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No legal age for leaving children home alone
There’s no one law in Australia that says at what age you can or can’t leave your child home alone.
In Queensland if you leave a child under 12 years of age for an ‘unreasonable time’ without supervision you have committed a misdemeanour. However, the legislation also says that whether the time is unreasonable depends on all the relevant circumstances.
Elsewhere in Australia, the law says you’re legally obliged to make sure that your child is properly looked after. You’re expected to provide food, clothing, a place to live, safety and supervision. You can be charged with an offence if your child is left in a dangerous situation, not fed, clothed or provided with accommodation.
The police or Children, Youth and Family Services can remove children from situations where their safety is in serious danger and where there’s no guardian present. Read about the laws in each state and territory.
This means that you need to use your own judgment about leaving children home alone.
This involves thinking about whether your child could cope if you weren’t able to get back, or if something happened. For example, leaving a baby or toddler asleep while you pop out to collect older children from school poses a significant risk.
If you think it’s OK and you’re confident your older child is ready, your older child can spend some time alone without parental supervision.
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