The daily struggle to get kids to school is a growing crisis across Australia, leaving many families feeling lost and overwhelmed.
Imagine wanting to experience the quintessential high school life, the one you see depicted everywhere, but finding yourself unable to walk through those gates. For 14-year-old Mimi Highgate, and an increasing number of her peers, this isn't just a fleeting thought – it's a daily reality. Mimi, who is now in Year 9 at Mount Eliza Secondary College, started experiencing school refusal around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, back in Year 4. She vividly recalls the overwhelming anxiety: "I would just start freaking out. My legs would start shaking. I’d get panicky, my heart would start racing." These intense feelings led to weeks of absence, making it incredibly difficult to return to the classroom. While Mimi has always dealt with anxiety, schooling became a significantly harder challenge as her symptoms worsened.
But here's where it gets even more concerning: This issue of school absenteeism isn't a minor blip; it's a substantial problem that has escalated post-pandemic. Recent data from the Productivity Commission, released on a Tuesday, reveals a 4% drop in national attendance rates for Years 7-10 since 2025, with the overall attendance rate now standing at a concerning 86.5%. Interestingly, the data shows that younger students are managing to attend school more regularly, with 89.5% attendance in Year 7 compared to a lower 84.5% in Year 10. This suggests the challenges might be mounting as students progress through secondary school.
Looking specifically at Victoria, attendance rates for Years 7-10 have seen a decline from 92.4% in 2016 to 86.9% in 2025. An earlier, starker analysis by The Grattan Institute found that more than one in every 10 students is absent from school on any given day. Their December report highlighted that approximately 40% of Australian students – that's over 1.2 million young people – miss at least one day of school every fortnight. Amy Haywood, the education deputy at The Grattan Institute, pointed out the cumulative impact, stating that these absences are equivalent to missing four weeks of school per year, and an entire year of schooling by the time students finish Year 10. "That’s not a blip," she emphasized, adding, "School attendance has been sliding for more than a decade, and the pandemic poured fuel on the fire."
And this is the part most people miss: The trend of absenteeism is noticeably worse in government schools when compared to Catholic or independent schools. The Productivity Commission's 2025 findings indicate an 89.9% attendance rate in non-government schools, a significant contrast to the 84% in government schools. Experts identify a range of reasons behind this absenteeism, including disengagement from learning, a lack of routine, challenging family circumstances, truancy, or practical barriers. Crucially, there's also school refusal, a complex situation where a student genuinely desires to attend school but feels an overwhelming inability to do so.
For Mimi, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia, attending school on Wednesdays has become a much more manageable experience thanks to the Hands on Learning program offered by Save the Children. This program is designed to build capabilities and set social and emotional goals that are directly applicable to both the classroom and everyday life. For students like Mimi, it offers a gentler re-entry into the school environment through activities like building, cooking, and gardening, all while setting achievable goals. "It is amazing. It is so relieving. You have somewhere you won’t be judged. Not too overstimulating. All the people there are lovely and they are there to support you," Mimi shared, highlighting the program's positive impact.
Danielle Vaughan, the principal of Mount Eliza Secondary College, has also observed an increase in students arriving significantly late to school, which can negatively affect their learning and sense of belonging. Her school has been implementing the Hands On Learning program since 2014, with around 30 students participating annually. However, Vaughan wisely notes, "While Hands On learning works for some kids, it doesn’t work for others. So make sure you’ve got lots of different strategies and tool boxes." This underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to addressing student attendance.
On a more positive note, Education Minister Jason Clare stated that attendance rates for Years 1 to 10 are showing signs of improvement after years of decline. Nationally, the attendance rate for students was 88.8% in 2025, an increase from 88.3% in 2024. "But there is more to do," Clare acknowledged, setting an ambitious target: "We’ve set a target of increasing student attendance to over 90% by 2030."
Mimi’s mother, Laura, described the emotional toll of school refusal, noting the significant stress it placed on the entire family and the disruption to her 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, emphasizing the need for parents to be persistent advocates for their children. She added, "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."
While the school days Mimi doesn't have Hands On Learning are still challenging, she now has a safe haven where she feels truly herself and has discovered a clear future path. Thanks to the program, she's now aspiring to become a tradie, a career she hadn't even considered before falling in love with the hands-on work.
What are your thoughts on the rising rates of school absenteeism? Do you believe the focus should be more on individual support or systemic changes? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below!
