Homeschooling in Victoria
homeschooling in Victoria is free and legal. To qualify you need live in Victoria and send in an application and education plan to VRQA. Approval usually takes about 2 week.
More and more parents are choosing homeschooling in Victoria. In 2021 there were 8733 registered homeschoolers, a 44% rise of Victorian homeschooling registrations since 2019. Some of the reasons for this where discussed in an ABC roundtable discussion on Home schooling in a post COVID lockdown world.
Here are a few things you need to know when homeschooling in Victoria.
Do You Need To Register For Homeschooling in Victoria
Yes! You need to register your child for homeschooling in Victoria:
- if your child is not enrolled in distance education, or at a school,
- they are compulsory school age – aged 6 to17, or a child who turns 6 during the year home schooling will commence,
- your child’s residential address is in Victoria.
Disclaimer: This is general information on homeschooling in Victoria and is not meant to be used as legal advice.
Homeschool Victoria FAQs
When Can I Remove My Kids from School?
Theoretically you are supposed to wait until your registration is approved before you can begin homeschooling in Victoria. This process can take a month (but usually it’s less). However, many parents remove their child before their homeschool registration has been officially approved. Some parents get a doctor’s certificate for stress leave for their child until registration is approved.
Many schools can be quite supportive of homeschooling and will leave the door open for you to return if homeschooling doesn’t work out. However, some parents report having problems with the school administration (they lose funding and possibly a teacher when you leave).
You need to know that schools don’t have any power to stop you from homeschooling in Victoria. It is a legitimate option. However, they do have legal obligations to fulfil for non-attending students. You do not need to show the school proof that you are homeschooling although some schools will be quite insistent, until they are given documentation. If you anticipate having problems, I suggest you mention as little as possible to the school and get your registration application in ASAP.
Can I Send My Kids To School Part Time When Homeschooling in Victoria?
Part-time (or partial enrolment in school) is an option for homeschooling in Victoria. However you will need to negotiate this with your individual schools. To begin you need a homeschooling Victoria registration letter when you apply for your part-time school application. Find out more about part-time homeschooling in Victoria.
Can I Register for Homeschooling In Victoria If Travelling?
There are no specific restrictions on travelling and homeschooling in Victoria.
How Much Does Homeschooling in Victoria Cost?
To get registered to homeschool in Victoria 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. In some states there are specific allowances for families that can be claimed by homeschool parents.
Here are some additional tips for single parent homeschooling in Victoria.
You can homeschool on a tight budget, or you can go crazy expensive. Here are some things to think about when trying to work out the real cost of homeschooling.
Do I Need a Specific Curriculum When Homeschooling in Victoria?
No! When homeschooling in Victoria you only need to ensure you teach in all the eight key learning areas.
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Humanities and Social Science – Includes: history, geography, politics and civics
- The Arts – Includes: visual arts, dancing and music
- Health and Physical Education
- Technologies
- Languages
The education plan also needs to be age appropriate and demonstrate that lessons are regular and efficient.
However, you have a lot of flexibility and you can apply for exemptions in some subjects – for example languages.
Victorian schools use the Victorian Curriculum which is a version of the Australian Curriculum . The VRQA provides planning templates which recommend the Victorian Curriculum as a useful planning tool.
Do I Need To Buy A Homeschool Program?
You do not need to buy a curriculum however many homeschooling in Victoria choose to, especially when they first start. It’s much easier to register and all of the syllabus is planned out for you with all the Key Learning Areas addressed.
Purchased programs also help collect samples for when you submit a report if you get selected for a Victoria homeschool planning reviews.
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 or Unschool?
Absolutely! If you want to make up your own curriculum you can.
There VRQA have homeschool planning templates to help you DIY your curriculum.
Even if you are unschooling you will need to do an educational plan that covers the first year of registration.
What if My Child Has Special Needs?
Many parents who are homeschooling in Victoria have children with special needs. Home education allows you to adapt your curriculum to your child’s special needs.
The Victorian Government also has various support services for families with special needs.
Here is some more information on homeschooling children with special needs.
Can My Child Get A VCE or ATAR When They Homeschool in Victoria?
Homeschooling in Victoria for Year 11 and 12 will not provide you with a VCE, however your children can study for a VCE alternative.
However your children can still complete an VCE 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.
Will Homeschooling In Victoria Limit My Child's Options For University?
Your child can still go to university. In fact they can probably get there earlier than if they went through the normal school system.
All four of my children went to university at 16. One became a medical doctor at 22 years old, and another got his Masters degree at 21.
I can tell you many other university success stories. Read about homeschooling and university here.
Are There Any Victorian Homeschool Support Groups?
- Other Victorian homeschooling regional groups can be found on Facebook groups but there are too many to list. Try also searching a group in your local area.
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.
Registration Process for Homeschooling in Victoria
On the VRQA website you will find information that will tell you all the nitty-gritty details of registration but I’ll give you the simplified version.
Apply and Submit a Learning Plan
What will VRQA be looking for in your plan?
You need a holistic plan that covers all the eight key learning areas.
What if my child has special needs?
You can also apply for exemptions of subjects if needed for your child. Assessors will consider your child’s special needs on application.
How To Prepare A Plan
You will find the VRQA structured learning template and sample plans here.
You can also use a prepared plan like the ones we have at My Homeschool.
Approval Recommendations
After you send in your form it can take a few weeks. However, it may take a little longer if they need to ask questions about your application or ask for some extra information. In most cases you will be approved for registration and sent a registration certificate. Registration is continuous.
On the rare occasion that you are not approved you can contact HEN and ask for help (This is a support body for Victorian home educators).
Education Progress Review
“A small portion (around 10 per cent) of families will be selected each year for a review of their home schooling arrangements. In a review, a parent will be asked to show that the eight key learning areas are being regularly and efficiently addressed and provide some evidence of educational progress. Evidence of progress might include samples of student work or NAPLAN results if available. Parents are still able to change or experiment with different teaching styles, as long as the eight key learning areas continue to be addressed.” VRQA
I like all the core subjects (history, geography, nature study). Moodle App is handy. Weekly guide is great!
Can I Buy A Plan?
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.
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.
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.
Buy A Course
Become a part of the My Homeschool community. Let us mentor you on the homeschool journey.