School refusal and homeschooling: What parents need to know

I must admit I did a bit of school refusal when I was a kid but back then we called it wagging school (and we kept it a secret from our parents) but today, especially since Covid, more and more kids are refusing to go to school. Why?

Well school refusal isn’t just wagging or truancy, it has deeper root.

A growing problem—and what we see at My Homeschool

School refusal (sometimes called school can’t) has moved from a rare challenge into a mainstream concern. Within My Homeschool, we track the reasons families get in touch. Over the past year about 30 percent of all enquiries we receive mention persistent non-attendance or outright refusal to go to school. That aligns with national data showing a wider downturn in classroom attendance.

What the latest attendance figures tell us

According to the 2024 National Report on Schooling in Australia:

• National attendance rate (Years 1–10) fell to 88.3 %, down slightly from 88.6 % in 2023.
• Only 59.8 % of students met the benchmark of attending 90 % or more of the time, a drop from 61.6 % the previous year.
• Attendance still improves with socio-educational advantage, is higher in major cities than in remote areas, and remains lower for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students—although the gap in attendance levels narrowed by 0.7 percentage points in 2024. acara.edu.au

Media coverage highlights that neither overall attendance nor high-attendance levels have bounced back to their pre-COVID highs (91.4 % and 73.1 % respectively in 2019) and that a Senate inquiry is now looking specifically at school refusal. News.com.au

Why school refusal is on the rise

• Mental-health crisis among children and teens (anxiety, depression, trauma).
• Unmet needs of neuro-divergent students (autism, ADHD, PDA, sensory overload).
• Post-pandemic readjustment after long periods of remote learning.
• School environments that feel unsafe or unsupported (bullying, academic pressure, lack of belonging).
• Greater public awareness and new language (“school can’t”) — students now recognise non-attendance as a legitimate option, so more cases are identified and reported.
• Family and socio-economic stress (housing instability, parental illness, cost-of-living pressures).
• Digital life and disrupted sleep (late-night gaming/social media, online peer conflict).
• National attendance data confirms the trend (rates and high-attendance levels have fallen year-on-year).

Can homeschooling help a child who is refusing school?

Short answer: it depends. Homeschooling is not a magic fix, but it can be a lifeline when three conditions line up:

1. The child is willing
   • For example, f anxiety or ADHD are issues homeschooling can provide a more relaxed learning environment.
2. The parents are available
   • Australian regulations require a parent (or guardian) to supervise daily learning. A parent working schedule that lets an adult be present to assist with learning is essential.
3. It serves the child’s long-term best interests
   • Homeschooling should be part of a broader plan. Sometimes underlying issues (anxiety, learning differences, bullying) oneed professional support regardless of where learning happens. Other times, simply removing the school environment is enough to see wellbeing improve.

Questions to weigh up before homeschooling:

• What are the pros and cons of homeschooling?
• Will you be able to teach your child at home?
• Should I try unschooling or curriculum?
• Would some parent coaching be helpful?
• Can you access curriculum to meet academic and emotional needs?
• Are you prepared for the record-keeping and registration process in your state?

Practical next steps for families considering the switch to homeschooling

1. Start an open conversation with your child
   • Explore what they find hardest about school and what they hope a home environment could change.
2. Assess adult availability
   • Could one parent adjust work hours or work from home? Is there extended-family support?
3. Research curriculum options
   • Look for flexible, mastery-based programs. My Homeschool’s staged, literature-rich courses let families set a gentle pace while still meeting Australian Curriculum outcomes.
4. Seek wise counsel
   • Talk with your GP, psychologist, or counsellor about how a home-based program might dovetail with treatment goals.
5. Plan the registration pathway
   • Each state has its own timeline and documentation requirements. Our free templates and webinars walk you through the process step-by-step.

How To Start Homeschooling

For some children, homeschooling provides the breathing space they need to re-engage with learning and rebuild confidence. For others, it is one piece of a larger puzzle. If school refusal is on your family’s radar, gather the facts, talk it through, and reach out—we’re here to help you decide whether homeschooling is the right next move.

Here are some ideas on How to Start Homeschooling. 

And if you want some more help or to talk to someone  Contact Us.

Michelle Morrow

Founder of My Homeschool