A Lifeline for Suspended Kids

When single mum of two Kylie learnt of her son’s third suspension, she felt helpless, she had tried everything before, from psychological interventions, medication, loss of privileges and even taking leave to support him.

“Simply suspending a child and sending them home doesn’t address the underlying issues - in fact for my son he saw it as a reward rather than a coercive measure as while he was given no access to a smartphone, the internet or laptop, he would just watch TV all day,” added Kylie.

“Timothy is academic, in fact he is in the top of his year in maths, but as a neurodivergent teen he struggles with motivation in remaining focused for subjects that aren’t his passion and then becomes disruptive and disobedient,” she says.

Thankfully, the school referred Timothy to an innovative new program, Alternative Suspension, run by the Y NSW, which has operated for more than two decades abroad. The program provides a structured environment for suspended students aged 12 to 18.

Participating in the program, Timothy received guidance from youth workers on emotional regulation and social skills. The structure gave him a sense of achievement that allowed him to complete his schoolwork in a setting that better supported his learning difficulties.

“The program offered him tools to manage his emotions and strategies for emotional regulation and just as importantly, for the first time he felt that people outside of school genuinely cared and understood him,” she continued.

“After working with the Y, with the support of school he is better at managing his anger, his confidence and self-worth have grown, and he has matured. While there’s still a journey ahead, the program has been crucial in helping him build a stronger foundation for success,” concluded Kylie.

The Alternative Suspension Program is designed to address behavioural challenges in a structured, compassionate environment and offers students not only a second chance, but an opportunity to reclaim their futures and reset.

The youth workers who run the program work closely with referral support services including psychologists and alcohol and other drug counsellors. Carlie Dodds is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked in youth mental health for close to 20 years and is supportive of the Alternative Suspension program.

“This program is essential. Working with disadvantaged young people, I see that many of their behavioural challenges often emerge at school, where they spend most of their time. Having a supportive space where they can work through these issues is crucial for guiding them back into education,” explained Carlie.

"School suspensions can have a negative impact on young people, often reinforcing a sense of rejection, making students feel like they’re 'not good enough’. Different schools approach suspension in different ways, but many families lack the resources to support a suspended student at home.

“The likelihood of a young person going home and dedicating themselves to schoolwork is extremely low. Instead, they’re often left unsupervised which can lead to increased screen time, gaming addiction or more serious choices such as substance use and even crime,” she continued.

"Several students I’ve worked with have benefited from the Alternative Suspension program, and I hope more schools and parents become aware of it, so that more young people can receive the specialist support they really need to continue their education," concluded Carlie.

A significant expansion of the Alternative Suspension Program is in the works, made possible by generous partnerships with the Eureka Benevolent Foundation, St. George Foundation, Department of Social Services, Matana Foundation, and the Kimberley Foundation.

This support allows the program to continue its work in Western Sydney and on the Central Coast for the next three years, undertake an independent evaluation, while also extending vital assistance to more young people in Camden and regional Broken Hill in NSW.

David Gonski AC supports the Y NSW’s Alternative Suspension program, “This program creates real opportunities for students who might otherwise be left behind, helping them build resilience and thrive in ways that the traditional approach to a suspension at home simply cannot,” he said.

Nearby NSW schools can refer students to the program for a minimum of three days. Referrals from outside these areas will be supported to participate or be referred to an alternative program. For more information email [email protected].