Homeschooling in Australia: Your Complete Guide For 2024

Navigating the world of homeschooling can be overwhelming. But don’t worry - we’re here to help you figure out exactly how to homeschool in Australia.

Understanding Homeschooling in Australia 

Home schooling is legal across all Australian states and territories and there’s plenty of support available - so don’t get too caught up in the details when you’re just starting out. 

It’s best to avoid spending a lot of money in your first few months, or even in your first year.  Most homeschoolers who are just starting out try to replicate the school environment and waste a lot of money on dedicated study areas, homeschool consultants, Australian curriculum programs and online classes.

The cool thing about home schooling is that it doesn’t need to look anything like traditional school.  That can be a confronting idea when you first start, especially if you’re under pressure from family members, friends or your partner.  

There are lots of predatory companies who will try to sell you homeschool programs, but don’t be fooled.  There’s no requirement to buy a curriculum or follow a program in Australia and almost all homeschoolers find these to be completely worthless.  Unfortunately, they usually spend a lot of money before they realise how useless they are.

The best thing to do is hold off on buying anything and instead spend as much time as you can hanging out with other homeschoolers.  Go to homeschool meet ups at parks, take trips with other homeschoolers, ask questions online.  Find out what other people have tried - what worked and what didn’t, then customise everything to suit your family.

Let go of the idea of “keeping up” and take your time to adjust to homeschooling while you figure out what works for your family.

We promise that homeschooling in a way that doesn’t replicate traditional school will eventually start to feel normal and you’ll be in a much better position to move forward.  Plus you won’t have wasted a heap of money, or forced your kids to work through a big pile of boring and pointless worksheets.  

If this all sounds a bit scary and you’re not ready to fully commit, distance education may be an option.  

Difference between homeschool and distance education in Australia

• Homeschool or home education: Parents are responsible for designing and implementing the curriculum to ensure that their kids receive adequate education

• Distance Education: This approach involves a school-administered curriculum set by the education department. Testing and assessments are monitored and regulated, but kids study under the supervision of a parent or tutor at home.  Sometimes they attend online classes.  Hours are generally flexible and kids don’t attend a traditional school.

How to homeschool in Australia

Homeschoolers are required to submit a written application to the relevant state education department for approval. Some states also require an educational plan or learning plan and some have more legal requirements than others.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to do that or if it seems too difficult - there’s lots of free help available.  Just know that almost nobody gets rejected, and if they do the only consequences are that they have to resubmit their paperwork.  

Registration is nothing to get stressed about.  Don’t let yourself get ripped off by people selling consulting services.  They have a vested interest in making it seem more difficult than it is.

Do parents get paid to homeschool in Australia?

There are no specific payments for homeschoolers in Australia, but parents who receive Jobseeker or the Parenting Payment are exempt from obligations such as looking for work.

Parents with kids who are homeschooled or doing distance education may also be eligible for the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme (AIC).  You can find out more about the AIC scheme here.

Various states have other programs that homeschool families are sometimes eligible for, which you can find out about here.

How much does it cost to homeschool in Australia?

Home schooling costs as much or as little as you want to spend.  

It costs nothing to register and - we can’t stress this enough - there’s no need to buy a homeschool program or curriculum, especially when you’re just starting out.  Most of them are worthless and predatory and will set you up for conflict, as you try to force your kids to sit still and work through a big pile of boring worksheets. 

Instead of spending money on school fees, uniforms, text books or a homeschool curriculum, you can take your kids to Uluru to learn about indigenous culture, go to a museum, or volunteer with your kids at a local animal rescue centre.  Go to free homeschool catch ups, watch documentaries together or go to the library.  Don’t underestimate the value of YouTube and video games - they’re both far more educational than you might think.

Once you’ve been homeschooling for a while and you’ve made some friends, you’ll be in a much better position to decide how best to spend whatever budget you have.  But don’t worry if it isn’t much - your time is the most valuable thing you have and there are lots of families homeschooling with very little money.

How do homeschooled kids get into university?

There’s no such thing as a degree course that is only accessible to people who have been to school.  There are lots of paths to university and most of them don’t involve the stresses and difficulties of year 12 exams.

Homeschooled kids often transition to uni by taking TAFE classes or studying at Open Universities.  They can also complete bridging courses or the Standard Tertiary Admissions Test.

Many homeschooled kids complete their degrees faster than their school-going peers, because they don’t need to wait until they complete year 12 to start.

What qualifications do I need to homeschool my kids?

None!

There are lots of studies showing that the most important factor in a child’s education is having a parent who is engaged with their learning.  And you’re already super engaged, which is what has led you to consider if traditional schooling is really the right choice.  So you’re way ahead of the pack.

Don’t worry if you don’t remember year 10 maths, find Shakespeare boring or didn’t complete uni.  The world has changed in the past 20 years and kids have access to knowledge now in a way that makes memorising facts completely redundant.  You’ll learn alongside your kids, as they figure out their passions and find new ways to explore them.  

It takes a while to get your head around the idea of learning happening outside of a classroom or away from textbooks, but kids really do learn more when they’re actively engaged in what they’re doing.  You’ll find ways to help them and they’ll find ways to amaze you with the things they learn completely independently.

How will my kids socialise if they’re homeschooled?

There are lots of ways for kids to interact that don’t involve sitting quietly at a desk for eight hours a day.

Homeschool numbers have been increasing in recent years and it has become far more mainstream, so there is almost certainly a homeschool group near you that meets regularly.  You can find a lot of them by clicking on ‘Homeschool Groups” at the top of this website.

We’re a bit biased on this, but taking trips is another great way for kids to make new friends.  It’s more intensive than weekly meet ups and having kids see each other every day over a period of a week or two gives them a great opportunity to come out of their shell and bond.

There are also the usual opportunities around sports, gaming groups and organisations like the Scouts.

Why do we love homeschool?

Homeschool represents a flexible, enriching alternative to traditional schooling.  It places the power of education back into the hands of parents and guardians and protects kids from bullying and pigeonholing.

Homeschoolers recognise how much the world has changed in the past 50 years and the importance of not only learning from textbooks but learning from life, fostering independent thought, curiosity, and a lifelong love for learning.

While starting the home schooling journey might seem daunting, there are plenty of free support networks and resources available, so every family can customise their approach to best fit their unique needs.  The Australian homeschool community is large, active and supportive, so there’s always free help available if you need it.

By prioritising hands-on experiences, engagement, and community interaction, homeschoolers can offer their kids a diverse education that encourages both academic and social growth, while limiting conflict and stress.