<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Looking for information on homeschooling in\u00a0Australia? You\u2019ve found it!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This guide covers homeschool registration in\u00a0Australia, homeschooling facts and figures, socialisation and homeschool\u00a0support groups, and answers all the questions you need to know to help you get started homeschooling in Australia.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There\u2019s a LOT of helpful information here, so I\u2019ve also put\u00a0it in a PDF ebook that you can download, print, and refer back to.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Want me to email it to you? Just pop your details in below and you\u2019ll get it straight away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n OK, let\u2019s get started mastering homeschooling in Australia!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re thinking about homeschooling in Australia, you\u2019re\u00a0not alone. The number of Australian homeschoolers has increased exponentially\u00a0in the last decade.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In our early days of homeschooling we considered ourselves lucky to have a group of five families in our area. Now, in the same area, there are over 200 families.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But when you begin homeschooling it can seem completely\u00a0overwhelming, especially if you\u2019re homeschooling unexpectedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just take a few deep breaths and focus on the next task that\u00a0needs to be done. As with anything new there\u2019s a learning curve you need to get\u00a0through before it gets easier, but it WILL get easier.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And remember there\u2019s plenty of assistance out there if you need it \u2013 us homeschoolers tend to be a helpful bunch!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Homeschooling simply means your children learn at home and\u00a0in the community, rather than school, and parents are responsible for their education,\u00a0rather than an outside organisation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It DOESN\u2019T mean you\u2019ll be at home all the time, or that\u00a0homeschooling will look anything like school.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s a difficult\u00a0concept to get your head around in the beginning, but school does not equal\u00a0education. They\u2019re two totally different things.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And as you\u2019re educating, not schooling, you can do it in\u00a0whatever way you like. Many homeschoolers don\u2019t spend a great deal of time\u00a0doing traditional schoolwork but instead attend activities in their community\u00a0or with homeschool groups, explore the outdoors, read dozens of books, do\u00a0hands-on activities and experiments, travel, and take advantage of the endless range of\u00a0activities and resources that happen to be educational.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Want to see what homeschooling really looks like? Take a look through the Day in the Life posts<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n OK, so you just enrol with a school, they send you the work,\u00a0and you\u2019re homeschooling \u2013 right?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wrong.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That\u2019s distance education. And while distance education and homeschooling are often seen as the\u00a0same thing they\u2019re quite different.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Distance education involves enrolling with a school, who\u00a0provide all the work. You make sure the work is done, send it back, and they\u00a0grade it and produce reports. They often have online classes to attend. As the\u00a0parent you are responsible for supervising the work, doing some teaching, and\u00a0making sure it gets done.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in distance education in Australia, read my guide here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Home schooling in Australia involves registering to homeschool, choosing your own course of work, and ensuring your child receives an education. Other than infrequent reporting and re-application to your state or territory homeschool body, you decide what your child\u2019s education will involve.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You choose your content and your style. You can use complete curriculum, build it from scratch yourself, do in-person and online classes, and use tutoring.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can add whatever you like to your homeschooling mix to\u00a0create a truly individualised and interesting education. In some states you must\u00a0deliver a program that addresses the curriculum, but it\u2019s quite easy to get\u00a0creative with this.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Interested in the many ways you can help your child get a great education? Check out the Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Styles<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There\u2019s a growing misconception that you need to purchase an Australian homeschooling curriculum, or follow a homeschooling program, in order to legally homeschool.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let me make it clear:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You do NOT need to buy a complete curriculum to homeschool.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although there are a growing number of homeschooling curriculum providers in Australia, who will provide you with work for all subjects and assist with homeschooling registration, it is NOT mandatory to enrol with one of them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can if you choose to, of course. But you definitely don\u2019t HAVE to \u2013 and most homeschoolers choose to put together their own curriculum and resources so they can tailor it to their children and family.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2017, there were 19,004 registered homeschooling students, an increase of 8563 since 2011.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And in 2019 there were 21,437 home schooled students in Australia. I told you numbers were growing!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anecdotally, many people who homeschooled through lockdown in 2020 continued to homeschool \u2013 I look forward to seeing the numbers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thanks to Stuart Chapman & the HSLDA for crunching the numbers \u2013 you can\u00a0view the full homeschooling statistics chart here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, it\u2019s difficult to know the true numbers, as apparently many\u00a0homeschoolers in Australia are not registered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen estimates ranging from 1\/3 to 1\/2 of homeschoolers not being registered, but it\u2019s impossible to know. Just assume there are many more out there than the numbers state.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And for that reason, don\u2019t go asking people you barely know\u00a0if they\u2019re registered. They may not want to share.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are many reasons, but most fall into the following\u00a0categories.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many parents have more than one reason, and reasons may\u00a0evolve and change over the years. A family who begins homeschooling to escape\u00a0bullying may realise their child is doing better academically and socially, and\u00a0so add those reasons to why they homeschool. Someone who begins because their\u00a0child isn\u2019t being challenged academically at school may be happy that their\u00a0child is now learning more, but also realise that their family is much closer\u00a0as a result.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ah, the dreaded homeschooling registration!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First up, please remember that homeschooling registration\u00a0and actual homeschooling are two different things, and both need to be\u00a0addressed. Many people spend too much time obsessing about registration, when\u00a0it\u2019s the day-to-day stuff that will really make or break your homeschool.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So register, but spend MORE time making it all work for you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Second, getting your registration rejected isn\u2019t common. In 2015, NSW (known as a \u2018tough\u2019 state) only knocked back 0.27% of applications for not providing a good enough application (reference<\/a>). That\u2019s only 1 out of 400! Know that if you put some effort in you have a huge chance of success.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now, over to the\u00a0legal stuff.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Homeschooling is legal in all states and territories in Australia.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Registering to homeschool is a legal requirement. It terrifies most people who are new to homeschooling, but if you follow the instructions and access the guidance available it is not especially difficult, and it gets easier each time you do it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some parents even say they enjoy being required to record, review and plan because they wouldn\u2019t sit and do it otherwise \u2013 there\u2019s always a silver lining.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019d like more guidance, there are plenty of workshops addressing homeschool registration and reporting in Australia included in the\u00a0Australian Homeschooling Registration Bundle<\/a>. They\u2019re full of step-by-step information about planning, recording, and everything you need to know about homeschool registration.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0I also recommend contacting your local homeschooling group,\u00a0or an online group, to obtain assistance and support. Just don\u2019t expect them to\u00a0do EVERYTHING for you \u2013 ask for tips and help with the tricky parts, but ultimately\u00a0it\u2019s your responsibility.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here are the basic requirements of homeschool registration\u00a0in each state. I\u2019m not a law expert, nor do I play one on the internet \u2013 this is simply my summary. The requirements may change at any time, so please refer to the\u00a0websites linked for the most up-to-date information.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Find\u00a0forms and full details on the NSW Education Standards Authority<\/a>\u00a0site.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0First, fill out and submit the Application for Initial Registration\u00a0form. You need to do one for each child.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Next, you\u2019ll need to put together a plan \u2013 again, one for\u00a0each child. You must address the NSW curriculum and personalise it to your\u00a0child\u2019s needs, but you can use your choice of approach to cover the content.\u00a0Examples are provided on the site.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0An Authorised Person will visit your house and assess your\u00a0plan, learning area, and intended recording and reporting methods. It\u2019s\u00a0recommended you have an impartial third person sit in on the meeting \u2013 many\u00a0homeschooling parents are happy to do this so get in contact with your local\u00a0group. Your child must be sighted, but there is no requirement they participate\u00a0in the meeting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Registration periods can be 3, 6, 12, or 24 months, but initial\u00a0applicants can only get a maximum of 12 months.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Renewal is similar. Three months before the end of your\u00a0registration fill out and submit the Application for Renewal of Registration\u00a0form. You\u2019ll then have your second meeting \u2013 you will need to show some samples\u00a0of work done, plus provide a written assessment of each child and your plan for\u00a0the upcoming period. You can register for 24 months if the Authorised\u00a0Person agrees.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0There are comprehensive workshops about\u00a0step-by-step homeschool registration and reporting In NSW <\/a>\u00a0in the Rego Bundle \u2013 check it out!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0You register with the\u00a0Home Education Unit<\/a>\u00a0between the ages of 5.5 \u2013 17. You will need to submit the application form, your plan of education for the year, identification, and the certified Statutory Declaration. You need one for each child. Templates are provided for several planning methods (there\u2019s a\u00a0great workshop about theme planning plus a couple of other specific QLD homeschool registration and reporting workshops here<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Six months into your registration you will receive a\u00a0reporting pack. This needs to be completed and returned by the tenth month,\u00a0along with your plan for the next period of registration.\u00a0There are no home visits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The NT only accepts applications for limited periods<\/a>, twice a year, for children 6 – 17. You need to fill in an application form and attach a weekly learning plan and teaching and learning plan, plus identification documents. Your plan must be guided by the National Curriculum, but you can apply for an exemption.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The application is assessed, and if approved you will have a <\/p>\n Once approved, the process for each year is virtually the same. You need to submit next year\u2019s application by the end of each year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Need more help? There’s a step-by-step NT homeschool registration workshop in here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0You will\u00a0register with the VRQA<\/a>. You need to submit an application form, ID, and\u00a0a learning plan for each child between the ages of 6 \u2013 17 ONCE. This isn\u2019t a yearly thing. The learning plan must cover the prescribed eight learning\u00a0areas, but the content is up to you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Around 10% of students are chosen randomly and reviewed each\u00a0year. If your family is selected ONE child will be reviewed. You can choose to\u00a0send VRQA the evidence of learning, describe it via telephone, or have an\u00a0in-person interview. If the review is successful you won\u2019t be reviewed again\u00a0for at least two years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0You can partially enrol at school. There are no home visits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ACT Homeschool Registration details<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ACT doesn\u2019t provide much information about homeschooling on their site \u2013 you need to request application forms and submit any questions via email. Their previous FAQ document has been removed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can apply for registration simply by filling out the application form and attaching the necessary ID documents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You then have three months to provide your educational plan, in line with the National Curriculum. You need to apply for full registration at least 20 business days before the end of your 3-month registration period. This application must include a written statement, called a Parent Report, that addresses how you will meet the requirements. You can request a template for your Parent Report.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019ll then meet with\u00a0an Authorised Person in the Education Directorate\u2019s office to discuss your\u00a0plan. You\u2019ll need to take details of your program and materials.\u00a0Registration lasts two years, but at the end of each year\u00a0you must submit a Progress Report. These describe your child\u2019s educational\u00a0progress over the year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For renewal, you must submit a registration renewal application form plus your Parent Report and Progress Report at least 3 months before your current registration expires. You will have another meeting with an Authorised Person, but renewal meetings can be done via videoconference.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You must provide the majority of education from your approved address, and you may enrol in school part-time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is a very comprehensive workshop about registration and reporting in Tasmania in Homeschooling Registration Bundle<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Tasmania you\u2019ll register with the\u00a0Office of the Education Registrar<\/a>. Part-time homeschool registration is allowed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You need to complete a single application form for your\u00a0family that includes each child aged 5 \u2013 18. You\u2019ll them create a learning plan for\u00a0each individual child called a HESP (Home Education Summary and Program) which details how\u00a0you\u2019ll address each of the standards. Templates are provided, and\u00a0THEAC<\/a>\u00a0provides completed examples plus an excellent FAQ.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After your program has been assessed you\u2019ll have a visit\u00a0from a Registration Officer, which can be at your home or a suitable place of\u00a0your choice, or via phone or Skype. Your child must be sighted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Registration renewal is essentially the same \u2013 fill out the\u00a0form, produce a HESP, and have a meeting. In your renewal meeting you\u2019ll be\u00a0expected to evaluate and show evidence of learning from your previous\u00a0registration period.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is a comprehensive workshop about WA homeschool registration and reporting in the Registration Bundle<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019ll\u00a0register with the Department of Education<\/a>. You need to lodge an application form with your nearest Regional\u00a0Education office.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Within three months you\u2019ll have a meeting with a home\u00a0education moderator. You\u2019re not required to have a formal plan, BUT you do need\u00a0to be able to show evidence of learning. You can do this by showing work\u00a0samples, diaries or other recording methods, photos, completed projects,\u00a0certificates, or any other suitable method. It\u2019s a good idea to have a document outlining the child\u2019s\u00a0program and progress ready before the visit so you can ensure you cover it\u00a0comprehensively.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Registration renewal is similar \u2013 you\u2019ll have a meeting with\u00a0a moderator every 12 months and you\u2019ll need to provide evidence of learning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Homeschool registration in South Australia is a little bit\u00a0different. You don\u2019t register to homeschool \u2013 instead, you enrol your child at a\u00a0school and then apply for an exemption from attending.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Contact the HEU here<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You need to email to obtain an application pack, and you only need one application for all\u00a0your children. You\u2019ll provide a short outline of a typical day, and your intended program\/curriculum\u00a0\u2013 it\u2019s not a full yearly plan and should take less than a page. You will need\u00a0to detail how you will assess their progress and the learning environment, plus\u00a0the social interaction they will have.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BOTH parents must sign \u2013 even if the second parent is not\u00a0involved or is hostile. Parents and home education groups are campaigning to change this requirement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve submitted the pack, a home education officer\u00a0will visit your home to discuss it. Your child must be sighted but does not\u00a0have to participate. It\u2019s recommended that you have an impartial third person\u00a0there to observe and take notes of the meeting. Many experienced homeschooling\u00a0parents are happy to do this for each other \u2013 join your local group and ask.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019ll have an annual review, which is a similar\u00a0process. You\u2019ll fill out a form describing educational progress and the\u00a0resources used in each subject area, and a paragraph about your plan for the\u00a0following year. You\u2019ll then have a meeting with a home education officer where\u00a0you will show evidence of learning in the form of your records. These can be\u00a0work samples, summaries, lists of curricula completed, photos, attendance\u00a0records, whatever form your record keeping takes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A note about age in all states<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Generally, from the age of 15 you can fulfil education requirements\u00a0in other ways without being registered to homeschool, such as TAFE, employment, university, or an apprenticeship. This can often be easier than homeschool registration, and your child will get a recognised qualification.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to get your registration application done\u00a0quickly and easily I highly recommend you watch the\u00a0homeschool registration workshops in\u00a0the Australian Homeschooling Summit<\/a>. There are plenty of step-by-step workshops all about homeschool\u00a0registration, including specific workshops for Queensland, NSW, Tasmania, WA, and the NT. The information provided in those and the general registration and reporting\u00a0workshops will show you how to put together a plan quickly and with minimal stress, in a way that is very likely to be approved the first time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Homeschool registration while travelling can be confusing. NSW and NT specifically mention\u00a0travelling, and state that you are not allowed to homeschool and must enroll in\u00a0distance education if you intend to travel for longer than a term.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tasmania\u00a0says you can travel if you intend to return as a permanent resident. If you’re travelling at the time of re-registration they will not re-register you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two\u00a0families from WA have contacted me because WA refused to register them when they were going travelling, and seemed content to have them go unregistered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Each state\u2019s regulations state that you cannot\u00a0register to homeschool if you aren\u2019t a permanent resident of the state. And if you don\u2019t have a fixed address, you\u2019re not.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For example, this is what the ACT has to say about travelling \u2013<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can I become registered or renew my registration while my\u00a0family is not residing in the ACT?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n No. Home education must be provided from the ACT home base\u00a0listed on the registration certificate. If you are travelling at the time of\u00a0registration or renewal you can re-apply for provisional registration on your\u00a0return to the ACT.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n What are you meant to do in the meantime in states other than NT and NSW? Nobody\u2019s really\u00a0sure. If you\u2019ll only be travelling within your registration period it shouldn\u2019t affect it, but you may find you don\u2019t qualify for registration when your registration expires if you\u2019re not in the state.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re refused registration or told you\u2019re not eligible keep a record. I know several people who have re-registered or enrolled at school after a period of not being registered and they\u2019ve had no issues at all, so don\u2019t fret \u2013 they\u2019ll most likely just be happy to have you back in the system.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Interested in travelling? We\u2019ve spent over four years travelling Australia as a family. Read my\u00a0guide to Travelling & Homeschooling in Australia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don\u2019t stress about the uni thing! It\u2019s quite easy to get into university as a homeschooler \u2013 it\u2019s easier than finishing school, in my opinion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And I\u2019ve written a HUGE guide to show you how homeschoolers enter university, complete with real-life examples<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a quick summary, here are a few of the options available<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are homeschoolers who have never stepped foot in a school studying everything from medicine to music, and entry gets easier all the time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So don\u2019t worry about this one \u2013 you can work out an alternative entry path for any degree.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is no\u00a0specific<\/em>\u00a0financial assistance from Centrelink for homeschooling families, but there are other ways families can access financial help from Centrelink.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you qualify for\u00a0Newstart<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0proof of homeschooling registration\u00a0exempts you from looking for work. You can also receive this exemption if you have four or more children.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Assistance for Isolated Children<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 This payment is available to families who have school aged children who can\u2019t attend school because of distance or special needs (physical, psychological, or intellectual). There\u2019s a bit of paperwork to do, but it\u2019s a substantial\u00a0payment. Many families with children on the autism spectrum, or with anxiety,\u00a0receive AIC.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apart from that, financial assistance for homeschoolers is rather random and fragmented. Homeschooled students receive free dental care via the\u00a0School Dental Services in each state. Queenslanders can receive the\u00a0Textbook and Resource\u00a0Allowance<\/a>, while Territorians can access the\u00a0Back to School Payment Scheme<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many\u00a0states\/territories can claim sports vouchers once a year. WA residents can claim the\u00a0Secondary Assistance Scheme<\/a>, and both\u00a0WA and NT residents can get free swimming lessons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Financial subsidies for homeschoolers are always changing\u00a0and there may be grants in your local area \u2013 ask your homeschool group for\u00a0information specific to your state and area.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Definitely not! Testing is not required by any\u00a0state or territory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your children can choose to do NAPLAN at a local school, but it\u2019s not compulsory. Some homeschoolers do NAPLAN, and homeschooler scores are\u00a0well above average.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, it\u2019s a very small self-selected sample, and as the\u00a0children who are likely to do well at NAPLAN are the ones who do it, we can\u2019t\u00a0use the results to say that homeschoolers get a better education.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019ll get asked this a lot, and the answer is\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You don\u2019t need an education degree, or a special <\/p>\n The only thing you need is a strong commitment to providing <\/p>\n Most importantly, you don\u2019t need to know everything to <\/p>\n Homeschooling tends to be less like teacher and learner, and more like committed co-learners. If you don\u2019t know something you can learn along with your child. You can source a great complete resource, online lessons, or tutoring if you need to.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As an example, I just leaned over and pulled this sentence <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSpecialised statistical analysis ruled out phylogenetic autocorrelation as the sole explanation of the relationship between BMR and aridity.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Huh? Apparently, it\u2019s from a study about larks and how arid <\/p>\n I can\u2019t teach this (I can\u2019t even understand it without <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is a difficult question to answer! As homeschoolers,\u00a0we\u2019ve turned learning into a lifestyle, and we\u2019re always learning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you decide to do school at home, with workbooks addressing\u00a0the National Curriculum, you can expect to spend less than three hours per weekday covering core content. One hour a day is plenty in the younger years, and four\u00a0hours is plenty for most teens. The teens will do most of it by themselves, too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It may not seem like enough time compared the hours a day\u00a0spent in school, but us homeschoolers can be efficient. Much of school time is\u00a0wasted on organisation, assemblies, notices, and activities that aren\u2019t\u00a0particularly educational.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And when you spend the rest of your day reading books,\u00a0pursuing interests, doing arts and crafts, watching documentaries, and other\u00a0interesting and incidentally educational activities, it adds up to many more productive\u00a0learning hours, even if it doesn\u2019t look like school. These hours tend to\u00a0greatly reduce the hours spent on workbooks \u2013 if your child has already learned\u00a0it from a board game they\u2019ll fly through the worksheets.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here\u2019s how homeschoolers save time \u2013<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n So don\u2019t think you need to schedule 6+ hours a day of study for each of your children! You won\u2019t be racing around non-stop with no time to brush your teeth \u2013 if you\u2019re working harder than them you\u2019re doing something wrong.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019ll get asked about socialisation ALL THE TIME,\u00a0and you may think it will be a big issue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Luckily, you\u2019ll soon realise that homeschool socialisation\u00a0is not a big issue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Except in the media, which isn\u2019t known for accuracy\u2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Homeschoolers leave the house. They go to homeschool group, and\u00a0to groups like Scouts, they play sports and games. They do the shopping and errands,\u00a0visit museums and galleries, and spend lots of unstructured time with family\u00a0and friends.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In short, our children interact with a wide range of people\u00a0of all different age groups from many demographics. While doing so they\u2019re\u00a0guided by adults who care for them and have a vested interest in their future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is how homeschooled kids get socialised<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 they learn to interact with many people across varied areas of society by interacting with many people across varied areas of society.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not by being stuck in a large number of mostly age-group peers within an institution and play-acting life skills like shopping (does anyone else think that\u2019s utterly ridiculous?).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As I mentioned earlier, many people don\u2019t like the\u00a0socialisation that school provides. They don\u2019t want their children to be\u00a0exposed to bullying, early sexualisation, the glorification of drinking and\u00a0drugs, a shallow appearance-oriented culture, or anti-intellectualism being\u00a0\u2018cool\u2019. Frankly, I\u2019m baffled as to why\u00a0people fret about children \u2018missing out\u2019 on it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re stressing about social skills, make a conscious\u00a0decision to put that worry aside for six months. Join your local homeschool\u00a0group (or start one if there\u2019s none around) and go about your daily life. When\u00a0you assess your worry after six months you\u2019ll most likely realise that it\u2019s not\u00a0worth worrying about at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you’re worrying about this, there are LOTS of workshops about socialisation, co-ops, and all things to do with other people in the Australian Homeschooling Summit<\/a>. It’s a great way to get a look at what we REALLY do all day – and the rich and varied social experiences homeschooled children get.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Repeat after me \u2013 you don\u2019t have to homeschool alone!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chances are there will be a homeschooling group near you.\u00a0Join it! Even if it doesn\u2019t suit you perfectly you\u2019ll still get a sense of\u00a0belonging and be able to chat to families in a similar situation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s great\u00a0for your child to see that this homeschooling gig is normal. It also\u00a0gives you a group to organise activities with, whether that\u2019s a visit to the\u00a0local BMX track, a camp, or a tour of a historical site.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Or rafting on lilos and dressing up in costume and beating on each other with wooden swords \u2013 whatever takes your fancy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If there isn\u2019t a local homeschooling group, try to start\u00a0one. Advertise at your local library, community centres, and online groups to\u00a0find families. You may get a lot of people with toddlers who are only thinking about\u00a0it, but persevere. Even 1 or 2 other families can make a great group.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now, I could try to reinvent the wheel and create my own list of Australian homeschooling groups, but Beverley Paine has already created a fantastic one. It\u2019s full of in-person and online support groups you can join \u2013 there\u2019s something for every niche.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Download Beverley\u2019s\u00a0Support Group Directory here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She also has four other resource directories (all free!) \u2013\u00a0you can get them all here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finally, I quite like watching what other homeschooling families are up to and following people over the years. I like getting insight into people\u2019s day-to-day lives, ideas and inspiration from what they\u2019re doing, and watching their children grow and change over the years. And I\u2019ve actually met a few, which is always fun!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Again, I don\u2019t need to reinvent the wheel \u2013 Erin has a great list of\u00a0Australian Homeschooling blogs<\/a>\u00a0and a list of\u00a0Australian homeschooling Instagrammers<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Check them out to find your reliable sources of ideas, inspiration, and friendship.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finally, remember that you can do this. All sorts of people homeschool successfully \u2013 you don\u2019t need to be well-educated, have superhuman patience, be militantly organised, or have a huge budget.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you needed those qualities I would have quit years ago!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Take it a day at a time, continue to read and experiment, and enjoy your kids \u2013 homeschooling can be much easier and more enjoyable that you think.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I wish you the best of luck with homeschooling in Australia, and I hope you have as much fun doing it as I do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ![\"The](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/The-Ultimate-Guide-to-Homeschooling-in-Australia-1.png\")
<\/figure>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
What is homeschooling?<\/h2>\n
Distance education vs homeschooling<\/h2>\n
Homeschooling Curriculum in Australia<\/h2>\n
How many homeschoolers are in Australia?<\/h1>\n
Why do Australians homeschool?<\/h1>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Homeschooling-quote-There-is-no-school-equal-to-a-decent-home-and-no-teacher-equal-to-a-virtuous-parent-Mahatma-Gandhi.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\nHomeschooling registration in Australia<\/h1>\n
![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/2.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/3.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/5.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nHomeschooling in New South Wales<\/h2>\n
Homeschooling in Queensland<\/h2>\n
Homeschool Registration in the Northern Territory<\/h3>\n
home visit from a local principal or other senior school staff member, or
Department of Education officer.<\/p>\nHomeschooling in Victoria<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Homeschooling-quote-Children-learn-from-anything-and-everything-they-see.-They-learn-wherever-they-are-not-just-in-special-learning-places-John-Holt.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\nHomeschooling in the ACT<\/h2>\n
Homeschooling in Tasmania<\/h2>\n
Homeschooling in Western Australia<\/h2>\n
Homeschooling in South Australia<\/h2>\n
\nTravelling and Homeschooling in Australia<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/PA240671.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/P1014090-e1555140265941.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nHow do Australian homeschoolers get into university?<\/h1>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Centrelink Payments for Homeschooling<\/h1>\n
Do homeschoolers have to do NAPLAN?<\/h1>\n
Do I need to be a teacher to homeschool?<\/h2>\n
certificate, or anything to \u2018prove\u2019 that you\u2019re able.<\/p>\n
a great education for your child. If you\u2019re willing to put in the time and
effort, to troubleshoot and persevere, then you have a great chance at making
it work.<\/p>\n
homeschool your child.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image.png\")
<\/p>\n
from Asha\u2019s MOOC (she\u2019s 14).<\/p>\n\n
environments affect their energy use.<\/p>\n
looking up definitions), but she can certainly learn it.<\/p>\nHow long does it take to homeschool?<\/h1>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Homeschooling and Socialisation<\/h1>\n
Australian Homeschool Groups and Support Groups<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/P1016069.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fearlesshomeschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/P1013177.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nAustralian Homeschooling Bloggers + Instagrammers<\/h1>\n
You CAN homeschool<\/h1>\n