2022-10-27
The Senate Education and Employment References Committee will undertake an inquiry into the alarming rise in students that are unable to attend school, after a Greens’ motion passed the Senate with bipartisan support today.
The Greens’ “School Can’t” inquiry will look into the reasons why an increasing number of primary and secondary school children are unable to attend school on a consistent basis; its impacts on young people, families, service providers and schools; and what governments are doing to address the problem. The committee will report on March 22 next year.
Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson on schools, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:
“School refusal is a growing problem for many school-age children who are unable to attend school due to extreme mental distress, neurodivergence, or other factors.
“It’s distinct from truancy, and much deeper than that. Many children experience genuine and severe emotional distress when they’re required to attend school and will refuse to go, a phenomenon on the rise since the Covid pandemic.
“This has dramatic impacts on not only the education and well-being of these children, but also on the families and carers whose lives are often turned upside down.
“This inquiry will examine the scale of this problem nationally, its impacts on children, families and the wider community, and how governments around the country are responding. I encourage all affected parents and carers to make a submission.”