(1) For the purposes of this Act, a child is of compulsory school-age if the
child is of or above the age of 6 years and below the minimum school leaving
age.
(a) the age at which the child
completes Year 10 of secondary education (subject to participation required by
subsection (3)), or
(b) the age of 17 years,
whichever first occurs.
(3) A
child who completes Year 10 of secondary education but who is below the age of
17 years is of compulsory school-age unless the child participates on a
full-time basis in--
(a) approved education or training, or
(b) if the child
is of or above the age of 15 years--paid work or a combination of approved
education or training and paid work.
(4) A child ceasing to be of
compulsory school-age because of that participation does not revert to being
of compulsory school-age because of a cessation in participation for any
reason so long as the interruption in participation does not exceed a total
period of 3 months in any 12-month period or such other period approved by the
Minister.
(5) The completion of Year 10 of secondary education is--
(a) the
completion of Year 10 of secondary education in this State (whether by school
education or home schooling), or
(b) the completion of a course provided by
the TAFE Commission that is approved by the Minister as the equivalent of Year
10 of secondary education in this State, or
(c) the completion, outside of
this State, of the equivalent of Year 10 of secondary education in this State,
or
(d) the completion of education in any special circumstances approved by
the Minister.
(6) Participation in approved education or training is
participation in any of the following--