"There's no one law in Australia that says how old your child must be before you can leave them alone," as the Raising Children Network puts it (Raising Children Network). Each state and territory has its own law, and only one of them, Queensland, writes an age into it. Below is what each one says about leaving children at home, what the road safety authorities advise about walking to school, and how schools handle who collects your child.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your state's child protection department can tell you how it would see a particular situation.
Leaving children home alone, state by state
| State or territory | What the law says | Age in the law? |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | Offence to leave a child under 12 for an unreasonable time without reasonable supervision and care. Up to 3 years' prison. | Yes, under 12 |
| Victoria | Offence to leave a child without reasonable supervision and care for an unreasonable time. Up to 25 penalty units or 6 months. | No |
| Tasmania | Offence worded like Victoria's. Up to 15 penalty units or 3 months. | No |
| ACT | Offence to neglect a child you're caring for. Up to 200 penalty units, 2 years, or both. | No |
| New South Wales | The government says the law gives no clear age. | No |
| South Australia | No law states an age; parents can be charged if a child comes to serious harm. | No |
| Northern Territory | No law states an age; parents can be charged if a child is left in danger. | No |
Queensland
Section 364A of the Criminal Code is the only home-alone law in Australia with an age: "A person who, having the lawful care or charge of a child under 12 years, leaves the child for an unreasonable time without making reasonable provision for the supervision and care of the child during that time commits a misdemeanour" (Queensland Criminal Code s.364A). It doesn't say how long is too long: "Whether the time is unreasonable depends on all the relevant circumstances."
So a Queensland 10-year-old home for 20 minutes while you collect a sibling is not the same as a 10-year-old home alone all evening. The law looks at the whole situation.
Victoria and Tasmania
Section 494 of Victoria's Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 says a person in charge of a child "must not leave the child without making reasonable provision for the child's supervision and care for a time which is unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances" (Victorian legislation). It names no age. One detail parents of teenagers ask about: a prosecution can't be brought against a person under 16 who isn't the child's parent, such as an older sibling minding the younger ones.
Tasmania's law is worded almost the same way, with a lower penalty (Tasmanian legislation).
The ACT
The ACT's Crimes Act makes it an offence to "neglect a child for whom he or she is caring or has parental responsibility" (ACT legislation). Again, no home-alone age.
New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory
These three governments say the same thing in their own words. NSW: "The law provides no clear direction as to what age a child can be left at home alone", and babies or toddlers "should not be left at home alone under any circumstances no matter how short a time" (NSW Communities and Justice). South Australia: "There is no law stating an age at which children can or cannot be left alone" (Parenting SA). The Northern Territory says the same, and that parents can be charged if children are left in a dangerous situation or without food, clothing or shelter (NT Government).
Parenting SA adds a warning about leaving an older child in charge: "you may be held legally responsible for the carer, as well as your own children if something goes wrong", and suggests carers be over 18.
We couldn't confirm Western Australia's position from an official source, so it isn't in the table. Check with WA's Department of Communities.
How old is old enough, then?
Raising Children Network's answer is the honest one: "It's not just about your child's age – your child's maturity is also important" (Raising Children Network). A child who knows what to do if the power goes out, who to ring, and how to keep the door locked is ready sooner than one who doesn't.
Walking to school
No Australian law sets an age for walking to school alone. The road safety advice is clear about the early years, though.
Transport for NSW says: "Always hold your child's hand up until they're at least 8 years old", and "Up until at least 10 years old, supervise your child very closely, holding their hand when crossing the road" (Transport for NSW). It also asks parents to meet children on the school side or at the bus stop: "Never wait on the opposite side of the road and call them across."
Victoria teaches the same in schools: children up to 10 should hold an adult's hand to cross the road (Road Safety Education Victoria).
Put together, most families start with walking alongside until about 10, then a short route with a quiet crossing, then the full walk.
Who can collect your child from school
Victoria has the clearest written policy. Schools "must ensure only a parent/carer or authorised person can collect a child from school during school hours", and if the authorised person isn't known to the school, they must show photo ID such as a driver's licence. Court orders, like parenting orders, come first (Victorian Department of Education). The same policy says "Parents/carers are responsible for the collection of students from school", and schools must tell families when after-school supervision ends.
In ACT public schools, parents give written authorisation when someone else will drop off or collect a preschool child (ACT Education).
Other states leave the details to each school. Wherever you are, the safe move is the same: give the school a list of everyone who might collect, and tell the office in writing when it's someone new.
For the days the routine breaks
The day a grandparent is unwell or a meeting runs late is the day collection goes wrong. Kid Pickup puts one name on every school run: you, a grandparent or the babysitter taps "I'll do it". If nobody has, the app sends you a nudge the day before and again on the day. It's on the Australian App Store.
For help now, our Australian crisis and support lines page lists Kids Helpline, Lifeline and more.
FAQ
What age can a child be left home alone in Australia?
Only Queensland's law has an age: it's an offence to leave a child under 12 for an unreasonable time without reasonable supervision. Other states set no age but make it an offence to leave a child without reasonable care, or to neglect them. Readiness depends on maturity as much as age.
Is it illegal to leave kids home alone in NSW?
The NSW Government says the law gives no clear age. It's up to parents to judge by the child's age and maturity, and babies and toddlers should never be left alone.
What age can kids walk to school alone in Australia?
No law sets one. Transport for NSW advises holding your child's hand until at least 8 and closely supervising road crossings until at least 10.
Who can pick up my child from school in Australia?
A parent or carer, or someone they've authorised. In Victoria, an authorised person the school doesn't know must show photo ID. Check your school's policy and give it a list of everyone who might collect.