Otherways: Home Education Network

Special Feature: Homeschooling a Child With Special Needs
Barbara Frank shares her journey of home educating her son Josh who has Down’s Syndrome

Articles:

• Radical Feminist Mothers and Why We Need Them by Isabel shapcott
• How Homeschooling Helped Us Stay Married by Beverley Paine
• A Mathematician’s Lament by Paul Lockhart
• I Don’t Even Like Horses by Carleen Sing
• Liam Sing: Brumby Trainer by Jude Parsons
• Institutionalisation and Deschooling by Kah Ying Choo
• Days of Knights by Jude Parsons
• What Kind of Teacher Are You? by Beverley Paine
• Full Time Work, Full Time Home Education by Kate Frishman

Plus our regular features…

Purchase this issue for just $10 plus postage
Subscribe to Otherways for $40 per year

Back issues of Otherways are available from our Online Shop.

• Leave a comment... (0)

All the credit for all the great groups we have in Melbourne and country Victoria go to the members whose enthusiasm and commitment keep these vital support centers going. Support groups are operating in the following areas:

• Continue reading or Leave a comment... (0)

There are a number of discussion groups and forums about home education on the internet, some of the more interesting are listed here.

• Continue reading or Leave a comment... (0)

The Victorian government selected the following home educators to advise them on home education matters:

Lyn Saint (03) 94131 4826 lml@mira.net
Sandra Herbert (03) 5342 8827 s.herbert@ballarat.edu.au
Barb Dennis barbdennis@bigpond.com
Jeanie Clark clarkspark@netconnect.com.au
Anthony White
Josh Fergeus
Fred Cahir
Deborah Lapthorne

Those listed with contact details are members of HEN and happy for you to contact them if you have issues you would like raised at the next meeting of the Homeschooling Advisory Committee.

• Leave a comment... (0)

Home education need not be expensive. You can home educate with a library card, the resources you already have at home and free resources in your community. An Internet connection is also extremely useful if you can afford it. Many commercial homeschooling supplies are available if families choose to use them and prices vary. So there is no specific cost of home education - it can cost very little or it can cost thousands of dollars - depending on what method and resources you choose to use. We advise families to look carefully at materials before making a large investment. It is unfortunate when families spend a lot of money on a resource and later find their money could have been better spent.  See our articles Home Education on a Budget and Less than a Dollar a Day Home Education.

There is no specific financial assistance to home educators in Australia and home educators are not generally eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance. However, home educaton is recognised as a valid form of education and, as such:

• The government exempts registered home educators from the Welfare to Work laws
• Victorian home educators are entitled to the School Start Bonus
• Those with a health care card are entitled to free use of the School Dental Service
• Chidren enrolled in a state approved distance education programme and those being home educated for medical reasons may be entitled to the Isolated Children Allowance.
• Home educators can claim the Education Tax Refund.

• Leave a comment... (0)

Home educators are eligible for the Education Tax Refund if they are also entitled to Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A for the relevant financial year and are registered with the relevant state organisation (e.g. The VRQA in Victoria).

Eligibility for the rebate will also be extended to families in which a child would be eligible for the FTB Part A payment except that they receive a benefit such as Youth Allowance, a disability support pension or ABSTUDY. Children receiving these benefits are automatically disqualified for FTB Part A but may be covered by the rebate.

Eligible families can claim up to $750 for each child of primary school age and $1500 for each child of secondary school age. The refund is structured as a 50% refundable tax offset. This means that, if a family claims the full amount, they will get a refund of $375 per primary school student; and $750 per secondary school student. The refunds will apply only to educational expenses incurred after July 1 this year.
Eligible expenses include laptops, home computers and associated costs (repair and running costs or leasing), home Internet connections, printers, paper, educational software, textbooks, study guides, learning materials and stationery. If you have more than one school-aged child expenses can be spread between them (e.g. for a computer) as long as each of the children has access to the purchased items.
Receipts must be kept in order to make claims and claims cannot be made until you submit your tax return next year. There will be a section in your 2008-2009 tax return where you can claim the refund and a seperate form will be available from the tax office for those who do not have to fill out a tax return.
If you spend more than the maximum amount claimable, the excess expense can be claimed the next financial year. So if you have a major purchase (e.g. a laptop) you can spread your claim over two years. If expenses are not claimed in either the year of purchase or the following tax year, they will lapse.
If your child is registered as a homeschooler next February (e.g. prep age) then you will be able to claim expenses for half the financial year.

For more information, contact the tax office or see:
The government’s press release:
www.treasurer.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2008/077.htm&pageID=003&min=wms&Year=&DocType=0
The Fact sheet:
www.treasury.gov.au/documents/1394/PDF/Education_Tax_Refund_Factsheet.pdf

• Leave a comment... (0)

Kids Cardio/Sports Class in Doncaster for home educating families

Classes will be $6.50 each ($65 for the term) commencing on 18 July 2008.

They will be held on Fridays from 1:30-2:30pm.

Classes are non-competitive and cover a range of skills dependent on the needs of the children.  The teacher is very energising, with years of experience working in this area and is very respectful of the children.

Contact Lee Attalla at latalla@gmail.com

• Leave a comment... (0)

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.

• Leave a comment... (0)

We are planning a fortnightly friendly soccer match and kick to kick for parents and kids of all ages.

It’s pure magic and mayhem - without too much planning or competition.

Time: 9am to 11 amish

Where: Hurstbridge Primary School Oval (behind CFA)

Bring: Water, oranges, hats, silliness, sun protection, lots of chocolates, minimal coordination skills, soccer balls and excited kids 

Caution:    Kids and dads seem to love it

Time of Year:  April to August on dates as listed.

Please bring a friend/s, or send the details on to them or send us their email address and we’ll aim to send a note out fortnightly … thankyou,

Abe and Lachlan (soccer nuts) Contact: heidihoney@netspace.net.au

• Leave a comment... (0)