Townsville’s dirty school attendance secret aired in parliament

Just a quarter of schools in North Queensland have met or exceeded attendance targets since 2021. SEARCH FOR YOUR SCHOOL

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said Katter's Australian Party will be introducing another parliamentary petition for the adoption of castle law in Queensland.

Just a quarter of schools have met or exceeded attendance targets in North Queensland since 2021.

State government statistics have revealed that so far in 2025, just 20 per cent of schools had met attendance rates.

The worst performing state school was Bwgcolman Community School on Palm Island with a 50.6 per cent attendance rate in 2024. This year is expected to be marginally better, with a 54.7 per cent attendance rate. There has been a 13.17 per cent drop in attendance between 2021 and now.

Vincent State School also has one of the lowest attendance rates with just 68.6 per cent of students coming to school this year.

In 2021, the attendance rate was slightly lower at 75.8 per cent.

In contrast, Belgian Gardens State School and Hermit Park State School have a 92 per cent or higher attendance rate this year.

In a Question on Notice, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto called on Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek to say whether or not schools in Hinchinbrook, Townsville, Mundingburra and Thuringowa electorates were meeting the 90 per cent target.

The statistics that Minister Langbroek provided revealed that in 2022 10 per cent of schools met the target, in 2023 there was an increase to 25 per cent, before dropping to 20 per cent in 2024.

Preliminary statistics show that 20 per cent of schools are meeting the target this year.

“It’s no secret that North Queensland and cities like Townsville and the greater Hinchinbrook region have a youth crime problem”, Mr Dametto said.

“And I would imagine that there is a strong correlation between school attendance and youth offending, simply put, if kids aren’t in school, what are they up to?”

Mr Dametto said the question was not only about making sure the state government was meeting its obligation when it comes to educating children across the state, it’s also about finding better ways to ensure kids were not getting in trouble.

Mr Dametto said that based on the language of the education minister, the state government acknowledges more needs to be done to address issues with attendance.

In Mr Langbroek’s response, he said the department received the Behavioural Boost resource to engage a school-based behaviour specialist to help schools respond to student needs and behaviour.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto believes the state government should be making parents accountable for their children's attendance at school.

Mr Dametto said he wanted to ask more questions of the Minister in coming weeks.

“That’s why they’re talking about some of these youth justice schools that will come under the Education Ministers portfolio,” he said.

“It doesn’t take a learned person to drive around Townsville to realise there are a lot of kids during school hours that aren’t attending school.”

Mr Dametto said more needs to be happening to not only make sure children were attending school, but making sure parents were held accountable.

“There are pathways for the school to go through when it comes to recording attendance and there’s ability for the education department to step in that way,” he said.

“But my next question would be along the lines of what is the Department of Education doing to follow up those parents to make sure that those children continue to stay engaged with school?

“Because it’s the responsibility of the school and the government to make sure these children are attending, but it’s just as important that we have the support of their parents or the carers.”

Mr Langbroek said improving school attendance was critical to ensure students right across Queensland have the best education and start in life.

He said the government was also investing in rapid support quads to ‘fly in’ to schools across the state, establishing a new anti-bullying group, funding additional chaplains and student wellbeing officers, expanding a dedicated seven-day crisis support hotline, and development new and updated professional development for teachers and aides.

Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the state government is delivering a fresh start in the education system. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start in the education system and we’re actively working with principals, teachers and parents to lift attendance,” he said.

“Students and teachers are better supported with more funding to improve behaviour, tackle bullying and actions to reduce red tape for teachers to give them more time in the classroom.”

Originally published as Townsville’s dirty school attendance secret aired in parliament