Homeschooling in Tasmania

Homeschooling is a popular choice for families in Tasmania who want to provide their children with a personalized education. However, before you start homeschooling, it’s important to understand the legal requirements and curriculum options available to you. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about homeschooling in Tasmania.

Quick Facts: Homeschooling in Tasmania is legal. Registration is free. You do not need a specific curriculum, and part time enrolment is possible for up to 2 days per week.

Are you looking into homeschooling in Tasmania? Many feel a little daunted when they first begin. There’s a lot of jargon very specific to Tasmania homeschooling and it can be hard to get your head around it all. However, it’s really not as scary as many think.

Disclaimer: This is not legal advice but information from my own research and experience.

FAQ About Homeschooling in Tasmania

Here is a quick overview of the basic facts that you need to understand for homeschooling Tasmania.

I’ll start with a few frequently asked questions.

Do You Have To Register For Homeschooling in Tasmania?

Yes! If you live in Tasmania and plan on homeschooling your child then the Tasmanian Education Act of 2016 states it is a legal requirement to register to homeschool from ages 5 to 17 – if your child is not enrolled in distance education, or at a school.

When Can I Remove My Kids From School?

Provisional registration when homeschooling in Tasmania can be done quite quickly if necessary (about a week). If you require a fast registration be sure to mention this in your application.

Can I Travel When Homeschooling in Tasmaina?

Yes, you can travel when homeschooling in Tasmania however there must be intent to return to Tasmania.

Part Time Homeschooling in Tasmania.

Part time enrolment in school is possible for up to 2 days per week. This is negotiated with the principal of the school were you wish to enrol.

Do I Need A Specific Curriculum?

No! You do not need to follow a particular curriculum.

When homeschooling in Tasmania you need to ensure your child is taught “a broad range of educational areas suitable to his or her education needs”. This usually means adding the traditional subjects into your learning plan: English, maths, science, social studies (history, geography, civics, economics), creative arts, Foreign languages (optional). However, you have a lot of flexibility.

Tasmanian schools use the Australian Curriculum, however you are not required to follow this, although it can be a helpful guide.

You are also required to teach strong literacy skills and ensure your maths curriculum covers the different facets of numeracy.

Explaining your pedagogy or homeschool method is also part of the application. For example with My Homeschool the pedagogy would be the Charlotte Mason Method.

Do I Need to Buy A Homeschool Program?

You do not need to buy a specific curriculum however many families choose to, especially when they first start. It’s much easier to register and all of the syllabus is planned out for you.

Purchased programs also help collect samples for when you submit a yearly report and new plan for the following year.

Homeschooling has flexible hours, and generally is more efficient, so you will still have loads of time to pursue your child’s interests.

Can I DIY My Curriculum?

Absolutely! If you want to make up your own curriculum you can.

Just remember, Tasmanian homeschooling students must have a high-quality education on a broad range of topics.

Even if you are unschooling you will need to do an educational plan and yearly reporting.

How Much Does Homeschooling Cost?

To get registered to homeschool in Tasmania it is free. You don’t get a specific government subsidy to homeschool but some families are eligible for the isolated children’s scheme.

Centrelink also gives some exemptions to the educating parent from working when you homeschool.

What will cost you money is curriculum and external lessons like music and other activities such as swimming lessons.

Homeschooling is cheaper than private school and distance education.

Here are some additional tips for single parent homeschooling in Tasmania.

You can homeschool on a tight budget, or you can go crazy expensive.

Here is a breakdown of particular costs using different learning styles.

Can My Child Get A TCE When I Homeschool in Tasmania?

When you choose to homeschool for Year 11 and 12 your child can’t get a Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE). However your children can still complete an TCE alternative and get an ATAR to use for university entry if needed, or they can continuing homeschooling up till the age of 17 without seeking a formal qualification. After the age of 17 you can follow your chosen course of study without any government restrictions. You can stop homeschooling altogether if you like.

Year 11 and 12 Qualifications

Year 10 is the last grade we provide at My Homeschool. However, we do offer resources to help you explore possibilities – and there are many – after you complete Year 10.

They include:

Selecting The Next Best Step – This guide helps you navigate the various pathways available to students who have already completed their Year 10 studies. We look at: university entry without an ATAR, DIY Year 11 & 12, TAFE, apprenticeships, and gaining international qualifications.
Curating A Senior High School Course – Here you’ll get ideas on how you can prepare your own DIY curriculum for a non-accredited Year 11 and 12 course of study. We have information on: when you can stop homeschooling, how to put your own curriculum together, and what subjects to choose. Our curated subject lists include English, mathematics, science, geography, history, foreign languages, technology, creative arts and PDHPE. You can craft an individualised curriculum from these lists.
Preparing Academic Transcripts – We teach you how to prepare your own professional transcripts to demonstrate your record of learning. We also provide examples, a template and tips on creating portfolios.

When you finish with My Homeschool Year 10B you’ll have many options. You and your teen can create your own strategy and make informed decisions for the future.

This resource is part of our Year 10B course and is only available to families who have purchased our Year 10B curriculum. It is not sold separately.

What If My Child Has Special Needs?

Many parents who are homeschooling have children with special needs. Home education allows you to adapt your curriculum to your child’s special needs. Here is some more information on homeschooling children with special needs.

Are There Any Tasmanian Homeschool Support Groups?

National Groups Supporting Homeschoolers

Regional Groups Supporting Homeschooling in Tasmania

Many Tasmanian homeschooling groups can be found on Facebook groups. Each group has a different flavour and homeschool culture so you might try joining a few so you can get a feel for the ones you like.

Do note many of these groups are private and you will usually need to answer a few questions before you can join. If you do not see your area listed here try searching for a Facebook group in your local area. If you are stuck, try asking in a larger group for contacts.

Here is a short list but there are many more:

My Homeschool Support

The My Homeschool Community is also a place that offers support for homeschooling in Australia.

We provide a virtual home educator’s staff room for all our members which includes:
newsletter, workshops and special offers
free courses including our How to Homeschool course
registration templates and self-paced registration help for members
community forums for members only

If you need more help please contact us to make an enquiry or book a call.

Homeschooling in Tasmania – The Registration Process

On the Office of Education Registrar’s (OER) website you will find the nitty-gritty details for homeschooling in Tasmania registration but I’ll give you the simplified version.

Homeschooling In Tasmania Registration Step One

Download and fill in your registration form from the OER Website.

To register to homeschool in Tasmania you’ll need to gather a few documents:

Your child’s birth certificate. A certified copy of the original.
Proof that you are a resident in Tasmania such as a driver’s license.
Something to show from the school if they have come from school. If they haven’t been to school or it is a new registration then that is not needed.
If you have court orders regarding the care of your child you’ll also need to give details about that.

Homeschooling In Tasmania Registration Step Two

Start preparing your documentation. You’ll need:

A Home Education Summary and Program HESP (Home Education Summary and Program)
A plan or method for recording learning activities.
A plan or method for recording achievement and progress.

Here is the official Homeschooling in Tasmania Guide.

Filling Out Your Homeschooling in Tasmania Registration Form

I encourage you to make your Home Education Summary and Program (HESP) your own and make it suit you. You will still be responsible for your child’s registration.

Your HESP requires specific documentation. A template can be downloaded from their website.

They want you to fill it out using their headings. However it does not say this form is compulsory. They state it “may be used as a guide to develop your Home Education Summary and Program,” so as long as you have included the topics they want covered you can still use our plans.

I’m really in love with the literature rich style of My Homeschool. I can see the benefit and how it will help us be closer as a family. I have a 3 month old as well and this style lends itself to the busy mum. GREAT WORK!!! I really like the links within the weekly lesson plans. While I love having a book in my hands, it is great if we are out or I don’t have the resource close by, to be able to click on it and use it. My son also likes to click on them and have a perusal before we start. For him it’s not hard to find what we are doing for the week as it is mostly all there laid out.

We are absolutely loving Dot & the Kangaroo!! what a gorgeous story, my children are captivated!!

Really loving A Book for Kids poetry. Puts a smile on our faces.

I am using it to teach 2 children. The only reason I am finding the workload heavy is because I have a 3-month-old. He hasn’t been well (silent reflux), so trying to fit everything in when I have a sick baby has been hard. I have chosen to purchase a course for my younger and give my eldest extension type work. This seems to be working so far. I am loving that I can teach them together, as it feels more like “family learning” rather than “school learning” to me. We are doing it together!!

Emily from Tasmania

Homeschool Reviews, Year 2 Curriculum

Can I Buy A Plan For Homeschooling in Tasmania?

Yes! When you use My Homeschool we give you the essential building blocks for your personalised learning plan.

We’ve done 75% of the work. We provide idea prompts and suggestions to help you personalise your application to suit your child’s specific needs.

With each grade we include:

A learning plan in an editable Word document. Just fill in the sections we recommend.
A scope and sequence with all syllabus outcomes and codes linked to resources.
Editable Term Reports to make re-registration easy.

100% of our members report passing their registration and reregistration when using our templates.

You’ll find more information on home education registration and planning here.

My Homeschool Planning and Registration Help

What a relief and blessing for homeschool families to have all the nitty gritty details of daily homeschool and homeschool registration designed for us. It is wonderful to see how simple registration can be.

Michelle you have created a method for recording that oozes simplicity and that is what we all want. Michelle and Jo you are a very present listening ear and help on the My Homeschool forum and your advice is all about making homeschool work for each one. I have absolute freedom in how I use this resource.

I have not followed the schedule as is but have felt encouragement from you to make it work for my busy family lifestyle, quirks and passions. Year 5 is helping our ten year old to move into written narrations and I have found Our Sunburnt Country broken into small chunks with a notebook page for each reading, is so simple and achievable. My daughter's confidence in writing has grown in the first term of using My Homeschool following this very natural method.

Thank you Michelle and Jo, for your commitment to making homeschool simple. What a blessing you are. Kindest Blessings Renelle x

Renelle from NSW

Homeschool Reviews, Year 5 Curriculum

Let Us Help You On The Homeschool Journey

My Homeschool is more than a curriculum, it is a holistic education community that supports parents and children on their homeschool journey. When you buy a graded homeschool program through My Homeschool you are joining a community that supports and mentors parents interested in educating their children academically and spiritually.

We give you a shortcut to help you get straight into giving your child a delightful and robust education without spending days and days researching and tweaking unsuitable content.

We Wanted A Curriculum That Worked For Home Educators

Our curriculum writers have already done the juggle of homeschooling a few children at once.

We knew how lovely and important it is to learn as a family so we made some lessons and read alouds possible to teach as a group.
We reduced the time needed for formal academics by crafting our curriculum so our resources and books often teach multiple topics.
We made each grade fit each state’s syllabus so you can get registered easily.
We gave you a streamlined intentional curriculum so you could give your children a wholesome integrated education from kindergarten to high school.
We made sure it was academically challenging so your children will have career options, and a pathway to university if needed.
We put it all in one place so you weren’t hunting around looking for resources every time you wanted to begin lessons.
We made it easy to access your lessons and planner when you were out and about or travelling just by picking up your smartphone.