A Guide For How To Start Homeschooling in Australia
If you have just made the decision to homeschool...congratulations!!! You are about to embark on an amazing journey.
For some people, deciding to homeschool is easy, but wondering what to do next can be quite daunting. You can feel like you must have everything organised before you begin. I have met many parents who worry themselves silly in the weeks leading up to bringing their children home from a school environment.
In this guide, I will walk you through 8 steps to homeschooling success. One of the best parts of homeschooling is that you are in charge and can take all the time you need to organise your homeschool how you would like. After completing all the legal requirements, take your time to be with your children in an unrushed manner. Work through this how to start homeschooling guide step-by-step and trust in the process.
1. Understand Legal Requirements
The great news is that homeschooling is legal all across Australia. Homeschooling laws vary by state and territory. Begin by researching the legal requirements in your area:
New South Wales (NSW): Register with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
Victoria (VIC): Register with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA).
Queensland (QLD): Register with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA).
Western Australia (WA): Register with the Department of Education.
South Australia (SA): Register with the Education Standards Board.
Tasmania (TAS): Register with the Office of the Education Registrar.
Northern Territory (NT): Register with the NT Department of Education.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Register with the ACT Education Directorate.
2. Develop a Plan
For most states, before you begin you will need to have a general idea of these areas:
Your educational goals for your child - both short term and long term.
A knowledge of their particular strengths and areas you want to work on with them.
List subjects and topics you plan to cover in a curriculum outline
Outline methods you will use for evaluating your child’s progress.
It is important to learn how to start homeschooling, but it is also nice to remind yourself as to 'why' you decided to homeschool. What is your personal reason for homeschooling? Write this down somewhere that you won't forget. When things get tough (and inevitably there will be hard days), you need to be able to refer to this and remind yourself as to why you have chosen to take on the responsibility to homeschool your children.
3. Prepare Your Homeschool Environment
Set up a conducive learning environment at home. Ensure you have:
A dedicated learning space with necessary supplies (books, stationery, internet access, art supplies). The learning space might just be the kitchen table. But you will also need somewhere accessible to keep all your supplies. The more organised and on-hand your supplies are, the more relaxed your homeschool will be.
Resources such as textbooks, educational software, reference materials, books, science kits, maps etc.
Your environment does not need to look like a school, but educational supplies on view will support children in their learning. They might naturally look at a globe, or pick up a magnifying glass, or read a science book, if they are on view. You might like to read about strewing, which is putting things on view so the child becomes curious and naturally gravitates to them. They will be learning without even realising it!
4. Deschool
Deschooling is the transitional period during which children and parents adapt from traditional schooling to homeschooling, allowing time to decompress and shed the routines and mindsets of formal education. This phase helps rekindle a love for learning by encouraging exploration and curiosity without the pressure of structured academics. By observing and understanding each child’s natural interests and learning styles, families can create a more personalized and effective homeschooling experience. It is advisable to deschool 1 month for every year your child was at school.
What to do during a deschooling period;
Go to the library
Watch movies and documentaries
Read lots of books
Have lot of cups of tea and picnics with yummy treats
Go to museums, art galleries, and zoos
Enjoy each others company!
5. Educate Yourself
There are plenty of very informative homeschooling books to read. These provide insightful ideas into how to start homeschooling. Remember, it is not just replicating a school environment.
Once you have educated yourself, it might be a good idea to also read about the different homeschooling approaches. This will help you to clarify what type of homeschool will best fit yours and your child's needs. Whichever type excites you the most will more that likely be the one which is best for you!
6. Choose a Curriculum and Resources
Select curriculum and/or resources that align with your education plan and meets the educational standards of your state or territory. You can read more about what to teach and all the learning areas you are required to cover in Australia. You can choose from:
Pre-packaged curricula from educational providers.
Customized curricula tailored to your child’s interests and learning style.
Online resources and courses.
Educational activities.
5. Write up a Basic Schedule
Establish a daily and weekly schedule that includes:
Structured learning periods - not an inflexible timetable.
Flexibility for spontaneous and interest-led learning.
Time for socialising.
Most homeschooling families will only homeschool for 4 days per week and leave the fifth day for out-of-the-house activities. I highly recommend not designing a strict timetable. In a homeschool environment, it works much better to divide your day up into blocks of time. This leave more room for flexibility and spontaneous events that may come up in your day. You don't want to be so strict in your timetable that you don't have time to run out and see the rainbow, or the bird perching on the end of the patio, or do a quick 'google search' on the random topic your child just asked you about. These are what will make your days full of beauty and enchantment.
My weekly routine is similar to this;
6. Maintain Records and Documentation
It is helpful to;
Keep a portfolio of dated work samples that show progress over the year
Write what topic they covered in each learning area.
Explain what achievements they had and where they showed progress, and where areas they are working on to improve.
Write a list of what curriculum you used for each learning area. It is not expected that you have to use a boxed curriculum, but if you don't it's helpful to show that you are covering each area of the Australian Curriculum.
These records may be required for periodic reviews by your state or territory’s education authority.
I always buy a folder for each child at the beginning of the year. As the year goes on I'll put in it dated samples of work from each learning area. Each section is broken up into each learning area. Maths is broken up into Semester 1 and Semester 2. English is broken up into writing, literature and grammar/spelling. Each of the other learning areas have their own section.
7. Connect with the Homeschooling Community
Join local and online homeschooling groups for support, resources, and social activities. Networking with other homeschooling families can provide valuable insights and encouragement. If you join various homeschool groups on Facebook they can be very handy to find out what is on offer in your local area.
When I wanted something extra for my children I often asked a few families I knew if they wanted to start a little group in my home. Over the years we hosted many groups; book clubs, literature discussions, technology classes, art classes, drama classes. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, just a simple meet-up and discussion about their favourite books works just as well.
8. Stay Flexible
Your approaches to homeschooling will change over time. Be flexible and adaptable and ready to grow as you embark upon your exciting journey. Regularly review to ensure that your child’s educational needs are being met effectively. Ensure they are not bored and are engaged with the curriculum you are using.
Over the years I have had to change curriculums I bought just because it wasn't a good fit for that child. I also have tried out all the different learning styles until I found what fits best with my family. I have had to adapt to difficult times during pregnancies, new babies and serious health issues with my children. If you are willing to adapt and 'go-with-the-flow', you create a much more relaxing learning environment for your children to thrive.
In Summary
So, how to start homeschooling? Hopefully now you feel much more confident in beginning your journey. Dream about what homeschool you would like. Explore different ways of homeschooling. Learn, so you can have the homeschool of your dreams.
Happy homeschooling!
