A report into the experiences of children and young people who have been suspended or excluded from Queensland state schools. It explores and highlight the experiences of children, young people and their families who have been affected by School Disciplinary Absences (SDAs). The aim is to advocate on their behalf for alternative, more effective approaches to school discipline that do not disrupt students’ experiences of quality education.

Departmental policies in Queensland state SDAs should be used as a last resort and only after all other appropriate efforts have been made. SDAs in Queensland are a form of legislated student discipline. They include:

• short suspensions (1–10 days)
• long suspensions (11–20 days)
• exclusion from a school or more than one school
• enrolment cancellation (which can only be used if a student is 16 or older).

Key findings

• In 2023, there were 81,918 SDAs issued to 42,498 state school students, representing 7.5% of all students.
• First Nations students and students with a disability experience SDAs at twice the rate of all students.
• Students living in care receive SDAs at more than three times the rate.
• Children and parent participants were largely excluded from participating in the disciplinary decision-making process.
• SDAs are not an effective way to manage good order in a school, and indeed can be discriminatory.
• Approaches to SDAs are often limiting the rights of children who may already be struggling at school.