the core of school culture. Aimee brings her extensive experience in education and leadership to the conversation,...
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S2E18: The Impact of Effective Communication on Staff Wellbeing with Vicky Essebag
In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Vicky Essebag, a relational communication specialist with extensive experience in both education and family therapy. Vicky has held roles as a teacher, guidance counselor, curriculum consultant, and vice-principal, and she is also a...
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S2E17: Finding Your Sacred Ground So You Can Lead With Authenticity with Katrina Bourke
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we sit down with Katrina Bourke to explore the importance of leading authentically in education. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and school leader, Katrina emphasises the significance of human skills in leadership. Authentic…
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S2E16: Building Resilience and Preventing Burnout in Education with Meg Durham
Educator burnout is becoming increasingly common, to the point where many celebrate being so busy as if it's a badge of honor. However, this relentless pace and lack of rest can lead to significant mental health challenges. In this episode, we emphasize the importance of taking a step back and...
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S2E15: How to Step into a Leadership Role Without the Official Title with Karen Caswell
In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Karen Caswell, an experienced senior teacher, wellbeing enthusiast, blogger and podcaster. Join us for an honest and vulnerable conversation where we reflect on the essential qualities of effective leadership and explore the concept of leading...
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S2E14: Embracing MESSY Leadership and the Power of Coaching in Education with Rosie Connor
In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Rosie Connor, a leader in the field of education and not-for-profit leadership development. With over twenty years of experience, Rosie has dedicated her career to empowering leaders to excel and make a significant impact in their…
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S2E13: The Value and Importance of Mastering Effective Staff Consultation with Dr. Paul Teys
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Paul Teys, an expert in educational leadership with over four decades of experience. Following his discussion on the foundations of effective educational leadership earlier this season, Paul returns to explore the vital topic of...
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S2E12: How to Establish a Culture of Trust and Psychological Safety in Schools with Corey Tavella
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we welcomed returning guest Corey Tavella, principal of Thomas More College in South Australia— a large co-ed school with almost 1,100 students that has grown over 30% since his time as principal. Corey recently completed his Master's degree,...
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S2E11: Using Positive Psychology to Cultivate Flourishing Schools With Chris Daicos
In this episode, I had the pleasure of diving into the world of Positive Psychology with our guest, Chris Daicos, an experienced educator and consultant with over 40 years of experience in the field of education. Chris's expertise lies in leveraging Positive Psychology interventions to foster...
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S2E10: Strategies to Support Parents and Carers to Cultivate Connection With Their Children with Kathy Bowers
In this episode, I had the honour of chatting with Kathy Bowers, a parenting coach with over four decades of experience working with children and their families. Why a parenting coach on a teacher wellbeing podcast? Much of our work with students relies on the relationships we have with parents.…
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S2E9: Meeting Students Where They’re At: Transformative Strategies to Support and Engage Today’s Youth With Dr Tori Ellis
In this episode, I am joined by the fabulous Dr. Tori Ellis, a Transformational Life and Business Coach and author based in New York City. I had the pleasure of asking Dr. Ellis some thought-provoking questions about her work and insights about her unique approach to working with young people,...
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S2E8: How To Better Support Your School Community Through Trauma-Informed Practices With Megan Corcoran
In this episode, I had the pleasure of connecting with Megan Corcoran, the Founder and Director of Wagtail Institute. Her mission is to empower schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities where everyone can thrive. She works alongside leaders, educators and social...
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S2E7: The Six Proven Steps To Improved Staff Wellbeing and Culture at Your School with Rob Lans
Social events, morning teas and the one-off wellbeing workshops can only do so much to improve staff wellbeing and school culture. While they’re well-intentioned, these initiatives only target the very surface of the daily challenges school staff face. We need to take a deeper look at the...
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S2E6: The Guiding Principles For Leading Your School With Wellbeing in Mind with Corey Tavella
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast I am joined by Corey Tavella, Principal of Thomas More College in South Australia where, together, we’ll be exploring the guiding principles of ‘Well-Led’ schools. When adopted and applied, these principles can help schools to “lead with wellbeing…
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S2E5: The Foundations of Effective Educational Leadership with Dr. Paul Teys
In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast, we explore the crucial aspects of educational leadership with Dr. Paul Teys, an inspiring leader in the education space with over four decades of experience in the field. As a seasoned mentor, coach, and expert in educational leadership, Dr. Paul...
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S2E4: The Significance of Soft Skills in Education and Leadership With Chantelle Kohn
In this episode, I am joined by Chantelle Kohn - educator, facilitator, change-maker, and Founder of The Change Collab, specialising in helping leaders, teams and teachers develop the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes needed to create and sustain thriving communities. In this conversation…
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S2EP3: 10 Steps To Meaningfully Improve Staff Wellbeing and School Culture in 2024
In season 2, episode 3 of the Well-Led Schools podcast I am pulling this conversation from the vault. I was joined on the podcast at the beginning of last year by Rob Lans - school principal and expert on leading schools with wellbeing in mind. As we commence 2024, many schools will be focusing…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
As the rates of professional stress and burnout increase for school leaders, teachers and staff, the solution lies in how we lead our schools and prioritise workplace wellbeing to become "Well-Led" Schools - those that lead with “wellbeing in mind.”Join experienced Wellbeing Consultant, Strategist, Speaker and School Leader Adrienne Hornby for a host of inspiring conversations with experts and forward thinkers. Covering all things teacher wellbeing, school leadership and culture building - you'll walk away with ideas and recommendations on ways to evolve your leadership, create a mentally healthy workplace and ultimately influence the lives and learning of our students.
HOSTED BY
Adrienne Hornby
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Well-Led Schools have?
Well-Led Schools currently has 73 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Well-Led Schools about?
As the rates of professional stress and burnout increase for school leaders, teachers and staff, the solution lies in how we lead our schools and prioritise workplace wellbeing to become "Well-Led" Schools - those that lead with “wellbeing in mind.”Join experienced Wellbeing Consultant, Strategist,...
How often does Well-Led Schools release new episodes?
Well-Led Schools has 73 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Well-Led Schools?
You can listen to Well-Led Schools on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Well-Led Schools?
Well-Led Schools is created and hosted by Adrienne Hornby.
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