Empowering Educators
Support, resources, and reminders for when the helpers need help too.
Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma can be healed and even prevented when the mechanisms leading to them are identified and made conscious.”
– Babette Rothschild, Help for the Helper
The last few weeks have been a lot for many. It was perfect timing for me to be reminded of the book Help for the Helper, which explores the nervous system and the emotional toll of working in helping professions like education, therapy, and nursing.
Last Friday, my body gave me a clear signal that I was heading toward burnout, and then showing up as a stress rash across different parts of my body a day later. It brought back memories of a similar experience in 2022, when I emotionally and physically froze during a school day and a similar rash appeared days later. These moments are scary but also incredibly valid. They remind us that our bodies will speak up when we don’t slow down and listen.
So what is Burnout?
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress often from work.
It can look like:
Losing passion or motivation
Feeling emotionally flat or numb
Struggling to do basic tasks (e.g. lesson planning)
Sleep difficulties
Feeling hopeless, withdrawn, or irritable
Physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or low immunity
But there is also Compassion Fatigue that may educators and allied health professionals can feel the effects of as well.
And what about compassion fatigue?
Compassion fatigue is the emotional, spiritual, and physical exhaustion that can arise from caring deeply for others especially those experiencing distress. It's common among educators, nurses, therapists, and anyone in a helping role.
Emotional numbness or detachment
Hopelessness
Increased anger or irritability
Mental and physical exhaustion
Muscle pain, sleep issues, digestive concerns
Feeling disconnected from your role or those around you
For educators, it can be a lot:
Between lesson planning, student support, admin load, and last-minute responsibilities it adds up. If you’re highly empathic (like so many of us in helping roles), it’s easy for the emotional load to become overwhelming.
You’re Not Alone, there are many supports Available 💛
If any of this feels familiar, please know there are confidential, free services available to you wherever you are in Australia. Each state and territory has its own wellbeing services for education staff.
Here are a couple of examples:
💬 Victoria: Employee Wellbeing Support Services (EWSS) – Converge International
Available to all Victorian government school staff (and their immediate families):
Personal and work counselling
Manager support
Career coaching
Nutrition & wellbeing advice
Legal and financial support
📞 1300 291 071 | Use Org Code: mywellbeing to book online
🔗 More info here
👉Note: If you're in another state or work in the independent or Catholic sector, check your Department of Education or HR intranet. Most offer EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) and wellbeing support services.
🌿 Other Helpful Resources:
ReachOut Schools – Practical tools for educator self-care
Be You (Beyond Blue) – Whole-school wellbeing strategies
Smiling Mind – Free mindfulness programs for staff & students
Lifeline – 13 11 14 – 24/7 phone support
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
Medicare Mental Health 1800 595 212
the Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467
Please note: If you or someone you know is considering suicide and has a plan or intent to follow through, this is an emergency.📞 Call Triple Zero (000) or go to your nearest hospital immediately.
I get how hard it is to find time for yourself but if we don’t make time, our bodies will force us to. I’m learning (still!) how to listen to my nervous system before it crashes. In my next post, I’ll share a free resource to help regulate your stress and reconnect with your body gently.
You are not alone. And you’re doing better than you think. 💛
