Publications
Carly’s doctoral project through the University of Melbourne was Australia’s first empirical and psychologically-grounded research on judicial stress in Australia.
The study involved 152 judicial officers from five Australian courts, and explored the nature, prevalence, and severity of judicial stress, as well as the factors that promote and undermine judicial wellbeing.
We are proud to share our work — and hope these resources are helpful to you and your organisation. Please get in touch if you are interested in further material on the topic.
Major reports
The privilege and the pressure: Judges’ and magistrates’ reflections on the sources and impacts of stress in judicial work
Schrever, Hulbert & Sourdin, 2024
The third report looks at the lived experience of stress in judicial work, and ideas for court responses, by considering themes arising from 59 in-depth interviews with Australian judicial officers.
Where stress presides: Investigating occupational stress within the Australian judiciary
Schrever 2023
Carly’s full doctoral thesis incorporates the published empirical studies, as well as other chapters exploring the background and context of the research, a review of existing literature, and a summary of the implications and impacts of the overall research project.
Where stress presides:
Predictors and correlates of stress among Australian judges and magistrates
Schrever, Hulbert, & Sourdin 2021
The second report addresses the question: ‘Which judicial officers are most stressed, and why?’, by considering the demographic and workplace factors associated with higher stress among judges and magistrates.
The psychological impact of judicial work: Australia’s first research measuring judicial stress and wellbeing.
Schrever, Hulbert, & Sourdin 2019
This first report arising from the research addresses the question: ‘Are judicial officers stressed?’, by comparing judicial officers’ stress levels on a range of measures, with those of the broader legal profession, other professional groups and the general population.
Summary articles
The human dimension of judging:
A summary of a recent interview study of Australian judicial officers.
Schrever (2024)
Judicial stress, the unmentionable and the undeniable:
A summary of Australia's first empirical research measuring stress in judicial work.
Schrever, Commonwealth Judicial Journal (June 2023)
Judging stress.
Schrever (2022)
Australia’s first research measuring judicial stress:
What does it mean for judicial officers and the courts?
Schrever (2019)
Australia’s first research measuring judicial stress and wellbeing:
A preview of the findings.
Schrever (2018), commencing at page 859
Other articles
Judicial Wellbeing: From an ‘Unmentionable Topic’ to a Global Conversation.
Carly Schrever (2025)
The Nauru Declaration: A milestone for judicial wellness.
Wilmanasena, Leitch, Schrever and Fogel (2024)
Vicarious trauma in the judicial workplace:
State liability for judicial psychiatric injury in Australia.
Burns, Schrever & Vines, 2024
The courtroom: An arena of professional stress and wellbeing.
Schrever & Ryan, 2024
How to manage the downside of compassion.
Ryan & Schrever, 2024
Preliminary findings from a large-scale national study measuring judicial officers’ psychological reactions to their work and workplace.
Schrever et al., 2024
In the news
Judicial stress falls heaviest on magistrates.
Pursuit, 25 May 2021
No longer a taboo: Psychologist Carly Schrever on judicial stress and wellbeing.
Sydney Criminal Lawyers, 18 Dec 2020
Mental health a concern in new judicial study.
Lawyers Weekly, 13 May 2019
Wellbeing survey of Australia’s judiciary reveals risk of distress and burnout.
Pursuit, 6 May 2019
Podcasts
Dr Carly Schrever
William & Lonsdale: Lives in the Law – 27 February 2024
How stressful is it to be a judge or magistrate?
Radio National, The Law Report – 18 June 2024
On the importance of being well at work’ for lawyers working in children’s law
Best Interests Children’s Law Podcast – March 2024
Combatting vicarious trauma in the workplace
Barry Nilsson The Checkup Podcast – February 2024
Victoria’s Yoo-rrook Justice Commission and new research on Magistrate stress levels
Radio National, 25 May 2021
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