By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.
Key points
- Compulsory school age in Queensland runs from 6 years and 6 months until 16, or until the child finishes Year 10.
- Then the compulsory participation phase: full-time school, training or an apprenticeship until 17, a Queensland senior statement or a Certificate III, or 2 years of participation (or 25 hours a week of paid work).
- Parents must enrol their child and ensure they attend every school day, unless they have a reasonable excuse.
- Maximum penalty: 6 penalty units for a first offence and 12 for a later one.
- Before any prosecution, the Department must give a notice and hold a meeting (or give a warning notice).
- Exceptions include illness of up to 10 school days, exemptions, home education and exclusion from school.
- For advice on an attendance notice or prosecution, call 1800 577 015 at any hour: free general legal information, and a 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in Queensland for a fixed $295.
In Queensland, a child is of compulsory school age from 6 years and 6 months until 16, or until they complete Year 10, and parents must enrol the child and ensure they attend school every school day unless they have a reasonable excuse; the maximum penalty is 6 penalty units for a first offence and 12 for a later one. After that, young people are in a compulsory participation phase, generally until they turn 17 or gain a senior statement or Certificate III, and must be in full-time education, training or work of at least 25 hours a week.
Checked on 23 October 2026 against the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld), current as at 6 October 2026.
School ages and the participation phase
| Stage | Who | What the law requires of parents |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory school age | From 6 years and 6 months until 16, or until the child finishes Year 10 if that is earlier | Enrol the child at a state or non-state school and make sure they attend every school day for their program |
| Compulsory participation phase | From the end of compulsory school age until the young person turns 17, gains a senior statement, certificate of achievement, Certificate III or IV, or has done 2 years in eligible options | Make sure the young person is participating full-time in an eligible option, such as school, vocational training or an apprenticeship |
In the participation phase, the obligation does not apply while the young person is in paid work for at least 25 hours a week, registered for home education, in certain employment skills or re-entry programs, or exempt.
The parent's obligation and the offence
- The offence: a parent who, without a reasonable excuse, fails to enrol a child of compulsory school age or to ensure they attend every school day commits an offence. The maximum penalty is 6 penalty units for a first offence and 12 for a second or later offence. The same penalties apply to failing to ensure participation in the participation phase.
- Reasonable excuses include: the child living with the other parent, where you reasonably believe that parent is complying; or, in all the circumstances, not being reasonably able to control the child's behaviour enough to get them to school.
- Steps before any prosecution: an authorised officer of the Department of Education who suspects a child is not enrolled or not attending can give a parent a notice about their obligation and meet with them; if a meeting cannot be held despite reasonable steps, the officer can give a warning notice. A prosecution can be brought only by or with the consent of the Department's chief executive, and only for conduct after a notice and a meeting or warning notice.
- Work during school hours: a parent must not employ a child of compulsory school age, or allow them to be employed, when they are required to be at school, unless the parent has a reasonable excuse (maximum 6 penalty units), with exceptions for approved arrangements and apprenticeships or traineeships.
When a child does not have to attend
- Illness: the attendance rule does not apply for up to 10 consecutive school days while a child is too ill to attend. For longer illness, an exemption can be sought.
- Exemptions: the Department's chief executive can grant an exemption, for a stated or indefinite period, if a child cannot attend school or it would be unreasonable in all the circumstances to require them to.
- Home education: a child who is registered, or provisionally registered, for home education (or whose application is pending) does not have to be enrolled at a school.
- Exclusion or suspension: the rule does not apply to a child excluded from all state schools, and allows time to arrange another school or home education after an exclusion.
- Distance education: a child enrolled in distance education attends by completing and returning the assigned work.
Free legal help in Queensland
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Aid Queensland | 1300 65 11 88 | 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday |
If you have received a notice about your child's attendance, talk to the school or the officer who sent it as early as possible.
How Go To Court Lawyers can help
Our free line, 1800 577 015, answers at any hour. Jen, our AI legal information assistant, gives general legal information and takes your details; Jen is not a lawyer and does not give advice about your case. A 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in Queensland is a fixed $295, by phone, video or in person where the lawyer offers it. The lawyer can advise on an attendance notice or warning notice, a reasonable excuse, an exemption application, and any prosecution. Requests are taken at any hour; how soon a lawyer can see you depends on who is available. Request a $295 consultation.
General information only, not legal advice. Updated 23 October 2026. Checked against the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld), current as at 6 October 2026, sections 9, 176 to 179, 185, 199 to 201, 230, 231, 239 and 240, on 23 October 2026.