Innovation in School Attendance: Local and International Perspectives

The Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE) in conjunction with Deakin University invite you to join us for a day focused on school attendance with national and international speakers. With school attendance decreasing across Australia, a systems level approach that brings together practitioners, educators, researchers, policymakers, families and young people is required.

Our keynote speaker, Professor Mikael Thastum from Aarhus University Denmark will share learnings from the Back2School program and examine existing practices of recording, reporting, and utilising school attendance data in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway.

Other presentations will focus on parenting and school refusal (Monash University); engaging youth in custodial settings (Parkville College, Malmsbury Campus); perspectives on school attendance and engagement in remote learning (Virtual School Victoria) and international perspectives on school attendance (MGSE and Deakin University).

Draft program:

9:00-9:30 - Registration

9.30-9.45 – Welcome

9.45-10.45 – Back2School project , Professor Mikael Thastum, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University

10.45-11.15 Empowering parents to respond to school reluctance and refusal: Evidence-based parenting guidelines and online parenting program, Dr Mairead Cardamone-Breen Research Fellow and Anna Smout PhD candidate, Monash University

11.15-11.35 – Morning Tea

11.35-12.05 – Youth in custodial settings, Ebony Anglin Assistant Principal Parkville College Malmsbury Campus

12.05-12:50 – International Perspectives in school attendance, A/Prof Glenn Melvin Deakin University and A/Prof Lisa McKay-Brown MGSE

12:50-1.30 - Lunch

1.30-2.00 – Virtual School Victoria: challenges in online attendance and engagement, Rob Mason Team Leader/Social Worker, Student Wellbeing. Virtual School Victoria DET

2.00-2.40 - Panel discussion

2.40-3.30 – Using data to understand absenteeism, Professor Mikael Thastum, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University

This event will be delivered in-person however we are able to offer a hybrid option for those wishing to attend online.

COVIDSafePlease read the following public health messaging and vaccination information prior to participation in this event:

· Complete a symptom self-assessment before leaving home. Do not come to the event if you are unwell, even with very mild symptoms.

· Do not come to the event if you are required to isolate or quarantine for any reason and/or awaiting results of a COVID-19 test. You are also encouraged to reconsider your need to attend this event if you are a household contact / close contact.

· While face masks are not currently required (except for household contacts / close contacts, who must wear one on campus), you are welcome to wear one if you want to. You should also respect other people’s decisions to wear a mask in settings where it is not mandatory.

· Physically distance from others where possible.

· Let the organiser know immediately if you become unwell during the event.

· If you test positive to COVID-19 in the 48 hours following this event, please notify the University’s Public Health Network and the event organiser as soon as possible.

· If someone who attends the event subsequently tests positive, it will be listed on the COVID-19 cases on campus webpage. Attendees are encouraged to monitor this site following the event for information related to any potential exposures to COVID-19 at this event.

For more information, please visit: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/coronavirus/vaccination-at-unimelb