❓ Hon Adele Farina asks about the Department of Education's actions to improve school attendance following an Ombudsman report linking non-attendance to youth suicide risk. The Department outlines its response, including policy reviews and collaboration with other agencies.
AnsweredQoN 1920Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
The report of the office of the Ombudsman titled Investigation into ways that State Government departments and authorities can prevent or reduce suicide by young people released in April 2014, identified 14 of the 19 young people enrolled at school had attended less than 60 per cent of the time. In view of this finding, what action has the Department of Education taken to improve school attendance?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
3 December 2014
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
42 days
The Department of Education's response to persistent absences recognises the complex and varied causes of absence and the need for solutions that involve parents, community and the students themselves. To this end, the Department continues to collaborate with other agencies to address attendance across the State.
The Department of Education accepted the Ombudsman's recommendations in relation to student attendance and continues to address these. In particular:
Recommendation 15: Ensure schools comply with the requirements for addressing student non-attendance, as set out in the
School Education Act 1999
and the
Student Attendance
policy:
· The
Student Attendance
policy has been reviewed and sections relating to student absence have been clarified.
· Guidance materials have been reviewed and are available for schools on the Department's website.
Recommendation 16: Expansion of the
Student Attendance
policy to recognise that persistent non-attendance by a student may be due to cumulative harm resulting from child maltreatment:
· The revised
Student Attendance
policy refers to risk associated with cumulative harm and require consideration of such risk in instances where a student is persistently absent from school.
Improving student attendance is an ongoing system priority for the Department of Education.
The Department of Education accepted the Ombudsman's recommendations in relation to student attendance and continues to address these. In particular:
Recommendation 15: Ensure schools comply with the requirements for addressing student non-attendance, as set out in the
School Education Act 1999
and the
Student Attendance
policy:
· The
Student Attendance
policy has been reviewed and sections relating to student absence have been clarified.
· Guidance materials have been reviewed and are available for schools on the Department's website.
Recommendation 16: Expansion of the
Student Attendance
policy to recognise that persistent non-attendance by a student may be due to cumulative harm resulting from child maltreatment:
· The revised
Student Attendance
policy refers to risk associated with cumulative harm and require consideration of such risk in instances where a student is persistently absent from school.
Improving student attendance is an ongoing system priority for the Department of Education.
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