NSW Children Left Before and After School - Family Law Issues?

[ForATime]

What is the law (family law?) about children before and after school left alone? "Latch key kids"

Age appropriate?

Tips?

 

[AllForHer]

There is no specific law stipulating an age at which it is acceptable to leave a child home alone, and thus, it is not illegal to do so. Some states, including NSW I believe, will hold people guilty of a misdemeanour if found to have left a child home alone for an 'unreasonable' length of time.

 

[ForATime]

Thanks Allforher.

Do you know of any reference to the definition of that unreasonable time?

For example, would 1-2hrs be unreasonable for a high schooler?

 

[AllForHer]

The definition of reasonable is determined by a subjective 'reasonable person' test, that is, "What would a reasonable person of sound mind and average intelligence do?"

I would say that a child of high-school age being home alone for two hours is reasonable.