Thousands of children ‘evade compulsory education’

Melbourne researchers call for coordinated action to prevent young people from falling through the cracks

More than 50,000 young Australians have “disappeared” from primary and secondary schools across the country and are not participating in any education programmes, according to a University of Melbourne report.

It says that despite national laws regulating school attendance, children have been able to “detach themselves” from compulsory education without concerns being raised.