Truancy means intentional absences from schooling. Truancy became an offence when education became compulsory (under state education laws). This meant children charged with truancy could be arrested by police or truancy officers and committed to institutions such as industrial schools and reformatories. Magistrates could also fine parents for allowing a child to truant, and order the family be supervised under the probation system, or remove children from their families and commit them to an institution. Throughout the twentieth century truancy was one of the most common reasons children came to the attention of state welfare authorities.
For example, in New South Wales, education was made compulsory in 1881, under the Public Instruction Act, and truancy became an offence. This meant children charged with truancy could be arrested by police or truancy officers and committed to industrial schools and reformatories. When Children’s Courts were introduced in 1905, magistrates could fine parents for allowing a child to truant, and order the family be supervised under the probation system, or remove them from their families and commit them to an institution.