School attendance in the Northern Territory has declined despite heavy investment in truancy officers, highlighting the limits of compliance-focused strategies and the need for evidence-based engagement, says The McKell Institute, which launched its NT branch last year. Rather than digging in, Ms MacLeod says the government should look to Australian and international research showing punitive, compliance-based approaches, such as fines, do not work. Funding should instead be directed to addressing the underlying causes of non-attendance, which are rarely about unwillingness alone. "The government's intent is commendable, it wants children in school," said Hannah MacLeod, Executive Director (SA/NT) at The McKell Institute. "But the data and research tell us the current mix of tools simply will not improve attendance." "Children miss school because of real barriers — transport, health, family and housing instability, disengagement from learning, and whether school feels safe or relevant," Ms MacLeod said. The McKell Institute's research consistently finds that sustained improvements in attendance are linked to:
- early identification of disengagement
- strong relationships between schools and families
- wellbeing and learning support embedded in schools
- culturally informed, community-led approaches
- practical support that makes attendance achievable
"If we want attendance to improve and stay improved, policy must focus on enabling children to attend school, not compelling them to do so," Ms MacLeod said.
"That means aligning investment with what the evidence shows actually works."
