The Beginning Principal: Needs, Concerns, and Professional Development. Symposium Papers Presented at the Joint Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education and the New Zealand Association for Research in Education (Geelong, Victoria, Australia, November 22-26, 1992).

This report on a symposium is comprised of four short papers on the Beginning Principals Study in Victoria, Australia. The first paper (by Jenny Baker) chronicles the struggles of a beginning principal at a small suburban school. The government school is in a high socioeconomic area and is close to several prestigious private schools. Enrollment at the school was declining, and it had no permanent principal for several years. The second paper (by Geoff Beeson) presents the background and research design of the Beginning Principals Study. The study used interviews and surveys to examine leadership and decision making as well as the worklife, professional concerns, and development of the principalship for first timers. The third paper (by Margaret Mallia) reviews many of the findings of the Beginning Principals Study, Phase 1. Common among many of the first-time principals included in the study were feelings of isolation and a lack of preparedness in industrial and community relations. Other subjects included administrative structure, financial management, staff and relationships, industrial issues, and staff relationships. The fourth paper (by Robin Matthews) presents the design for the second phase of the study and professional-development issues. The first phase of the study revealed that the new principals' professional-development needs were not being met. (Contains 27 references.) (JPT)