When news surfaced in March, that schools across Australia were recording record levels of violence, with a huge number of principals having either suffered physical abuse, last year, or witnessed it, education reporter Nicole Precel wanted to find out more.

What, if anything, could stop principals from being bitten, and teachers from being pushed down stairs, by students? And turn around the often plummeting academic records and mental health of the students at these schools?

Today, Nicole Precel, on how two determined principals dramatically altered the culture of a school dubbed, only six years ago, “Australia’s worst school”. 

And the trauma they needed to confront, in order to do it.