Nearly half of Australian public servants report high workplace stress
A survey of Australian public servants found 46 per cent experience high or very high stress at work.
Nearly half of Australian public servants say they face high or very high stress at work, according to The Mandarin's 2026 Frank and Fearless survey. The stress is not just about workload.
The stress comes when accountability exceeds actual influence or control, said Letitia Hope, IPAA ACT deputy president. Public servants carry significant responsibilities for outcomes and to their communities, she explained.
When the weight of that responsibility is greater than the power to shape results, stress climbs sharply.
- 46 per cent high or very high
- Stress level reported
- Letitia Hope, IPAA ACT deputy president
- Expert commenting
Why it mattersHow public servants feel at work affects how well they serve the people who rely on government services.
AustraliaAustralia's public services from hospitals to benefits payments depend on staff who feel unsupported and overwhelmed by expectations they cannot control.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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