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Home schooling is a viable, educational alternative which appears popular in other countries, especially the United States, and which seems to be gaining increasing popularity in Australia. Home schooling provides an alternative educational solution for people holding particular beliefs, or having genuine concern about specific circumstances relating to an existing situation. It is most certainly not just a simple and easy solution for any problem that may exist.

Those considering involvement in this process must understand there are not only potential benefits but also responsibilities associated with such a decision. Removing a student from a situation causing major concern is only the first step. Then come the obligations linked to legal requirements and most importantly, the effective ongoing education of your child, as this will affect not only their education but future life. It must be done with due care and understanding for it to be effective. Done properly, it can work very well. Done wrongly, it may have devastating consequences.

This page looks at Home Schooling programs, registration, support groups and other information for all Australian states & Territories. Registration and Support Group information is provided at the top of each section.

The Second Page looks at beginning home schooling, home schooling blogs, magazines and journals, research, specialist areas and other general information. Some Australian material is included in these sections.

The Home Schooling Resources page provides a range of resources from Australia and overseas.

Select the relevant page for information by using the links above or the page number links at the top of this section.

If you are aware of any worthwhile information which is not included, suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given due consideration.

States & Territories

Australian Capital Territory

• Home Schooling [ACT]
  Legislation, FAQs, registration, publications, support & services.
• Registration Process
• Support Groups & Contacts - ACT
  Support groups, associations, individual contacts. Metropolitan, regional and statewide listings where available.
• A Guide for Parents
  Home Education in the ACT.
• FAQs
  Commonly asked questions with relevant responses.
• Manual - Registration of Home Education in the ACT
• Support & Services
  Lists support programs available and their contacts.

New South Wales

• Board of Studies Manuals and Forms
  PDF files. Home Education Information Pack. Various application forms.
• Support Groups & Contacts - NSW
  Support groups, associations, individual contacts. Metropolitan, regional and statewide listings where available.
• Enrolment of Students Policy
  NSW Department of Education & Training.
• Legal Issues in NSW
  Select this from the listing provided.

Northern Territory

• Home Education [NT]
  Contact information, application information, Parent Information Pack.
• Home Education Application
  Download an Application Form here.
• Support Groups & Contacts - NT
  Support groups, associations, individual contacts. Metropolitan, regional and statewide listings where available.
• Information Booklet

Queensland

• Home Education
  ‘Maintained by the staff of the Home Education Unit to support the parents of Queensland who home educate their children. The Home Education Unit assists parents with the registration process. It is Free to register for home education.’ Includes About My Child’s Program section as part of the FAQs and the Application for Registration form.
• Support Groups & Contacts - Qld
  Support groups, associations, individual contacts. Metropolitan, regional and statewide listings where available.
• Education Queensland Policy
  Covers this area.
• Home Schooling [Qld]
  Preface followed by procedures and schedule.
• Queensland Education Act Review
  Information on, and downloads of, the Education [General Provisions] Act 2006 and Education [General Provisions] Regulation 2006. Includes information on Home Schooling.
• Queensland Legal Information
  ‘Legislation about homeschooling in Queensland.’ Includes FAQs.

South Australia

• Home Education [DECS]
  Department of Education & Children’s Services. programs, condition of approval, legal requirements, process, changes, Transition to Year 8, contact details.
• Support Groups & Contacts - SA
  Support groups, associations, individual contacts. Metropolitan, regional and statewide listings where available.
• Home Schooling [SA]
  From Flinders University.
• Learning Without School
  Information, resources.
• Open Access College
  ‘Home-schooled students who need access to the SACE curriculum’ are able to apply for enrolment. Details from the college

Tasmania

• THEAC Home Page
  What is Home Education ?, curriculum, resources, Information Sessions, Registration and Monitoring.
• Support Groups & Contacts - Tas
  Support groups, associations, individual contacts. Metropolitan, regional and statewide listings where available.
• Home Education Support Service
  Tasmanian Department of Education Online. Information including the Registration Program. Provides access to Resources including through TALIS. Access over 27 000 items.

Victoria

• Home Schooling [Vic]
  Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Registering to home school, Addressing Key learning Areas, Partial Enrolment, Home Schooling Roundtable.
• Support Materials for the Registration of Home Schooling in Victoria
  ‘To assist home schooling families and the broader community in understanding the conditions of registration for home schooling in Victoria’.
• Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority
  Registering to Home School, notification processes, Changes to Details, Cancellation of Home Schooling, other information, Frequently Asked Questions, Application Form, support material. You must register through this group.
• Support Groups & Contacts - Vic
  Support groups, associations, individual contacts. Metropolitan, regional and statewide listings where available.
• Changes to Victorian Legislation for 2007
  ‘The process has substantially rewritten legislation as it pertains to state schools, as well as to home education in that state.’ Fact sheets, other information.
• Home Based Programs
  ‘Grants for home based educational programs. Please note that only severely disabled students not able to attend school will be considered for support through this program.’
• Home Schooling Round Table
  ‘To build on the achievements of the Home Schooling Advisory Committee.’ You can download a copy of the Report from the Home Schooling Roundtable here.
• Information for Principals
  A short statement providing support and recommendations for principals.
• Otherways : Home Education Network
  Forum, news, reviews of legislation, journal, Legal Information, activities, resources, events, age levels, … .
• Partial Enrolment for Registered Home Schooling Student Guidelines
• Partial Enrolment - FAQs
• Victorian Legal Information

Western Australia

• Home Education [WA]
  Covers all aspects, including Registration, Educational Programs, Resources and Links to further information.
• Support Groups & Contacts - WA
  Support groups, associations, individual contacts. Metropolitan, regional and statewide listings where available.
• Home Education Advisory Panel Policy
  Access a copy here.
• Home Education Policy
  Access a copy here.

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Australian Information

Activity Test Exemption

• Centrelink Homeschool Exemption Provision
  ‘Centrelink is slowly but surely getting up to speed with recognising the needs of home educators. I found the following information while searching Social Security legislation on the internet.’ Links include those below.
• Activity Test Exemption
  ‘Information on automatic exemptions for principal carers with special family circumstances.’ Extensive. Covers ‘principal carer parents in receipt of NSA or YA as a job seeker.’
• Home Educators
  Provides the accepted definition of home educators.

Discussion Groups

Discussion groups for those involved, or interested, in home education. You need to be a member to access the material included.

• ADF Home Education
  Australian Defence Force families.
• Australian Home School
• Australian Homeschool Campers
  ‘For Australian homeschooling families interested in going on camping treks together.’
• Australian Unschoolers
• Buddhists Homeschoolers
• Education Resources
  ‘For teachers, homeschoolers, educators, tutors, students of all grade levels [K-12] anyone involved in the field of education or just someone who has a love of knowledge and learning.’
• HomeschoolAustraliaFAQ
• Homeschool Freebies in Australia
• Homeschool Victoria
• Learning Naturally
  Yahoo Groups site. Based on one group of families activities.
• Muslim Home Education Network Australia
• South Australian Country Homeschoolers

General Sites

• Aussie Homeschool
  ‘A Free online community for all Australian homeschool [current, past, enquiring or potential] parents. The purpose and vision of Aussie Homeschool is to connect Australian homeschoolers from every town and state ! There is opportunity to buy and sell resources, to give and receive encouragement, to share, to laugh, and to learn with other like-minded people.’
• Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Home Schooling Network
  Facebook page for this group.
• Australian Home Education Directory
  Getting started, curriculum, research, methods & styles, resources & learning materials, suppliers. Find legal information and contacts in each state/territory.
• Australian Homeschool Legal Advisory Service
  ‘Providing legal advice and information to homeschoolers. Find out about your rights under the law and protect your family.’ Links to information for all states and territories, both legislation and advice.
• Australian Home Based Learning - Suite101
  Recent articles, favoured web sites, topic pages, discussions, related topics, courses [top right], book recommendations.
• Children’s Education Links
  Annotated links to home schooling sites, resources and other information.
• EdNA Online
  Annotated links to home schooling information particularly in Australia.
• HBLN of Western Australia [Inc.]
  ‘The Home Based Learning Network of Western Australia’. Library, Bulletin Board, Links, PDF material.
• Home Education Association Inc. [Australia]
  ‘To promote the practice of home education in Australia and to provide members with benefits which would be difficult to obtain by individuals or smaller groups’. Their Frequently Asked Questions and Articles pages are worth visiting.
• Home School Australia !
  This was probably once the best site but is no longer maintained as previously, except for the links from the home page.
• Home Schooling - Case Study
  Pearson Education. What it is, Why choose it, benefits, criticism, regulations by state & territory, support, resources.
• Homeschooling Downunder
  While there are extensive resources available through this site, there is also ‘helpful homeschooling advice’ covering getting organised and teaching skills.
• Home School Favourites
  Links to the Aussie Homeschool Message Board and many other links.
• Search Engine [Australia]
  Enter Homeschooling to access significant information.
• Selected Homeschooling Books
  Annotated titles are provided. Authors are included, as are prices.

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