Wellbeing Hub
Mental Health & Wellbeing Resources
Kids Helpline or 1800 551 800
Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Also has fact sheets and information about a range of topics for parents to support their children.
Access to trusted mental health and wellbeing information, online programs and digital resources.
Learn more about depression and anxiety or talk it through with our support service.
Phone: 1300 224 636 (24/7)
Email or chat online
A confidential, free and secure space where young people aged 12 to 25 or their family can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional.
Phone: 1800 650 890 (9am – 1am everyday)
Access to crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services.
Phone: 13 11 14 (24/7)
Raising Children Network- https://raisingchildren.net.au/
Provides ad-free parenting videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts.
School Refusal
School Refusal School is when a young person refuses to attend school and often presents with the child experiencing emotional distress. The young person does not try to hide the fact that they don’t want to attend and the parents often try to encourage their child to attend, but this is difficult to manage.
Early signs of School Refusal
- Unexplained absences or often running late to school
- Absences on significant days such as tests, speeches, PE classes
- Decreased participation in class
- Frequent visits to the sick bay or the wellbeing office
- Frequent requests to go home early
- Social isolation or withdrawal
- Peer relational problems
- Struggling to get out of bed, leave the house or get out of the car
- Disrupted sleep cycle; oversleeping or not getting enough sleep
- Feeling sick before school (e.g. headache or sore throat)
- Tearfulness, clinginess and dawdling before school
- Complaints about attending school and reluctant to talk about school
- Difficulty attending school after weekends and holidays
- Panic symptoms, threats of self-harm
- Isolating behaviours at home (e.g. gaming, YouTube and social media)
- Extreme distress or aggressive behaviour
Tips for Supporting a Child with School Refusal
- Take one day at a time- some days might be easier than others
- Prepare children for any changes in routines, teachers or calendar events in advance where possible
- Seek support from your school (making collaborative attendance plans helps families and children to be successful and supported)
- Explore different ways your child can manage their worries (journal, meditations, writing, art or talking to family/friends)
- Seeking a referral to therapists through your GP if strategies being used are not improving the attendance
Family Support Services for School Refusal: