Is your child struggling to attend school? A growing challenge affecting many families with school-aged children is School Refusal or School Can’t.
For some parents, school refusal is a daily battle. For some students, the thought of going to school can result in severe distress.
For parents across the country dealing with school refusal—a long-term absence different from normal truancy—it’s a daily battle that strains relationships, impacts careers, and harms the prospects of kids who miss months or years of school.
What is School Refusal?
An article in The Conversation distinguishes between school reluctance and school refusal. The Article notes:
“But at other times, a child’s issues with school are more serious and a child feels overwhelmed by stressors that make attending school feel threatening, unsafe and impossible. This is what is seen as “school refusal”, although some families and researchers are now using the term “school can’t” to reframe the issue and avoid blaming children in these situations.
Some signs this could be happening to your child include:
- spending significant portions of the school day in the office or sick bay
- extreme difficulty in getting ready in the morning, even with basic tasks such as dressing or making breakfast
- physical symptoms such as nausea or dizziness that worsen on school days, but may also be evident on weekends
- persistent absences from school, even with encouragement and support
- extreme emotional reactions – crying, anger or complete withdrawal – when school is mentioned.”
In 2023, a bipartisan Senate Committee released a report on School Refusal.
The Senate committee made 14 recommendations, including extra subsidised mental health visits for young people, earlier interventions, and funding a “one-stop shop” support service providing resources and advice for parents.
What Factors Contribute to School Refusal?
Headspace lists the following contributing factors:
There might be a few contributing reasons that lead to school can’t:
- anxiety related to being separated from family
- worry related to social interactions
- changes to school environment such as transitioning from primary to high school or to a new school
- learning difficulties or conflict with teachers
- anxiety about exams or public speaking
- being affected by bullying or friendship difficulties
- an unsettled family life – separation or divorce or illness.
North Shore Councils Webinar on School Refusal
An initiative of the Northern Region Network of Councils, produced by Northern Beaches Council, with support from Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, City of Ryde, Willoughby City, Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, and Hunters Hill Council is an online webinar on School Refusal.
The webinar is being held on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 7 pm – 8:30 pm AEST – online.
The webinar features panellists from KYDS, EPIC and Youth Up Front. The webinar will examine factors involved, the anxiety cycle’s impact on attendance, and strategies for early intervention.
It will also cover school initiatives to support students and provide guidance on available resources and services for families.
The Webinar is designed for parents and carers of children aged 10 –16 years (approx. Years 5 –10), educators, social service providers, and community members.
The registration link is here.
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