Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts(1) 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.
(2) The minimum school leaving age is the earlier of the following:
(a) the age when the child completes year 10 of secondary education;
(b) the age of 17 years.
(3) However, a child who completes year 10 of secondary education and is below the age of 17 years is of compulsory school age unless:
(a) the child participates on a full-time basis in one of the following options (an eligible option ):
(i) approved education or training;
(ii) if the child is of or above the age of 15 years – paid employment or a combination of approved education or training and paid employment; or
(b) the child is exempt from participating in an eligible option.
(4) If a child is not of compulsory school age because of participation in an eligible option, the child does not become of compulsory school age merely because the child stops participating unless the break in participation totals more than 3 months in any 12-month period.
(5) The completion of year 10 of secondary education is:
(a) the completion of year 10 of secondary education in the Territory or the equivalent in a State or another Territory; or
(b) the completion of education approved by the CEO in special circumstances for a particular child.
(6) Participation in approved education or training is participation in any of the following:
(a) year 11 or 12 of secondary education in the Territory or the equivalent in a State or another Territory;
(b) an educational program or course of study or instruction provided by the Charles Darwin University or Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education;
(c) a higher education course accredited under the Higher Education Act ;
(d) an accredited course or approved apprenticeship under the Northern Territory Employment and Training Act ;
(e) other education or training approved by the CEO by Gazette notice;
(f) other education or training at an institution in a State or another Territory where the education or training would, if provided in the Territory, comply with the requirements of this Part.
(7) The CEO may exempt a child from participating in an eligible option for a specified period if satisfied it is appropriate to do so because of special circumstances.
Example for subsection (7)
The child is seriously ill.
(8) The exemption must be given by written notice to a parent of the child or, if the child is living independently, the child.
(9) A regulation may be made about the following:
(a) whether a child completes year 10 of secondary education;
(b) whether a child is participating in an eligible option.
(10) Subject to the Regulations, participation on a full-time basis in paid employment is participation for an average of 25 hours a week.