Sydney: School refusal is a complex and growing issue affecting many young Australians. Unlike truancy, which involves the deliberate concealment of absences by children, school refusal occurs when parents are aware of their child’s struggles but feel powerless to intervene. This phenomenon is not merely a refusal to attend school due to laziness or disobedience; rather, it is often driven by significant emotional distress and mental health challenges, as reported by ABC News. (Photo courtesy: ABC News)

Experts note that school refusal can be associated with a range of psychological conditions, including autism, ADHD, and anxiety disorders. As Lisa McKay-Brown, an education researcher from the University of Melbourne, explains, “They may be autistic, they may have learning difficulties, ADHD. They may have anxiety or some other mood disorder.” Children with such conditions are particularly vulnerable to experiencing overwhelming stress when faced with the demands of attending school. This may result in frequent morning tantrums, persistent requests to stay home, visits to the school’s sick bay, or even threats of self-harm.

For Sydney mother Alice, these struggles are all too familiar. Her eight-year-old daughter, Frieda, who is autistic, faces significant difficulties with school attendance. “Some days we couldn’t even get out of the house. Some days we would get as far as the footpath and then she couldn’t go in .. then sometimes [she’d] just run away,” Alice says. This scenario is reflective of many families across the country, grappling with the overwhelming emotional toll of school refusal.

The Overlooked Role of Sleep in School Refusal

An important, yet often underappreciated, factor in school refusal is sleep deprivation. Research highlights the critical role sleep plays in mental health, especially for adolescents who are already vulnerable to stress and emotional regulation challenges. Flinders University’s Associate Professor Jessica Paterson points out that more than half of Australian teenagers do not get the recommended eight to ten hours of sleep each night, and the impact of this is profound.

For parents like Alice, dealing with a child’s school refusal can feel isolating and overwhelming. Schools often serve as the first point of contact for families seeking support, but the resources available vary across states. In New South Wales, schools can apply for integration funding support (IFS) to hire teaching and support officers, while in Victoria, programs like "Navigator" aim to re-engage students aged 12 to 17 whose attendance is below 30 percent.
Despite the growing prevalence of school refusal, Australia lacks comprehensive national data on the issue. This absence of data makes it difficult to fully understand the scale of the problem, though experts agree that it is likely much larger than reported. In Victoria, the only state to track school refusal, over 11,825 students were identified as affected in 2023-24, though officials acknowledge this is a conservative estimate.

Understanding the link between school refusal, mental health, and sleep deprivation is crucial for developing effective interventions. As more school’s experiment with flexible schedules and smaller class sizes, there is hope that these changes will lead to better outcomes for students who struggle to attend school. Additionally, as research on adolescent sleep continues to grow, pushing back school start times may become a key component in supporting students' mental health and educational success.

Sleep deprivation can amplify mental health issues, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts in extreme cases. Dr. Paterson stresses that "bad sleep is a really significant risk factor for a lot of things, and probably the most serious is suicidality." The lack of sleep also impairs learning and memory consolidation, both of which are crucial during a child's formative years.

Teenagers, in particular, experience a shift in their circadian rhythms during puberty, making it harder for them to fall asleep early and wake up alert for school the next morning. This biological change, combined with early school start times, leaves teenagers chronically sleep-deprived. As Dr. Paterson explains, "Their peak in alertness is probably more likely to be 10 a.m., whereas for middle-aged adults, their peak is more likely to begin at about 8 a.m." As a result, teenagers are fighting against their own biology when expected to perform early in the day.

Some schools have recognized this issue and begun experimenting with later start times. Adelaide High School, for example, allows senior students to begin their day at 9:20 a.m., giving them an additional 50 minutes of sleep. Students report feeling more energized and able to concentrate, with one student, Jack, noting, “I definitely feel way more energized and ready to learn for that day.” Other schools internationally, such as in Denmark, have also shifted start times with overwhelmingly positive results.

Impact on Families and the Role of Support Systems

In some cases, parents may consider homeschooling if mainstream education is no longer an option. However, homeschooling can be financially and emotionally draining, particularly for parents who need to balance work and caregiving. Additionally, some parents opt for independent schools that cater to disengaged students, though waitlists are often long. One such school, MacKillop Education in Geelong, had a waiting list of over 100 students. Yet, for those who secure a spot, the impact can be transformative. Ethan, a 12-year-old who struggled in mainstream education, thrived in the smaller, specialized environment, regaining his confidence, and learning skills. His mother, Sam, observed, “When he came here, he couldn’t read, couldn’t write, couldn’t do anything, and now, he’s taking on board the learning … to the point where he can go back to mainstream school next year.”

For families living in areas without access to independent schools, distance education programs are also an option. These programs allow children to learn from home, offering flexibility for those dealing with significant mental health or geographical barriers. However, such solutions are not without challenges, and parents must carefully weigh the costs and benefits.

The Need for National Action

In response, the Australian Senate conducted an inquiry into school refusal, making 14 recommendations aimed at improving support for affected families. These include creating a consistent national definition of school refusal, standardizing how school absences are recorded, and expanding mental health care for students. The federal government has agreed in principle to two of the recommendations, including funding research into the issue and providing teacher training on school refusal.

Looking Ahead

For now, parents and educators must continue to advocate for the support their children need, recognizing that school refusal is not just an issue of attendance but a signal of deeper emotional and psychological distress. By addressing both mental health and sleep needs, Australia can take meaningful steps to help children overcome the challenges of school refusal and thrive both inside and outside the classroom.