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• How to registe​r with the VRQA

  • Step 1 - The Application Form

  • Step 2 - Required Documents - identity documents for your child and yourself, and any relevant court orders

  • Step 3 - Prepare your Learning Plan - you will need to submit with your application your plan to cover the 8 key learning areas for your child's education.

  • Step 4 - Submit via email to Victoria's Home Schooling Unit: home.schooling@education.vic.gov.au

            Phone: 03 9637 2806​

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• The Eight Learning Areas

English; Mathematics; Science; Humanities & Social Sciences; The Arts; Languages; Health & Physical Education; Information & Communication Technology, and Design & Technology

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• Learning Plans

These are not expected to be huge documents and do not need to be 'school-like'. Optional subject based and activity based templates and samples are available for download on VRQA's site. Exemptions from a learning area may be obtained under certain circumstances.

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The following sample learning plans have been developed by the Victorian Home Education Advisory Committee and are acceptable to the VRQA. They cover different ages and circumstances.

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Jane, aged six – subject-based (Jane docx or Jane PDF)

Marie, aged seven- activity-based (Montessori) (Marie docx or Marie PDF)

Josh, aged eight – subject-based (exemption for languages) (Josh docx or Josh PDF)

Aaron, aged 10 – subject-based (natural learning, Dyslexia) (Aaron docx or Aaron PDF)

Rose, aged 10 – activity-based (Anxiety) (Rose docx or Rose PDF)

Geoff, aged 12 – subject-based (poor mental health requiring multiple exemptions) (Geoff docx or Geoff PDF)

Caleb, aged 13 – activity-based (Asperger’s) (Caleb docx or Caleb PDF)

Sky, aged 14 – activity-based (Unschooling) (Sky docx or Sky PDF)

Jessica, aged 15 – activity-based (exemption based on electives) (Jessica docx or Jessica PDF)

Florance, aged 16 – subject-based (Florance docx or Florance PDF)

 

The following two extra learning plans for teenagers with no specific issues would be acceptable but have not been pre-approved by the VRQA.

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George, aged 12 – subject-based (George docx or George PDF)

Amelia, aged 14 (Amelia docx or Amelia PDF)

 

Create your own Learning Plan to submit with your application; use the above as guides.

 

If you would like someone from the HEA Support Team to look over your plan, email support@hea.edu.au

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If you need a Support Document with a list of ideas for covering the 8 Key Learning Areas, please email support@hea.edu.au

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• Partial Enrolment (or "part-time homeschooling")

In Victoria a combination of home based learning and attending a government school is possible. You can approach government schools to teach your child certain subjects or activities. 

 

• Approval

Approval can take up to 28 days (perhaps longer with Covid-19) and children are required to stay in school during the approval period. However, if your children would be at risk by remaining in school, request the principal’s approval to remove them; perhaps you may need a medical certificate. If you have difficulty the HEA can offer support.

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If your registration application is rejected you have the right to reapply or make an appeal.

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• Ongoing requirements

  • Home educators are not required to follow the Victorian state F-10 curriculum. However referring to the overview of the Victorian Curriculum can be helpful for designing your Learning Plan.

  • You may home educate in any manner you choose as long as your substantially address the eight learning areas, taken as a whole.

  • It is your responsibility to renew your registration each November. The Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 include a requirement that home schooling parents notify the VRQA in writing: ​

    • whenever there are any changes to

      • the parent or child’s name

      • the parent responsible for educating the child

      • the parent’s contact details

      • the address at which the home schooling is provided

    • within 14 days if the child ceases to be home schooled.

    • by 30 November each year that home schooling instruction is continuing for the following calendar year (January to December)

 

• Reviews  (Sept 2021 information here)

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*Covid-19 Update: VRQA states that home schooling reviews will go ahead; however, they will be modified. In response to social distancing requirements, location visits cannot occur. All reviews will be conducted via phone or email submission. They will take a pragmatic approach to reviews, recognising the changes that the pandemic has brought to all lives. For example, if your child previously undertook a sports or music lessons that cannot take place at the moment – and you plan to return to this arrangement – this will be taken into account. 

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• The Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 to review a homeschooling registration. Up to 10% of families will be selected each year for a review of their home schooling arrangements. The objective of a review is to check whether regular and efficient instruction has been provided to a home schooled child. The review involves only one child's registration, not their siblings.

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• The review process can be electronic, phone-based, face-to-face, or in some cases a combination of these. Home visits are not compulsory.

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• It is your responsibility to ensure the VRQA has your current address/contact details. If you are to be reviewed, you will be notified early in the year (Feb/March) and approximately when your review will take place. A firmer time will be given closer to the date.

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• You should use the time to review the Learning Plan you proposed and look over the sample review materials (samples listed above).

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• In the review you will be asked to articulate or demonstrate that your child is receiving an education that substantially addresses the eight learning areas, there is no mandated way to do that – it could be by a phone chat/interview if you wish or by submitting work samples/journal/spreadsheet etc. 

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• In some cases, the VRQA may request further information and/or arrange an interview with the parent. Parent interviews would occur only with the parent’s consent, and could occur at the home (if the parent agrees) or at another suitable location, such as a local library. There is no requirement for the VRQA to visit families in their homes. Note that section 5.8.2 (4) of the Act forbids VRQA staff from entering your home without your permission. A family may be accompanied by a support person if they wish.

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• If  they are still not satisfied, your registration can be cancelled. You can make an appeal if you choose.

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• Travel

Travel is permitted under Victorian home education registration as long as you have a Victorian residential address and intend to return to Victoria. The VRQA want to be informed if you intend to be away for more than a few weeks.

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