Counsellor Sarah Davidson develops new workbook to help kids struggling with school attendance
A counsellor who specialises in helping students with attendance issues says she’s been taken aback by the number of Tasmanian kids who are now too anxious to go to school. She gives her top tips for students struggling with attendance.
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A counsellor who specialises in helping students with attendance issues says she’s been taken aback by the number of Tasmanian kids who are now too anxious to go to school in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
The revelation has prompted Sarah Davidson, who is the CEO of Kids and Teens in the Valley, a not-for-profit based in the Derwent Valley, to start a new organisation called Kids Not Open to School (KNOTS).
Through KNOTS, Ms Davidson said she was trying to offer support and “practical solutions” for young people struggling with school.
She’s developed a workbook called Navigating School Can’t: A Plan and Path for School Avoidance to assist students who are struggling.
Ms Davidson said the journal gave kids a template for self-reflection and helped them identify the source of their anxiety around the classroom.
“There’s been a huge [increase] in school avoidance since Covid but it was there prior [to that]. I always explain Covid as being the perfect storm and that is because we were already low on our mental health services, we didn’t have enough support programs,” she said.
“Of course, Covid came along and there was so much more anxiety and depression.”
According to data from the Productivity Commission, the average attendance rate for students in years 1 to 6 in all Tasmanian schools was 89.3 per cent in 2024 (the second-lowest in the nation), which was a 3.1 per cent reduction since before the pandemic in 2019.
For years 7-10, attendance was 83.1 per cent, a fall of 5.2 per cent compared to five years ago.
“You’ve got to think about what was over the news with Covid,” Ms Davidson said.
“There was so much fear in it, the anxiety about the actual virus to start with, then the isolation and then just adjusting to that. We’re five years from that now, but our young people adjusted to being isolated, and they got quite used to that environment.
“Their brains adapted to that, as well. Coming out again on the other side, it’s really awkward for them and they actually have a really low tolerance for social interaction so it’s actually easier now to not go to school.”
Ms Davidson wants to empower students to take back control of their lives and resume their education comfortably and without anxiety.
“The journal starts off as a fairly soft approach to just getting them to think about their hopes, their dreams, where they want to go, and also their school journey so far, because there will be something in their journey so far that’s triggered something,” she said.
“They don’t just wake up one day and [say], ‘I’m not going to school’. Something’s happened that they’ve never addressed.”
The key factor contributing to school avoidance in Tasmania, based on what Ms Davidson has observed, is social anxiety.
“We know that social media is playing a huge part because our kids don’t switch off anymore. There is a lot of peer pressure,” she said.
Tasmanian parents now appear more open to putting their kids through non-mainstream schools, such as Tarremah Steiner School at Huntingfield, with enrolments across all
independent schools having increased by about 18 per cent in the last five years.
A new Steiner school is planned for the Southern Beaches region and a new Indie School has recently opened at Wynyard.
Independent Schools Tasmania executive director Tony Crehan didn’t believe Covid was a major factor in this trend but noted that families were increasingly “taking care to choose a school for their children, which best fits the needs of their individual child”.
“It seems to be really top of mind for many families that their child is an individual who is different to other kids in lots of different ways. And they look for schools which best fit [their children],” he said.
“A lot of parents choose independent schools because they emphasise … education values, which some families see as being congruent to their family values. They would rather go to a school that does that.”
Education Minister Jo Palmer said engagement and participation in learning was “an absolute priority” for the state government.
“We are working through a range of initiatives aimed at increasing attendance, including for students experiencing anxiety, and schools will continue to work closely with students and their families to provide individualised support,” she said.
“Building trusted relationships is key for non-attendees. In addition to their interactions with teachers, support is underpinned by School Support and Wellbeing Teams in every school.”
Since the Department for Education, Children and Young People launched an attendance support and resource portal across all year levels in the state school sector in Term 3, 2023, the number of students attending school at least 90 per cent of days increased by 3.1 per cent.
SARAH DAVIDSON’S TOP TIPS FOR STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE:
1. Start Small & Build Up: If a full school day feels overwhelming, break it into smaller steps. Maybe that means just getting dressed and stepping outside, attending one class, or finding a quiet space at school before easing into the full routine.Every little step counts.
2. Understand What’s Making School Hard: Take a moment to think about what’s making school feel overwhelming. Is it social stuff? A tricky subject? The morning rush? Once you pinpoint what’s tough, you (and the people supporting you) can work on ways to make things easier.
3. Rethink Your Routine & Comfort Strategies: Mornings can be stressful, so set up a routine that makes things smoother — lay out your clothes, have breakfast ready, or take a few minutes to do something calming before heading out. Bring a small comfort item, listen to music, or check in with someone you trust when you arrive. Find what helps you feel more at ease.
4. Talk to Someone Who Gets It: You don’t have to figure this out alone. A parent, teacher, counsellor, or another trusted adult can help make adjustments that support you. The more they understand, the better they can help.
5. Celebrate Any Progress: Every step forward — no matter how small — is a win. Acknowledge it, whether it’s just making into the front gate, staying for one class, or getting through an entire day. You’re doing the work, and that’s what matters.
6. Be Kind to Yourself: Some days will be easier than others, and that’s okay. Avoiding school doesn’t mean you’re failing — it just means something needs attention. Take it one step at a time and remind yourself that progress isn’t always a straight line.
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