Senate report on school refusal recommends subsidised mental health care for students

Labelled a ‘postive first step’ by the Greens, the report also recommends more support for parent groups and teacher training on attendance issues

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School students would get better access to mental health care and parent support groups would get more funding under the recommendations of a Senate inquiry to address the “alarming rate” of low school attendance.

The Greens, who initiated the inquiry last October, welcomed the Senate’s report as a “positive first step” and urged the federal government to work with states and territories to immediately begin implementing its recommendations.

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