Perhaps the best place to start is the maths. Based on the latest attendance figures, the average Australian child starting school this year will miss 221 days by the end of Year 10.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
That's 44 weeks of school - over a year of learning. Lost.
The consequences of absenteeism are obvious: students who miss a lot of school are more likely to fall behind academically. But it's not just learning that's undermined. It affects social connections and relationships.
New data from the Productivity Commission's Report on Government Services, released this week, shows a small but further decline in attendance in 2024. And as Australia's young people head back to the classroom, I'm concerned about what this means for future student engagement, and outcomes, like year 12 completion.
For students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, the attendance challenge is even greater. These young people face barriers to education - like housing instability, financial stress and a lack of transport - that their peers simply don't.
As a Churchill Fellow, I've visited education experts in the US and New Zealand to explore what works, and what doesn't.
Here are seven things Australia needs to consider if we're serious about reversing the trend:
How we talk matters
Our laws governing school attendance use punitive language. Reframing attendance as a wellbeing issue and shifting the conversation from blame and punishment will help us focus on the real contributors.
Be proactive and smarter with data
Use data to build better early warning systems to identify students who need support before attendance impacts academic performance and wellbeing.
Ask the right questions
Forget assumptions about why students miss school and find out the reasons directly. Talk to them. Talk to their families. When we know the why we can help.
Tailor solutions
One-size-fits-all solutions won't work. What's required are targeted, multi-layered support systems to tackle the wide range of contributing factors.
Access to support
When problems are identified, make sure students and families can access timely, affordable health, mental health, and social services support.
Share knowledge
Create a platform where schools and policymakers can share research, data, and best practices, and access tailored advice.
Take action
Redesign education and rethink attendance expectations, so every student can see the purpose of being at school.
Attendance had been falling before the COVID-19 pandemic pushed it into overdrive. And while attendance rates for years 1 to 10 improved from 86.5 per cent in 2022 to 88.6 per cent in 2023, they dipped again slightly last year to 88.3 per cent. Students are still missing more school than pre-pandemic.
Australia's new Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, so far adopted by six states and territories, provides an opportunity to turn these stats around. Every day a child spends at school is a chance to gain the knowledge and skills they need to thrive. When they miss out, it's not just days lost - it's opportunities and potential, both for them and our future society.
- Dr Kirsten Hancock is a Churchill Fellow and National Manager Research and Evaluation at children's education charity The Smith Family.
