The Australian Education Union (AEU) says a lack of government support in Victoria is leaving many staff inundated with extra work and associated stress.

Members of the Education Union say principals are among the hardest hit, as the state government demands more results from fewer resources.

Meredith Peace from the AEU says state schools in the Ballarat and Grampians regions are under increasing stress, created by unreachable requirements.

“They talk about more responsibility and more autonomy for principals but they're not providing us with the support and the resources that we need to be able to do the job that they expect us to do.”

“We've actually had principals make comments like 'we feel abandoned',” Ms Peace said.

Word from the Victorian Education Minister Martin Dixon throws the blame back on the Union though. Dixon says it continually opposes the Government’s attempts to give the principals more control to allocate resources.