Student Attendance and Engagement team

How to report truancy

Truancy is when a child skips school or classes without a valid reason. It is also known as wagging.

Reporting helps to protect the welfare of both the child and the community.

The best way to report truancy depends on the situation, with different options available based on the circumstances.

• Parents and carers can report truancy and get support for their child.
• Community members and businesses can report truancy hotspots or get support in tackling truancy related concerns.

Children skipping or wagging school

Contact the school directly

Community members and businesses can contact the school directly if they know which school the child attends.

You may need to do this if you notice children leaving school grounds or groups of children regularly hanging out in hotspots like shopping centres, bus terminals or parks during school hours.

The school is in the best position to identify the child, reach out to parents or carers and involve the appropriate authorities if needed. You will need to be able to provide some details to the school like:

• time of day
• location
• general description of children
• names if known.

A child or anyone is in immediate danger

In a life threatening situation or if someone is seriously injured you should call 000, find our more about when to call 000.

If property has been or is about to be damaged

If a crime is actively taking place, you can call 000.

If your property or business was damaged or broken into you should report the crime to police.

Child welfare concerns

If you are concerned for a child's welfare or you suspect a child might be experiencing neglect or abuse, you must report it.

Find out how to report child abuse.