The Growing Crisis of School Absenteeism: A National Challenge
For many young Australians, the vision of high school painted on television screens – a place of camaraderie and effortless belonging – remains an elusive dream. For 14-year-old Mimi Highgate, the reality has been a far more challenging journey. Starting Year 9 at Mount Eliza Secondary College, Mimi’s experience with school refusal began around the COVID-19 pandemic when she was in Year 4. “I would just start freaking out,” she recalls. “My legs would start shaking. I’d get panicky, my heart would start racing.” This intense anxiety made returning to school after absences incredibly difficult, exacerbating pre-existing struggles with anxiety.
School absenteeism has emerged as a significant post-pandemic issue across Australia. Recent data from the Productivity Commission highlights a concerning trend: national attendance rates for Years 7-10 have declined by 4 per cent since 2018, now sitting at 86.5 per cent. While younger students in Year 7 show higher attendance (89.5 per cent), the rate drops significantly for Year 10 students, reaching 84.5 per cent.
Victoria is also grappling with this challenge. Attendance rates for Years 7-10 in the state have fallen from 92.4 per cent in 2016 to 86.9 per cent in 2025. An earlier analysis by the Grattan Institute painted an even starker picture, revealing that more than one in 10 students are absent from school daily. Their December report indicated that approximately 40 per cent of Australian students – over 1.2 million – miss at least one day of school every fortnight. This equates to a staggering loss of four weeks of schooling per year for many, and an entire year of education between the start of school and the end of Year 10.
“That’s not a blip,” stated Amy Haywood, Education Deputy at the Grattan Institute. “School attendance has been sliding for more than a decade, and the pandemic poured fuel on the fire.” The trend is more pronounced in government schools, which report an attendance rate of 84 per cent, compared to 89.9 per cent in non-government schools.
Understanding the Roots of Absence
Experts identify a complex web of factors contributing to student absenteeism. These can range from disengagement with the curriculum and a lack of structured routines to challenging family circumstances, deliberate truancy, and practical barriers to attendance. A particularly difficult form of absence is school refusal, where a student genuinely desires to attend school but is overcome by an inability to do so due to overwhelming anxiety or distress.
Mimi, who has ADHD, autism, and dyslexia, finds her Wednesdays significantly easier due to her participation in the “Hands on Learning” program. Developed in 1999 and later partnering with Save the Children Australia, this initiative focuses on building practical capabilities and fostering social and emotional growth, skills that are designed to be transferable to the classroom and everyday life. For students like Mimi, activities such as building, cooking, and gardening, combined with setting achievable goals, offer a less anxious pathway back into a school environment.
“It is amazing. It is so relieving,” Mimi shared. “You have somewhere you won’t be judged. Not too overstimulating. All the people there are lovely and they are there to support you.”
Danielle Vaughan, Principal of Mount Eliza Secondary College, has also observed an increase in students arriving late to school, a pattern that negatively impacts both their learning and sense of belonging. The school has been running the Hands On Learning program since 2014, with around 30 students participating annually. “While Hands On learning works for some kids, it doesn’t work for others,” Vaughan noted. “So make sure you’ve got lots of different strategies and tool boxes.”
A National Commitment to Improvement
The Australian Government is acknowledging the severity of the issue. Education Minister Jason Clare has indicated that attendance rates for Years 1-10 are showing signs of improvement after years of decline. Across the nation, the overall student attendance rate in 2025 was 88.8 per cent, a slight increase from 88.3 per cent in 2024. “But there is more to do,” Clare stated. “We’ve set a target of increasing student attendance to over 90 per cent by 2030.”
The personal toll of school refusal on families is immense. Mimi’s mother, Laura, described the experience as “heartbreaking,” causing significant stress and disrupting her paid work. “It can be absolutely exhausting. But at the same time, you’ve just got to keep asking the questions, because a lot isn’t offered on a silver platter,” she advised. Laura emphasised the crucial role of parents in advocating for their children’s needs. “Being a teenager, it’s a tough time. To be able to find a place where you’re really valued and you feel like you can really contribute in a way that works for you is so important,” she added.
While school days without the Hands On Learning program remain challenging for Mimi, she now possesses a vital anchor. She has found a place at school where she feels genuinely herself and has discovered a clear vision for her future. Thanks to the program, Mimi has fallen in love with the idea of becoming a tradie, a career path she had never previously considered. Her journey highlights the profound impact of tailored support and understanding in helping young people navigate the complexities of education and discover their potential.
