School refusal (school can’t) support for families in Brisbane, Ipswich and across Queensland

When your child can’t get to school, it isn’t a choice and it isn’t bad parenting. Our school refusal support in Brisbane, Ipswich and by telehealth finds out what is making school feel impossible, then builds a plan with your family and your child’s school to help them return, one step at a time. No diagnosis or NDIS plan needed.

Make an enquiry
Call or SMS 0420 142 571

What is school refusal?

School refusal (also called “school can’t”) is when a child or young person has serious difficulty going to school or staying there, even when they want to. It can have many causes, such as distress about something at school, sensory overload, difficulties with learning or friendships, or finding it easier to be at home. It isn’t simply defiance. Signs can include:

  • stomach aches, headaches or tears on school mornings
  • meltdowns or shutdowns before or after school
  • arriving late, leaving early or spending time in sick bay
  • partial days or weeks of missed school that keep growing

The longer it goes on, the harder returning can feel. Getting support early helps.

Who we help

Children and young people from Prep to Year 12 who are struggling to get to school or stay there, and their families. Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis. Many of the children we support are autistic, have ADHD or another neurodivergent profile, but many are not.

How our school refusal support works

1. Enquiry and online intake

Fill in the short enquiry form and we’ll contact you to book an intake session with your practitioner. Every intake session is online by video call.

2. Assessment and profile

We find out what is making school hard and what staying home is doing for your child. To do this, we use a short questionnaire for you and your child, talk with the school and, with your permission, observe at home or school. Alongside this, we map your child’s cognitive and sensory profile: a practical, non-diagnostic picture of how they think, learn and respond to their environment.

3. A return-to-school plan

We write a step-by-step plan with you, your child and the school. Each step is small and agreed by everyone, and the plan says what support your child has at each stage.

4. Sessions with your child

Your child works directly with their practitioner to build the skills in their plan, such as following a morning routine, asking for a break or for help, and using sensory and calming tools, at a pace that suits them.

5. Coaching for parents and carers

Practical help with the hardest parts: school mornings, what to say, what to do when a step doesn’t go to plan, and how to look after yourself too.

6. Working with the school

Wherever it is possible, we meet with the school, help agree adjustments and train the teachers and staff involved, so everyone uses the same approach.

7. Reviews

We check progress regularly and adjust the plan as your child moves through each step, including before big changes like a new term or a new school.

Behaviour support, not therapy

This is a positive behaviour support service. Our practitioners are positive behaviour support practitioners, not psychologists, and we don’t provide counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or any other therapy. We focus on three things: building your child’s skills, changing what’s around them at home and school so attending feels more manageable, and helping everyone respond the same way, every time.

If our assessment shows that anxiety is the main reason your child can’t get to school, we’ll recommend they see a psychologist. When your child already has one, we’ll work with them. Otherwise, we’ll suggest some that we work with. We can keep working alongside the psychologist on the plan at home and at school. We’ll also recommend a psychologist if learning, attention, language, coordination or developmental difficulties might need a formal assessment.

Working with your child’s school

Return to school works best when home and school use the same plan. With your consent, we meet with your child’s teacher, year level coordinator, learning support or wellbeing team, agree on reasonable adjustments, and give staff a clear plan and training so they understand your child, not just the plan. We only contact the school with your permission.

School refusal support in Brisbane, Ipswich and online

We provide school refusal support in person across Brisbane and Ipswich, with home and school visits within about 30 minutes of our practitioners in Ipswich and East Brisbane. By telehealth anywhere in Queensland, including school meetings by video. Every family starts with a one-hour online intake session with their practitioner. If you choose in-person support, the sessions after that are home visits.

Fees

Sessions are $252.99 per hour. This covers sessions with your child, parent coaching, school meetings and the time we spend writing the assessment and plan. In-person visits also include travel: up to 30 minutes each way at half the hourly rate, plus $0.99 per kilometre.

Our practitioners are positive behaviour support practitioners, so Medicare and private health rebates don’t apply. If your child has an NDIS plan with behaviour support funding, the service can be funded through the plan in line with the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements (see our pricing page).

Getting started

Parents, carers, schools and health professionals can all make an enquiry, with the family’s consent. Tell us a little about what’s happening and we’ll contact you to book your online intake session.

Prefer to talk? Call or SMS 0420 142 571 or email support@brainsense.com.au.

If your child is unsafe right now, call 000. For urgent mental health support, call 1300 MH CALL (1300 642 255) or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).

Questions families ask

Ready to talk about what’s happening?

Make an enquiry and we’ll contact you to book an online intake session with your practitioner.

Make an enquiry

Prefer to talk first? Call or SMS on 0420 142 571, or email support@brainsense.com.au

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