School Refusal Support Wollongong & illawarra‍ ‍

A young man with short dark hair lying on his back on the floor, propped against the bed with his head on the bed's edge. He is wearing a gray t-shirt and a wristwatch, with his right arm visible. The room has a bed with a patterned bedspread, a desk with a computer, and various items in the background.

When your child can't get to school, it's frightening and isolating — and well-meaning advice to "just make them go" rarely helps. School refusal (sometimes called "school can't") is almost always a sign of underlying distress, not defiance. I help children, teens and their families across Wollongong and the Illawarra understand what's really going on and find a gentle, realistic way back.

School refusal often has roots in anxiety, sensory overwhelm, social difficulties, learning struggles, ADHD or autism, bullying, or past trauma. Rather than forcing the issue, we work to understand the cause, reduce the distress, and rebuild your child's confidence step by step — with the school on board where possible.

I support families with understanding why school feels unsafe or overwhelming, calming the morning battles and anxiety, building a gradual and supported return plan, and working with the school on adjustments. As a former special education teacher, I bring both classroom insight and therapeutic support to a problem that needs both.

No referral and no long waitlist — just practical help when you need it most. Available in person across the Illawarra or via telehealth throughout NSW.

Worried about your child? Book a free initial chat and we'll talk through what's happening and the first steps forward.

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