“I dropped out early”: School disengagement and exclusion among young people experiencing homelessness

In this chapter we discuss school disengagement and exclusion among young people experiencing homelessness in Victoria, Australia. We begin by presenting enrollment statistics for children, adolescents, and young adults accessing Specialist Homelessness Services. Next, using decolonising research practices, we explore the school-based challenges and complexities faced by young people experiencing homelessness. We draw attention to young people’s shame and stigma in relation to their disengagement from school settings. We argue that the dominant discourse of academic performance ultimately forces young people
experiencing homelessness to engage in self-exclusionary behaviours that result in early school leaving. Next, we examine young people’s experiences of school counselling support and argue that this support, although present in schools and intended to be helpful, does not
adequately address the needs of young people experiencing homelessness. Last, we draw attention to young people’s views and suggestions on strategies for school-based support in addressing their educational and social needs. Throughout this chapter, we discuss the
implications of our work for providing educational support to young people experiencing homelessness and for ensuring they remain supported and actively engaged in educational settings.