Webinar: Helping Mosman and North Sydney parents tackle the growing crisis of “school refusal”

By ANNA USHER

New data shows at least 1.6 million Australian children missed a month’s worth of lessons last year, as student attendance slipped back to pandemic level numbers.

The rise of school refusal – also known as “school can’t” has doubled the number of kids being home educated since 2019.

Research released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority reveals students attended just 88.3 percent of school days in 2024, with 40 per cent of students missing at least 10 per cent of lessons.

For parents across the country dealing with school refusal – a long-term absence different from “wagging” – it’s a daily battle that strains relationships, impacts careers, and harms the futures of kids who miss months or years of school.

North Sydney, Mosman and Northern Beaches Councils have joined forces with counterparts in Lane Cove, City of Ryde, Willoughby City, Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, and Hunters Hill to host a special webinar exploring the phenomenon of school refusal and offering practical strategies for support.

“Featuring expert panellist’s from KYDS, EPIC and Youth Up Front, the webinar will explore school refusal and school can’t, examining the complex factors involved, the anxiety cycle’s impact on attendance, and strategies for early intervention,” an event spokesperson told Mosman Collective.

The webinar is designed for parents and carers of children aged 10 –16 years (Years 5 –10), as well as educators, social service providers, and community members.

What is school refusal and who is at risk?

The reasons children struggle to attend school can be complex. Research suggests that risk factors can include psychological problems, socio-economic disadvantage and school environment problems like bullying.

While school refusal can be caused by problems at home or school, it’s often associated with autism, ADHD and anxiety disorders.

Some of the ways experts and education departments say it can present are:

• Reluctance to get up on school mornings
• Tantrums or outbursts
• Repeated pleas to go home
• Frequent lateness or skipping of school
• Frequent requests to go to the sick bay
• Threats to harm themselves

Fundamentally it’s where a child has trouble attending or remaining at school due to varying underlying stressors.

Details:

What: School Refusal Webinar
When: Wednesday 14 May
Time: 7pm to 8:30pm
Cost: FREE