Sydney mum Ella Factor took her son out of school for four months to travel around the world. She says the trip was filled with valuable life-lessons.
"He grew up so much, he learned so much about different cultures and different people," Ella said.
"He grew in confidence so much, he learned how to negotiate in the world."
Ella's experience isn't unique. Australian teens miss more school than their peers in many developed nations. The question is, at what cost?
A report commissioned by the federal government may have found the answer.
Researchers looked at the attendance of more than 400,000 students and their NAPLAN results.
They found missing a 10 day period, without a legitimate excuse, could actually lower a student's NAPLAN score.
Missed school also had a greater impact on writing than math and other areas, and researchers say there is no safe threshold for missing school, even one day can have a negative impact.
"I don't believe in that," said parent Linda Chuc. "My daughter is in kindergarten and she's not doing a great deal of work so I don't believe the early stages of kindy would really affect their future lives."
But researchers say the first years are crucial to establishing good attendance through out their academic careers because that's when kids learn how to go to school.
"If the child skips the school it makes a big difference," said Sydney mother Shalu Gupta.
Other parents SBS talked to, including Ruta Bhalerao, thought the research went too far.
"If you are responsible, I think it should be OK. It depends on how you do it," she said.
St Joesph's College Headmaster Ross Tarlinton does not condone unauthorised absences but it's not always a black and white issue.
"I think it depends on the age of the child, I think it depends on the purpose, the length of time away; what that child might be missing," said Mr. Tarlinton.
Ella Factor believes her son gained a great deal more from the experience than he missed from not attending school.
"He still finished ahead of the class," she said.
