Wagging or skipping school
School attendance is a shared responsibility between parents, carers and the school.
Parents and carers who are not actively supporting their child's education through school attendance can be fined.
Truancy can lead to risky behaviours that can put both the child and the wider community in danger.
What truancy is
Truancy happens when a child intentionally skips school or classes without a valid reason.
It is commonly known as wagging.
It often occurs without a parent or carer's knowledge, but in some cases, parents and carers may not be actively supporting their child's education.
Unlike school refusal, which is usually linked to emotional distress or anxiety, truancy involves a deliberate choice to miss school without an acceptable reason.
What parents and carers must do
As a parent or carer it is your responsibility to ensure that you are actively supporting your child's education through school attendance.
It is your responsibility to ensure your child is supported to have:
- adequate sleep
- clean clothes
- food
- school supplies
- transport to and from school.
You must also:
- notify your child's school if they are at risk of truancy or experiencing school refusal
- notify school of any absences
- work collaboratively with the school
- respond to requests for meetings to discuss your child's attendance.
How schools manage truancy
To support all student attendance, schools will:
- monitor attendance
- notify you of any unexplained absences as soon as practical
- work with you to support your child's attendance
- meet with you to discuss poor or unexplained attendance rates.
Your child may be referred to the Student Attendance and Engagement team.
Student Attendance and Engagement team
There are Student Attendance and Engagement teams in every region. The teams work closely with schools and the community to help ensure all children attend regularly.
Learn more about the Student Attendance and Engagement team.