The national trend of school refusal and related matters

August 2023

© Commonwealth of Australia 2023
ISBN: 978-1-76093-506-1

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Members
Abbreviations
List of recommendations
Chapter 1 - Introduction
  • Referral of the inquiry
  • Conduct of the inquiry
  • Acknowledgements
  • Structure of the report and references
  • Focus of the report
  • Language used in the report
  • Schooling in Australia
  • School attendance in Australia
Chapter 2 - School refusal in Australia
  • What is school refusal?
  • Drivers of school refusal
Chapter 3 - The impact of school refusal
  • Overview
  • The impact on young people
  • The impact on parents and carers
  • The impact on schools and service providers
Chapter 4 - Addressing school refusal: the need for a national approach
  • Overview
  • A national focus on school refusal
  • Data and research to support a national evidence base
Chapter 5 - Addressing school refusal: other barriers and opportunities
  • Overview
  • Improved awareness and understanding of school refusal
  • A stronger focus on student wellbeing in schools
  • Early identification and a framework for evidence-based interventions
  • Better cross-sector collaboration
  • More support for parents and carers
Chapter 6 - Committee view
  • Improving awareness and understanding of school refusal
  • Early identification of school refusal and evidence-based interventions
  • A national approach to school refusal
  • Increasing the focus on student wellbeing in schools
  • Improving crosssector collaboration
  • Improving support for parents
Labor Senators' additional comments
  • Learning and wellbeing in schools
  • Mental health and wellbeing services
Australian Greens' Senators additional comments
Appendix 1 - Submissions and Additional information
Appendix 2 - Public Hearings and Witnesses

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Education and Employment Committees
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3521
eec.sen@aph.gov.au

Past Public Hearings

20 Apr 2023: Brisbane Airport
23 Feb 2023: Melbourne
22 Feb 2023: Canberra

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