Be informed

Load up your information toolkit 

In good news, there are more options and pathways available to students now than ever before!  

Find the information you need to support your child or young person to find an individual pathway that’s right for them:  

• The Anything is Possible website (we want you to be future ready) – there are plenty of ways to finish school tailored to individual needs and preferences 
• Careerify – an informative portal to help make career decisions 
• Courses guide – choose the ideal program of learning for years 11 and 12 
• Talk to your school – they’re there to help.  

Set up a time to talk to your child or young person’s teacher or principal. 

If you’re struggling to either get your child or young person to school or guide their learning pathways, support is available. Please talk to your school about your individual situation. 

Know when to seek help 

It’s ok to ask for help and support for your individual circumstances. If your child or young person is beginning to disengage with school, or is not attending at all, there is support available to help. Understandably, this is a worrying time for you as a parent or carer. In the first instance, talk to your school. They’ll help you work out some strategies to re-engage your child with their education including supports for wellbeing. 

Take notice and action 

It’s normal for children and young people to miss a few days of school during the year, but intervention for ongoing school absence shouldn’t be delayed.  

In primary school look out for: 

• Tearfulness or clinginess upon arriving at school or repeated pleas to go home. 
• Frequent complaints of illness before and during school. This may include stomach aches, headaches, dizziness or fatigue. 
• Regular non-attendance after weekends, school holidays, school camps or sports days. 
• Long, unexplained and unjustified absences from school. 
• Frequent lateness to school. 
• Reports of long periods spent out of class in the sick bay or principal’s office. 
• Change of behaviour and withdrawal from activities outside of school and at home. 

In high school look out for: 

• Frequent unexplained or unjustified absences. Especially after weekends, after school holidays, school camps or sports days.  
• Frequent lateness. 
• Reports of frequent partial attendance. 
• Absences on significant days. For example days on which tests, speeches, or physical education class are scheduled.  
• Reports of frequent requests to go to the sick bay.  
• Frequent requests to call home or to go home during the day. 
• Change of behaviour and withdrawal from activities outside of school and at home. 

If you are concerned about your child or young person’s school attendance, you should reach out to their school for support.  Even if the situation doesn’t meet the signs listed above, you can raise what you’re seeing at home and find out how your child or young person is doing at school. You can also discuss possible supports that may be available.  

It is helpful to adopt a curious approach when trying to find out what may be happening for a child or young person. Remember, everybody has a role and responsibility to help. 

Did you know?

In Australia, state and national reporting describes ‘regular attendance’ as equal to or greater than 90 per cent. Research shows that in general, missing 10 per cent of the school year has a negative effect on student’s academic performance.  

There is no safe number of days for missing school. Being away from school for one day a fortnight adds up to missing four whole weeks of school a year.