How to Register for Homeschooling in QLD
If your child does not attend school and is between the ages of 5½ and 16, you are legally required to register to homeschool in QLD. However, once your child has completed Year 10 or turned 16, other participation rules apply — such as part-time work and/or another form of education like TAFE or university. Home education registration can continue for 17- and 18-year-olds, but at this age it is optional.
These rules apply to all Queensland residents. However, if you don’t have a QLD address, you cannot register to homeschool in Queensland.
You don’t have to wait for approval to take your child out of school, either. Once your application is submitted, your child is provisionally registered straight away and you can start homeschooling immediately. QHE then has up to 90 days to process the application, though most families hear back well before that.
If your child is currently enrolled at school, you’ll need to notify the school first that you’re ending their enrolment. A child cannot be enrolled at a Queensland school and registered for home education at the same time.
What You Need for Ongoing Registration
- Proof of your child’s age and your parental responsibility (birth certificate, plus any relevant court orders)
- An educational program summary based on your child’s age, ability and needs
- A completed QHE application form, online or on paper
- Submit it all to QHE together
What Is an Educational Program Summary?
It’s not a school timetable, and you don’t need to list every lesson you’ll teach. It’s an overview: your child’s learning needs, your goals for the year, the subjects you’ll cover, the resources you’ll use, and how you’ll track progress.
You can write your own program, buy a curriculum, or use a mix of both. My Homeschool members receive an Education Plan and Scope and Sequence with their curriculum, which can help you prepare this part of your QHE application.
60-Day Provisional Registration
There are two types of provisional registration in Queensland, which can sometimes cause confusion.
When you submit an application for ongoing home education registration, your child becomes provisionally registered while Queensland Home Education (QHE) assesses your application. You submit your educational program as part of this application, and QHE has up to 90 days to make its decision.
Queensland also has a separate 60-day provisional registration option. This is a temporary registration under section 207 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 and does not require you to submit an educational program or annual report.
This can be useful when you need to take your child out of school quickly but are not yet ready to apply for ongoing home education registration. However, it only lasts for 60 days. If you decide to continue homeschooling, you will need to apply for ongoing registration.
Below is an example of a provisional registration approval letter received by a Queensland homeschool family. Your own correspondence from QHE may look different, but it can be helpful to see an example of what to expect.
For current application forms and official requirements, visit Queensland Home Education.
Choosing a Homeschool Program and Curriculum in QLD
One of the good things about homeschooling in Queensland is that you have plenty of choice in how you educate your child.
Do I Need a Specific Curriculum?
No. Queensland Home Education does not require you to follow the Australian Curriculum or use a particular homeschool program. There is no prescribed curriculum to register with QHE.
What QHE wants to see is a high-quality educational program that is suited to your child’s age, ability, needs and interests, and that supports their educational progress.
Your program can follow the Australian Curriculum, use a thematic or goal-based approach, or take a different approach altogether. You can also choose a homeschool method that reflects the kind of education you want for your family, whether that’s traditional, interest-led, unschooling, Charlotte Mason or a combination of approaches.
You don’t need to buy a homeschool program either. You can create your own curriculum, use free resources, purchase a ready-made program, or combine different resources.
However, even if you DIY or unschool, you still need an educational plan and records that demonstrate your child’s educational progress for QHE reporting.
Can I Use My Homeschool in Queensland?
Yes! Many Queensland families home educate using our curriculum.
Our homeschool curriculum is aligned with the Australian Curriculum (the curriculum used in Queensland schools), but it is designed specifically for families learning at home.
At My Homeschool, we take a Charlotte Mason inspired approach. We don’t try to recreate school at home. Instead, we use living books, literature, narration, nature study, art and music to provide a rich and beautiful education, with short lessons and plenty of time left in the day for children to pursue their own interests.
Each full-grade course also includes an Education Plan and Scope and Sequence, which can help you prepare the educational program information required for your QHE application.
You are still responsible for registering your child with Queensland Home Education and meeting their ongoing requirements. My Homeschool is a curriculum provider, not a school or registration authority.
This means you remain in control of your child’s home education while having a structured homeschool program, curriculum resources and planning documents to work from.
My Homeschool Member Support
Our members also have access to the My Homeschool community for additional homeschooling support.
Members receive:
- newsletters, workshops and special offers;
- free courses, including our Homeschool Teaching 101 course;
- registration templates and self-paced registration help; and
- access to our members-only community forum.
If you need more help deciding whether My Homeschool will suit your family, please contact us to make an enquiry.
Annual Reporting for Homeschooling in QLD
If you have ongoing home education registration in Queensland, you need to submit a report to QHE each year showing your child’s educational progress.
Your report is not due at the end of the school year. The due date is based on when your child’s registration was approved, and QHE will contact you before it is due.
The due date cannot be extended, and missing it can result in a formal Show Cause Notice. That sounds alarming, but it’s simply a legislated step. The Act requires it once the deadline passes. Parents also get a reminder email 10 days before the report is due, even if they’ve already sent in their report, so don’t panic if one lands after you’ve already submitted.
If you think you’re going to have trouble meeting the deadline, contact QHE well before the due date. Don’t wait for a problem to force the issue. They want to see you succeed, not catch you out, and they can talk you through what to do.
What Do I Need to Include in My QLD Homeschool Report?
Your annual report needs to show that your child has received a high-quality education and made educational progress during the year.
You can do this by providing a written overview of your child’s learning along with examples of their work that demonstrate progress. This might include writing samples, projects, assessments or other work collected throughout the year. Adding a short explanation to your samples can help show how your child’s skills or knowledge have developed.
If you are continuing to homeschool, you also need to provide an updated educational program summary for the following year.
When you submit your report, QHE may come back and ask for more information if you haven’t given quite enough. This doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem with your registration. It may simply mean they need a little more detail to assess your report.
QHE provides optional templates and examples to help with reporting, but you don’t have to use these. You can present your report in your own format as long as you provide the required information.
Making QLD Homeschool Reporting Easier
The easiest way to prepare for reporting is to keep a few good records and work samples as you homeschool. You don’t need to keep everything. Instead, choose examples throughout the year that help demonstrate your child’s learning and progress.
My Homeschool courses include planning and record-keeping resources that can help you keep track of what your child has covered. Our Education Plans and Scope and Sequence also provide a useful reference when preparing your educational program for the following year.
Ultimately, the annual report is the parent’s responsibility, but keeping simple records as you go can make QLD homeschool reporting much easier.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschooling in QLD
Can I Start Homeschooling in QLD During the School Year?
Yes. You can start homeschooling in QLD at any time during the year. You don’t need to wait until the beginning of a school term or a new school year.
If your child is currently enrolled at school, you will need to end their school enrolment when you begin home education. Once you submit your application for ongoing registration with Queensland Home Education (QHE), your child is provisionally registered and you can begin homeschooling while your application is being assessed.
You don’t need to wait for your full registration to be approved before you start.
Can I Travel While Homeschooling in QLD?
Yes. You can travel while homeschooling in Queensland. Many families enjoy the flexibility of taking their learning with them and including travel as part of their child’s education.
However, to remain registered with Queensland Home Education (QHE), Queensland must remain your child’s usual place of residence. If you permanently move interstate or overseas, you will need to look at the home education requirements for your new place of residence.
If you’re planning an extended trip and are unsure whether it could affect your registration, it’s best to check directly with QHE.
Is Part-Time Homeschooling in QLD an Option?
No. From a Queensland home education policy point of view, part-time school combined with part-time homeschooling is not an option. A child cannot be registered for home education in Queensland and enrolled at a Queensland school at the same time.
However, you can approach your local school and ask whether your child can participate in particular activities or events, such as sport. This is at the discretion of the individual school rather than part of the QHE registration arrangements.
Homeschooling itself can also be very flexible. You don’t need to follow school hours or a five-day school week. Many homeschool families complete their formal lessons in a few hours each day, leaving plenty of time for other activities, interests and learning opportunities.
How Much Does Homeschooling in QLD Cost?
Registration with Queensland Home Education (QHE) is free, but the cost of homeschooling itself depends on the resources and activities you choose.
You don’t have to purchase a homeschool curriculum or program. Some families put together their own curriculum using free or low-cost resources, while others prefer to buy a ready-made homeschool program. You may also want to budget for books, stationery, online programs, excursions, sporting activities or homeschool groups.
You can read our more detailed guide on how much homeschooling costs.
There is also some financial assistance available to eligible Queensland homeschool families. The Queensland Government’s Back to School Boost is available to eligible children registered for home education in Prep to Year 6.
Some families may also qualify for the Australian Government’s Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme. This is not a general homeschool payment. Eligibility depends on your circumstances and may include geographical isolation, special educational needs or not having reasonable access to an appropriate government school.
Homeschooling can therefore be done quite inexpensively, or you can spend considerably more depending on the curriculum, resources and activities you choose for your family.
Is Homeschooling the Same as Distance Education?
No. Homeschooling and distance education are different in Queensland.
With home education, you register your child with Queensland Home Education (QHE), choose and deliver your child’s educational program, keep records and submit the required annual report. You remain responsible for your child’s education and have considerable freedom in choosing how and what you teach.
Distance education is school enrolment. It uses a pre-determined curriculum and your child’s education is supervised by a school. Accredited schools must follow the Australian Curriculum requirements and provide teaching, assessment and reporting.
With distance education, you lose some of the freedom to choose your own curriculum and homeschool method, but you gain the benefit of having a school responsible for providing and overseeing your child’s education.
My Homeschool is a homeschool curriculum provider, not a distance education school. You can use our curriculum as part of your QHE educational program, but you remain responsible for your child’s home education and registration.
Can My Child Get a QCE or ATAR When Homeschooling in QLD?
To be eligible for a QCE, a student must earn at least one Core credit while enrolled at a Queensland school. If your child wants an ATAR, Queensland guidance recommends enrolling them in Years 11 and 12 through a state school, non-state school or school of distance education.
This does not mean homeschooled teenagers are without options. Families can design different senior pathways involving TAFE, vocational education and training, apprenticeships, employment or further education.
If your child’s goal is higher education, there are also pathways to university for homeschooled students that do not require following the traditional school pathway.
If obtaining a QCE or ATAR is important to your child, it is worth planning their senior pathway early and checking the current QCAA requirements.
Can I Homeschool a Child With Special Needs in QLD?
Yes. Children with special needs can be registered for home education in Queensland, and their educational program can be adapted to suit their individual abilities, needs and learning pace.
This flexibility is one reason some families choose homeschooling for children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia or other learning needs. You can shorten lessons, take breaks when needed, work at a different grade level in particular subjects, use oral work instead of writing where appropriate, and adjust the pace without having to keep up with a classroom.
When preparing your educational program for QHE, you can explain your child’s individual needs and how you plan to adapt their learning accordingly. You can find more practical information in our guide to homeschooling children with special needs.
My Homeschool can work well for some children with additional needs because of our short lessons, flexible schedule and literature-rich approach. However, we are not a specialist special-needs curriculum, and some children may still need additional therapies, specialist teaching or learning support.
If you’re wondering whether our particular approach will suit your child, our Is My Homeschool right for your family? guide looks at different learning needs and family situations in more detail.
Queensland Homeschool Support Groups and Communities
Queensland has a large and active homeschooling community, and one of the easiest ways to connect with other families is through local homeschool groups.
Many Queensland homeschool groups can be found on Facebook. Each group has a different flavour and homeschool culture, so it’s worth joining a few to find the communities that suit your family.
Many of these groups are private, and you will usually need to answer a few questions before joining. If you don’t see your area listed below, try searching Facebook for a homeschool or home education group in your local area. You can also ask in one of the larger Queensland groups — other homeschoolers can often point you towards local groups, activities and meet-ups.
Here are a few places to start.
Queensland Home Education Support and Websites
You can also explore these Queensland and Australian home education organisations and communities:
Regional Groups Supporting Homeschooling in QLD
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:
Facebook groups can change over time. If a link no longer works, try searching Facebook for the group name or for a homeschool group in your local area.
Homeschool Groups Brisbane & Gold Coast
- Gold Coast Homeschool Friends
- Brisbane Northside Home Educating Families
- Samford Valley Home Educators
- Brisbane Unschooling and Natural Learning Homeschooling Community BUS BNL
- North Brisbane Christian Homeschoolers
- Brisbane Christian Homeschoolers
- Brisbane Southside Homeschool Group
- Homeschool Curriculum and Resources South West Brisbane
- Moreton Bay Region Homeschooling Connections
- Redland City Homeschoolers
- Ipswich Homeschoolers & Unschoolers
- Bribie Island Homeschool Group
- Logan Central Homeschoolers
Facebook groups can change over time. If a link no longer works, try searching Facebook for the group name or for a homeschool group in your local area.
Other Queensland Regions
- Darling Downs and Surrounds Home Educators
- Christian Homeschoolers Network – Queensland (Mostly South East Queensland)
- Mount Isa Homeschooling
- Homeschooling on the Range (Blackalls Range)
Facebook groups can change over time. If a link no longer works, try searching Facebook for the group name or for a homeschool group in your local area.
My Homeschool Reviews
Many of our families send us testimonials of how we’ve made a big difference to their homeschool.
I just wanted to say thank you for all the effort that’s been put into My Homeschool! I had my AP visit yesterday and it went great! He’s giving me 12 months registration and said if he comes next year and I’m still using the My Homeschool curriculum then he’ll give two years, even for my kindy child who’ll be a new registration. Thank you so much for helping make this transition to homeschooling so much easier and providing such detailed documents. I’m truly grateful!
