Most children feel nervous about school occasionally, whether they are starting a new year, navigating a difficult week with friends, or worried about a test. This kind of reluctance is common and usually short-lived, but school refusal is something quite different, and understanding the distinction matters. When a child consistently refuses to attend school, experiences significant distress in the mornings, or is frequently absent despite a parent’s best efforts, it can be exhausting and...

For many years, ADHD was understood primarily through the lens of how it presents in boys: visible hyperactivity, disruptive classroom behaviour, and difficulty sitting still. This understanding shaped both research and clinical practice, leaving many girls unidentified and unsupported for far too long. We now know that ADHD presents differently in girls and young women. Without an understanding of these differences, girls with ADHD can go unrecognised for years, often until secondary school...

Anxiety is the most common mental health difficulty experienced by children and adolescents in Australia, and it is also one of the most frequently misunderstood. Adults sometimes mistake anxious behaviour for defiance, attention-seeking, or overreaction, while children themselves may not have the language to describe what they are experiencing. Understanding what anxiety looks like in children, how it differs from typical worry, and when professional support may be helpful can make a...