Otherways: Home Education Network

Home education is legal throughout Australia. Parents do not need to have teaching qualifications.

Home Education has always been legal in Victoria but the legal situation changed in 2007 when the The Education and Training Reform Act came into effect on 1st July.

Under its terms home educators are required to register with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). The VRQA website contains information on registration together with an application form and support materials or you can contact them on 9637 3386 to have a set sent out to you. We also have a copy available on this website vrqa-registration-form.pdf or you can request one by post by contacting HEN via Sue at robwight@optusnet.com.au or phone 54395134

Regulations for the Education Act are available here but this document is very large and includes all the regulations for schools. We have extracted the regulations pertinent to home education in the following pdf which contains details of the new legal situation for home educators complete with excerpts from both the legislation and regulations. The format of the registration form (schedule 6) is included.

victorian-legal-information-jul-07.pdf

For some other state laws see links to home education groups in each state (in no particular order):

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By Jane Lowe and Alan Thomas
Australian Distributor: Allen and Unwin
Price $39.95
Reviewed by Susan Wight

Educating Your Child at Home is a great introduction to home education for new home educators and families enquiring into home education. It clearly explains what home education is and how it differs from school education. It also outlines the different methods available with the advantages of each in order to assist families to choose the home education style most suited to them.

Rather than reviewing various curricula, the book focuses instead on the differences between home education approaches which are broken into three broad categories - structured, semi-formal and informal.
It has sections on starting out, learning in the primary and secondary years, informal learning, projects, social life and special needs as well as options for older students. Home educators are quoted liberally throughout in order to illustrate various methods and points of view.

The book was written for the U.K. market and some parts of it are quite specific to the U.K. for example, key stages of the English National curriculum and preparing for GCSE (the English equivalent of the VCE). Despite this, the book is very relevant to the Australian market as it contains universal ideas for teaching and/or encouraging learning at home in all the major curriculum areas with a variety of approaches.

I liked the tone of the book which gave a clear message that there are many ways to educate children and that parents are more than capable of doing so by whichever method suits their individual family.

Jane Lowe is a founder trustee of the Home Education Advisory Service, the national home education charity in the U.K.

Dr Alan Thomas has researched home education extensively in the U.K. and Australia. He is a visiting fellow at the Institute of Education, University of London and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He will be in Australia next year for our national home education conference and this book as well as his original Educating Children At Home and a new book will all be available for sale at each venue.

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This article appeared in The Sunbury Telegraph and was reproduced in Otherways 115.

House with Study: A New Meaning

Class in, it’s home sweet school

For Sunbury’s Brown family, the world is their classroom and every minute is a chance to learn.
The 10 children, who range in age from one to 18, have been home-schooled by mum Karen since birth, in what she describes as ‘a holistic approach’.
With no set texts and no time constraints, the Browns are allowed to learn at their own pace and pursue their interests.
Mrs Brown said she decided to home-school her children when her eldest, Bonnie, was in grade 1 because, unlike most parents, she looked forward to her children being home on school holidays.

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In Otherways 116 we reported that a Californian court recently ruled that parents have no constutional right to homeschool their children. The court decision was based on this ominous quotation from a 47-year-old case, “A primary purpose of the educational system is to train schoolchildren in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare.”

Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger has vehemently defended parents’ right to home educate.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/07/INCHVG0SD.DTL&type=politics

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The Rebecchi family of home educators were featured recently in May 08 in an article in the Preston Leader.
http://www.prestonleader.com.au/article/2008/05/05/34511_ptv_news.html

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Special Feature: - Home Education and Divorce Divorce-Proofing Your Children By John Peacock Home Education and Family Seperation By Wendy Thompson Home Ed in the Family Court By Susan Wight

click to enlarge

Articles:  What to Do When a Homeschooling Journey Comes to an End by Christine Alcott I was Home Educated and Just Didn’t Know it  By Elaine Edwards Don’t Quake Conjugate By Danielle Schulz on teaching a foreign language Making Something Beautiful Barbara Frank writes on how having a creative outlet helped her through a very difficult period of her life. A Science Talent Search Experience By Jeanie Clark Wilsons Prom Centrespread - Sharee’s photographic report on the latest camp. Individuals, Households and Families Gnat examines child centrality and the ’sentimental family’ as part of her journalist unit. The Invention of Childhood on the changing roles and status of children through the ages Where Are They Now? Home Ed graduate Anna Hartman reports on where her generation of home educators are and what they are doing in terms of study and work. Stephanie Tolan - Workshops for gifted students, parents and teenage writers Cash Could Be Better Spent Outside Daycare By Jennifer Buckingham Plus our regular features… Purchase this issue

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Nestled just off the coast of Paynesville in South Gippsland, Raymond Island has been host to many great home ed camps in the past. The island is connected to the mainland by a regular ferry service to Paynesville - a good size town with plenty of supermarkets, take-aways and coffee shops. There is a train service to Bairnsdale, then bus to Paynesville.

Accommodation : 8 five bed rooms with ensuites, 10 four bed rooms, 2 eight bed rooms
Camping available
Cost: $70 per night for ensuite rooms - Maximum 5 people
$40 per night for other rooms - Maximum 4 people
$80 per night for 8 bed rooms - Maximum 8 people

Bookings and further information
Contact Nicky Kramer: Ph 9852 3760 Mob: 0438 067 987
A deposit of $50 is required for securing a cabin.
Deposits can be sent to Raymond Island Camp, 36 Rooney Street, Lower Templestowe. 3107

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Practical Sessions for Home-ed students

Venue: Deakin University (Waurn Ponds campus: Melways ref: Edition 35, Map 464)

Session 1: Chemistry: The Forensic Detective
Start time: 9.15 a.m.
Finish time: Noon
Cost: Nil (this session has a sponsor and there is therefore no cost to participants)
Ages: 14-18. The minimum age of 14 strictly applies.

The School of Life and Environmental Sciences offers a 2.5-3 hour chemistry session with a focus on forensic science (plus a lab tour afterwards).
Lab coats and goggles will be provided. Students must wear closed-toed shoes for lab safety. Sneakers are OK, but not Ugg boots.

Cost: $10 per student, cash on the day. 
Ages: 10-16. 

To make travel more convenient for families, one session will run in the morning and the other will run in the afternoon. These sessions are repeats from previous years. 

Bookings Sue Wight robwight@optusnet.com.au or phone 5439 5134

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Venue: Mount Waverley Guide Hall, Fairway Reserve, Fairway Avenue (just off Forster Road exit on SE Freeway) Melways Map 70E5. There is ample free off-street parking and a kitchen available for parents to have a cuppa during the session. Parents are also welcome to sit in on the session but asked to keep off-topic noise to a minimum.

Session Levels: There are three levels of sessions, but ages are just indicative. Parents should decide which they think their child will enjoy.

• YA: Hands on sessions for young children 4-6
• J: Sessions for Juniors between 7 and 10
• S: Sessions for Seniors - Ages 10 and up

(sometimes sessions cater for two agegroups e.g. YJ indicates suitable for ages 4 - 10)

24th June with Anatoli from CRAFTPower
CRAFTPower have many years experience working in over 600 schools, running after-school programs and holiday programs. Anatoli will be familiar to many as he is a popular presenter around Melbourne. As these are hands-on activities parental assistance is required at all times. Limited numbers.
$10 Member / $12 non-member

Bookings: Use our online booking form

WOOD MAGIC
Young Children & Junior (Code YJ4) 10am-11.15am  
Introduction to the safe use of tools. Children will trace, cut, sand and then take home their finished models for painting. Children will have a selection of 10 – 15 designs from which to choose. Tools and equipment used include junior coping saws, goggles, stencils, pencils and sandpaper. Prior to attending the student should be able to trace around a stencil cutout. Suitable for children aged 4-8 years.

MINI HANDYPERSON
Young Children & Junior (Code YJ5) 11.30am-12.45am 
Bookings: Use our online booking form

Children select a pre-cut template and using hammers, glue & nails construct a 3D take-home model. Highly recommended for younger and less dexterous children. Suitable for children aged 4-8 years.

WOOD MAGIC
Junior & Senior (Code JS4) 1pm-2.30pm
Bookings: Use our online booking form 
  
As above but model designs are more complicated and therefore take longer. Will use additional equipment such as hammers, nails, and PVA glue. Suitable for children aged 8-13 years.

22nd July with Anatoli from CRAFTPower
$15 Member / $17 non-member
SUNJET
Young Children & Junior (Code YJ6) 10am-11.30am  
Bookings: Use our online booking form

Invent, design and build a solar-driven car. Each child receives a kit containing a solar cell, 3-volt motor, 4 wheels, metal axle & guide tubes. Suitable for children aged 4-8 years.

JETRANGER
Junior (Code YJ7) 11.45am-1.15pm 
Bookings: Use our online booking form

Explore solar energy in the air. Build an aeroplane or helicopter with a solar cell & a motor. Each child receives a kit containing a solar cell, 3-volt motor, propeller & wire. Suitable for children aged 4-8 years.

SOLAR BUGGY
Junior & Senior (Code JS5) 1.30pm-2.45pm  
Bookings: Use our online booking form

Invent, design and build a solar-buggy with gears, wheels, axels and a solar cell. Convert the sun’s energy to electricity using photovoltaic cells. Each child receives a kit containing a solar cell, 3-volt motor, 4 wheels, metal axle & guide tubes. Suitable for children aged 8-15 years.

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SKI-SNOWBOARD-TOBAGGAN

31st Aug – 5th Sept

A Home school camp on one of the best ski mountains in Victoria accommodation at Southern Cross Ski Club
www.ski.com.au/southerncrossskiclub/

accommodation $50/night/person
Lodge holds 44 people

Lift/lesson & ski hire:
Primary age students 3 day = $152.10
5 day = $210.60
Secondary age students 3day = $189
5 day= $278.10
Adults from 3 day lift/ski hire = $282.60
5 day = $427.50
Kids under 6 ski for free (still have to hire gear)

Entry into the park last year was at school rates and there is a fee for the taxi to the lodge, rates to be confirmed. Snow tubing and night skiing is free with 5 day tickets

For more information contact Colita
on 03 5428 5332
Or email colita@hollyburton.com.au

50% of accommodation needs to be paid for ASAP
and balance by the 15th June

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