Your child's absence from school
If you’re a parent or guardian of a child, it is compulsory to send them to school.
Your child must attend school from the age of 6 until they complete Year 10 and turn 17. Read more about the age your child attends school.
If your child is sick or unable to attend for other reasons, you must contact your school and let them know why your child is absent.
For information on the Northern Territory's education engagement strategy, go to the Department of Education website.
Helping your child attend school
If you need help in getting your child to school, talk to your child's teacher or principal.
There may be the following who can help:
- school based engagement officers
- student engagement officers.
If you or your child are of Aboriginal descent, you can also go to the National Indigenous Australians Agency website for more information on getting your child to school.
School based engagement officers
School based engagement officers visit key locations during school hours to engage students and their families on their return to school or community.
If the student is not in school or an education setting, the officers may ask to see a leave pass and student identification.
If they don't have a clear reason why they're absent, there may be further action.
Student engagement officers
If your child is not regularly attending school, you may be referred to a student engagement officer who are authorised persons under the Education Act 2015.
They will hold meetings to find out why your child is not attending and provide support through:
- official visits to the school to check their attendance
- the use of external providers to help students re-engage with schooling.
If engagement attempts are still unsuccessful, a compulsory conference notice may be issued to you. This is a meeting:
- to create a plan that helps your child regularly attend school
- with a representative from your child's school.
If you don't attend without a good reason or your child continues to not regularly attend school, a compliance notice will be issued to you.
If your child continues to be absent from school thereafter, you may also be issued an infringement notice.
The NT Government may then begin legal proceedings if your child continues to not comply with attendance.
Contact
For more information on enrolment and attendance, contact the student engagement team in your local area.
Darwin
Phone: 0428 294 051
sedarwin.doe@education.nt.gov.au
Top End
Phone: 0429 123 860
setopend.doe@education.nt.gov.au
Big Rivers
Phone: 0499 785 496
sebigrivers.doe@education.nt.gov.au
Central
Phone: 0439 164 942
secentral.doe@education.nt.gov.au
Barkly
Phone: 0408 707 469
sebarkly.doe@education.nt.gov.au
East Arnhem
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