Traditional approaches to managing school absenteeism are failing to meet the diverse needs of students and a new approach is needed to tackle a “school attendance crisis”, according to the national independent schools body.
A new report from the Independent Schools Australia said most educators agreed terms such as ‘school refusal’ or ‘school can’t’ were not adequate and it was difficult for schools and families to pinpoint exactly when non-attendance patterns have become ‘school refusal’.
“School non-attendance is a real issue for hundreds of thousands of students and families,” Graham Catt, CEO of Independent Schools Australia said.
“And while the term ‘school refusal’ implies a choice, the reality for many is that attending school just isn’t an option due to barriers like anxiety, trauma, or illness, and the fact that many students simply can’t cope with a mainstream model.”
A Nationwide Inconsistency Problem
A key finding of the report, A Flexible Solution to Complex School Attendance Issues, points to a lack of national consistency in how schools define, record, and respond to student absence, leaving schools without clear guidelines or proven frameworks to address issues.
Independent Schools Australia is advocating for the use of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) model specifically designed to address school attendance challenges. The proposed three-tier system would include:
Tier 1 focuses on whole-school wellbeing and belonging strategies designed to create inclusive environments.
Tier 2 provides early intervention supports for students beginning to show signs of distress or disengagement.
Tier 3 offers intensive wraparound supports for students with complex needs.
“Right now, schools are being asked to solve this without consistent tools or definitions. Using the MTSS model in this way would give schools a structured, student-first framework, and a way to collect valuable national data at the same time,” Catt said.
The report calls on the Federal Government to pilot the proposed approach across different school sectors.
“Issues like this impact our society as a whole, and we need to rise above politics and blame to do better for students, families, and schools across Australia,” Catt said.