School Leaving Ages
Thinking of leaving school instead of completing Y12? The rules are pretty simple and we can help you achieve your goals.
Students can sign-out of school in Y10, but only if they have secured a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship.
When students are in Y11 they can sign-out of school if they have secured permanent employment, vocational education, or a mix of the two, for a minimum of 25 hours per week. The employment portion is not restricted to apprenticeships or traineeships as required for those in Y10. However, employment must be permanent...not casual or temporary.
When students have turned 17, they can be signed out of school by their parent/carer without any evidence of employment or further study.
Follow this link to view the NSW DET's official information regarding school leaving ages.
If you are considering signing your child out of school under one of the categories above, and you would like support meeting the sign-out requirements, the Your Career - School Leavers Support website is a great starting point. Here you'll find useful information for parents and carers of children who are leaving school, no matter which of the above age groups they fall under.
If finding a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship is your child's goal, take a look at the Full-Time Apprenticeships and Traineeships page.
There are many local organisations (links below) that specialise in supporting students to transition from school into work. These organisations are government funded, and they offer transition programs and qualifications that meet the NSW DET's school leaving age requirements. Follow the links below to find out more about each organisation and their eligibility criteria.
