The transition away from school is exciting for many young people, but that big life milestone can also be a time of stress, anxiety and confusion for both students and their adults.
The resources here are designed to help you navigate the process and get the best outcomes for your student.
- School Leavers Guide
- My child wants to leave school
In Victoria, the law is:
- Your child cannot leave schooling until they are 17 years old.
- Your child must go to a school campus (or an approved alternative) until they finish year 10.
- After year 10, your child does not need to go to a school campus. But they must take part in education, training or employment for at least 25 hours per week, until they are 17 years old.
- My child is finishing Year 10, 11 or 12
Yay! Pat yourselves on the back, you got there 😊 The transition to adulting can still be daunting, and if you have exams coming up in your life, that can cause stress.
Here are some resources to help.
- School leavers support: https://www.yourcareer.gov.au/school-leavers-support/school-leavers-information-kit
- Preparing for Exams: https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/prepare-for-exams
- Need help getting work-ready (support, training, help writing a resume and preparing for job interviews) ;https://www.asuria.com.au/register-for-work
- https://gforce.org.au/inclusive-register/
- Looking for a job: https://cyba.com.au/
- School leavers support: https://www.yourcareer.gov.au/school-leavers-support/school-leavers-information-kit
- My child wants to leave school early
School is not for everyone, and that is ok. If your student wishes to leave school early, though, approval is required from the school principal and the Department of Education Regional Director.
Follow the process here:
Students who have not completed Year 10:https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/exemption-school-attendance-and-enrolment/guidance/3-exemption-process-students-who-have-not
- School wants to exit my child
Meet with the school to discuss why they want to exit your student, but don’t sign or agree to anything if your child has no school, training or job to go to! Depending on the circumstances, the school is required to meet the requirements as outlined in the following forms:
- Exemption from school application – not completed Year 12 or equivalent form : http://(https://content.sdp.education.vic.gov.au/media/exemption-from-school-application-form-mo705-1845
- Exemption from school application – Best interests form:https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/exemption-school-attendance-and-enrolment/guidance/5-exemption-process-if-leaving-school-best
For more information, go to: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/exemption-school-attendance-and-enrolment/guidance/5-exemption-process-if-leaving-school-best
If you need further, independent advice, you can contact Youth Law Australia (there is a YLA lawyer based in Ballarat Community Health Centre in Lucas) https://yla.org.au/
They offer free legal advice.
In the meantime, keep your student engaged in school while you work through the situation by requesting your student be allowed to:
– seek advice from the Careers staff about their future career and pathways, and
– undertake some work experience. (Once your child is exited from school, the option of work experience is no longer available.) We can help arrange work experience for your student. Have them complete this form, or call us on 03 4344 4155.
- My child is refusing to attend school
School refusal can occur for many reasons, and caring for someone who is experiencing school refusal can leave both you and your student feeling stressed, worried and anxious. Check out the helpful website links below:
Helpful Links
- Preparing For Exams
Should you need assistance with preparing for an exam. Click on the below link.
Headspace: https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/prepare-for-exams/
- Need help getting work ready
Support, Training, help writing a resume and preparing for job interviews:
- Asuria: https://www.asuria.com.au/register-for-work
- G-Force: https://gforce.org.au/inclusive-register/
- Looking for a job
- Leaving School before completing Year 10
For assistance with leaving school before completing year 10. Click on the below link.
Victorian Department of Education: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/exemption-school-attendance-and-enrolment/guidance/3-exemption-process-students-who-have-not
- School refusal
Should your child refuse to go to click on any of the below links.
- Raising Children: https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/school-refusal/school-refusal
- Parents Victoria: https://www.parentsvictoria.asn.au/issues/school-refusal/
- Headspace:https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/supporting-a-young-person/school-refusal/
Free Legal Advice for 12 – 25 year olds – Youth Law: https://yla.org.au/
(there is a YLA lawyer Based at the Ballarat Community Health Centre in Lucas)