Homeschooling In Western Australia: A Guide For Parents

how do I homeschool my child in western australia

Homeschooling in Western Australia is a legally recognised alternative to enrolling your child in school. It is free and legal for parents to homeschool their children, and parents can be in charge of educating their child during their compulsory years of schooling. The compulsory education period in WA is from the beginning of the year in which the child reaches the age of 5 and 6 months until the end of the year in which the child reaches the age of 17 and 6 months, or the child reaches the age of 18. Parents must register as home educators and are then responsible for planning, obtaining materials, and delivering and monitoring the program.

Characteristics Values
Homeschooling registration Registration is compulsory for children aged 5.5-17.5 years.
Time to register Parents must register within 14 days of removing their child from school.
Registration process Parents need to contact their local education regional office and ask to speak to a home education moderator.
Documentation Parents need to submit records of their child's educational history, a copy of their child's birth certificate, and any other relevant documents.
Certificate of registration Once registered, parents receive a certificate of registration or a certificate of home education.
Curriculum Homeschooling curriculum should cover all key learning areas and be based on the Western Australian Curriculum.
Progress demonstration Parents need to demonstrate their child's progress regularly and can provide samples of work, reports, videos, etc.
Moderator A home education moderator will visit and support the homeschooling process.
Student benefits Homeschooled students are eligible for student travel permits and can access school medical and dental services.
Exams and qualifications Homeschooled students can participate in NAPLAN and OLNA assessments but cannot obtain a WACE without enrolling in a school to sit exams.

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Registration process

Homeschooling in Western Australia is a legally recognised alternative to enrolling your child in school. The Western Australian School Education Act 1990 allows parents to be in charge of their child's education during their compulsory years of schooling. This period starts the year your child turns five years and six months and ends the year they turn 17 years and six months.

To register your child for homeschooling in Western Australia, you must first obtain an application form from your nearest regional education office. This form is not available online and needs to be completed with your child's age and year level, reasons for homeschooling, and any special needs. You will also need to submit the following documents:

  • Records of your child's educational history and previous attainment.
  • A copy of your child's birth certificate or extract.

Once all of your documentation has been submitted, you will be issued a Certificate of Home Education or a Certificate of Homeschooling Registration. This certificate does not expire unless you enrol your child back into school. While registered, you are required to have visits from a home education moderator, who will want to see samples of work and evidence of learning to ensure your child is making progress. You can provide written samples, photos, reports, videos, or even PowerPoint presentations to demonstrate your child's progress. The moderator will likely ask how you plan to cover various subject areas, and you should refer to the Western Australian Curriculum, letting them know you will be following that.

It is important to note that homeschooling in Western Australia does not lead to a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). However, homeschooled students can study for a WACE alternative. Additionally, homeschooled students are eligible for student travel permits, which provide concessions on public transport.

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Curriculum and planning

Homeschooling in Western Australia requires parents to plan their child's education, including choosing the curriculum, obtaining materials, and delivering and monitoring the program. While there is no set curriculum, the Western Australian Curriculum serves as a guide, encompassing core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science, as well as Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Technologies, The Arts, and Languages. This curriculum is adapted to suit the needs of Western Australian students and teachers.

Parents have the flexibility to choose a purchased curriculum or create their own, but they are responsible for ensuring their child's educational progress. Regular assessments are conducted by a moderator to evaluate the child's progress and the effectiveness of the program. Samples of work and evidence of learning, such as written samples, photos, reports, videos, or presentations, are used to demonstrate progress.

To support homeschooling families, various resources are available, including websites that offer information on teaching methods, networking groups, and career pathways. Additionally, the Home Education Association Australia (HEA) provides assistance and connects homeschooling families to the Australian Homeschool Community through the Home Education Based Network (HBLA).

It is important to note that homeschooling in Western Australia does not lead to a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). However, homeschooled students can study for a WACE alternative, and they are eligible for student travel concessions through the Student SmartRider card.

The registration process for homeschooling in Western Australia involves contacting the local education regional office and submitting an application form with basic information, educational history, and supporting documents. Parents must register within 14 days of removing their child from school or before the start of the compulsory education period, which begins when the child is 5 years and 6 months old.

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Child's progress

In Western Australia, parents who choose to homeschool their children are responsible for planning their education, including preparing a learning plan, obtaining materials, and delivering and monitoring the program. This involves teaching the child and conducting assessments to demonstrate their progress regularly.

To ensure that your child is making progress in their education, you will need to provide samples of work and evidence of learning. This can include written samples, photos, reports, videos, or even PowerPoint presentations. These samples will be reviewed by a moderator, who will assess your child's educational progress and determine if your registration can be continued.

It is important to note that homeschooling in Western Australia requires registration with the WA Department of Education (DET). Parents must register as home educators if their child is in the compulsory education period, which starts the year the child reaches the age of 5 and 6 months and ends when they turn 17 and 6 months or meet the minimum requirements for secondary school graduation.

To maintain registration, parents must demonstrate their child's progress by following the WA Curriculum and Assessment Outline. This may include participating in standardised tests such as the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) or creating their own assessments.

Additionally, there are homeschooling groups in Western Australia that can provide support and social opportunities for both parents and children. These groups often share information, resources, and experiences to help each other navigate the homeschooling journey successfully.

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Health and dental services

In Western Australia, home-educated students are entitled to access the same school medical and dental services as their school-going peers. These services are provided by the Department of Health. To access these services, parents can contact their local public school to obtain the telephone number of the school nurse and the school dentist for appointments.

School Medical Services

The School Education Act 1999 allows parents in Western Australia to be in charge of their child's education during their compulsory schooling years. This period typically starts the year the child turns five years and six months old and ends the year they turn 17 years and six months old, or when they meet the minimum requirements for secondary school graduation. As a home educator, you are responsible for planning, obtaining materials for, delivering, and monitoring your child's educational program. This includes demonstrating your child's progress regularly to a home education moderator.

School Dental Services

The WA School Dental Service has been successful in reducing the rate of unhealthy teeth in children enrolled in the program over the last 40 years. Eligible children attending a school in Western Australia are provided with a School Dental Service enrolment form. This form should be completed and returned to the issuing Dental Therapy Centre. If you have not received an enrolment form, you can contact your local Dental Therapy Centre. General dental treatment provided at a Dental Therapy Centre is free of charge. However, any services not provided by the staff at these centres are not free, and any associated costs must be paid by parents or caregivers.

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Transport concessions

In Western Australia, students registered for home education are eligible for student travel concessions, which are provided in the form of a Student SmartRider card. This card can be used to obtain student concessions on public transport. The card can be purchased for a fee of $5.00 from the Transperth Information Website, where you will need to provide student information and proof of your child's registered homeschool status.

The Western Australian government also offers the Student Travel Subsidy Scheme, which provides travel assistance to eligible full-time enrolled students who live in the Defined Remote Area (DRA) of Western Australia. This scheme is intended to reduce the amount of time children spend outside of parental supervision when travelling between home and school. To be eligible for the scheme, the student must reside in the DRA and not be able to reside with a parent who lives outside of the DRA.

Additionally, the Secondary Assistance Scheme is available to provide financial assistance to secondary students in meeting the costs of books and uniforms. To be eligible for this scheme, the parent or guardian must hold a Centrelink Family Health Care Card, a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, or a Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card.

For students who use a private vehicle to travel to their educational institution, the Road Travel Subsidy is available. The level of subsidy is based on the distance to the nearest educational institution or transport hub, and it is offered to families living anywhere in Western Australia.

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