Across Australia, thousands of children with serious medical conditions are at home or in hospital, missing school. MissingSchool is dedicated to bridging the educational and social gaps experienced by these kids and, often, their siblings by advocating for continuing connection to their regular school.As the first organisation in Australia with a primary focus on keeping seriously sick kids connected to their schools, MissingSchool is standing up by:
- supporting families with research, resources, strategies and helpful connections
- raising awareness on the issue to inform the efforts of governments, educators, and health professionals
- researching and embedding systems using best practice models and enabling technology
- raising funds to achieve these objectives
MissingSchool takes the view that school is a kid’s community. Connection to their community can alleviate the stress and anxiety of illness, promote resilience and optimism, and support seriously sick kids to remain positively engaged and accomplished now and in their future. This important connection reminds these kids that there is more to who they are, and their life, than being sick.MissingSchool recognises significant school absence for kids relating to, for example: Arthritis, Asthma, Blood Disorders, Brain Injury, Burns, Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, Eating Disorders, Epilepsy, Heart/Liver/Kidney Disease, Injury and Transplants. There are, of course, other groups and we continue to extend our effort in identifying the range of medical circumstances that significantly interrupt school attendance.Incorporated in the ACT, MissingSchool is a volunteer-led registered charity, and endorsed by the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission as a Deductible Gift Recipient.
