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. We endeavour to keep this list up to date.

If you know of groups that are operating and would be happy to be listed here, please let us know. Please help us keep this information up to date by notifying us of any changed or obsolete contact details. Updates should be emailled to webmaster(at)home-ed.vic.edu.au Support groups are operating in the following areas:

Victoria

Albury Wodonga Homeschoolers Support Group Meet regularly for organised activities and excursions. Catherine email: daf(at)exemail.com.au

ASD Social Group Lesley Mitchell is currently in the planning stages of organising a social networking group to meet say once per month for kids on the spectrum that are high functioning. Planning to meet around Doncaster, Eltham, Warrandyte,  Ringwood area, open to options and would really love some ideas, venues, events, assistants, etc. Even if you just know of a place they could meet (that wasn’t too over stimulating), where the kids could have fun and the parents could chat that would be terrific. Perhaps you know of a teacher / parent that would be able to assist with some event/craft/activity for the kids (happy to cover their expenses / pay them for their troubles) etc, etc. If you are able to assist or would like to explore the possibility of your child being involved, please contact Lesley at sales (at) renascentcollege.com

Bairnsdale Home Educators Contact Cynthia McStephen Email: cynmcs(at)yahoo.com.au Phone 5156 8929

Ballarat Home Education Group Families are encouraged to create their own social events with the support of the coordinator.All welcome to share in regular sporting, art and social activities. Coordinator: Lynda Russell: Phone: 0401 807 649 ballarat.home.education(at)gmail.com

Bendigo, Castlemaine & District Events, activities and excursions. Pottery class fortnightly in terms 2,3 & 4. Also preschool and Teenage groups. Contact: Susan Wight (03) 5439 5134 Email: robwight(at)southernphone (dot) com (dot) au Also an email group advising local activities and events. Join the email group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BendigoHEALS

Berwick Home Schoolers Group (Christian) Meets fortnightly on a Friday. Contact: Kim Kamper happykampers5(at)gmail.com or Dianne Catterall diceenote(at)gmail.com

Castlemaine & Daylesford Meet fortnightly during term time, at the playground in the Botanic Gardens in Castlemaine 10am summer/11am winter. Contact Tara Duffy 53483518

Catholic Home Educators of Melbourne Meet for monthly activities around Melbourne. Newsletter each term. Contact (Northern) Jen 9469 2218.

Eltham Home Educators (Eltham, Greensborough, Yarra Valley) Meet on Thursday afternoons, rotating between various playgrounds in the Eltham area, from about 1.00pm. New families and visitors most welcome. Contact Helen Cain on hfcain (at) optusnet.com.au or 8300 7221. The Eltham group does not meet during school holidays and from about mid-December to the second week in February. Details are also posted on the email group – visit http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeEducatorsEltham/ to join.

Foothills Home Ed Group (lower Dandenongs and surrounds) Meets Tuesdays from 12.00-3.00pm during school terms. See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SEHE/ for full details and on-line calender.
In short, all welcome for casual play/chat at 1000 steps playground Upper Ferntree Gully, Dandenong Ranges National Park from 12pm on Tuesdays. Contact: Vanessa 0425 732 964 vanessameckes (at) iprimus (dot) com (dot) au

GLAMorous (Gembrook Learning Alternatives Mob) A group of home educating families in the Gembrook area and surrounding towns who support each other, organise activities and generally hang out together. Our kids currently range from soon to be born – 10 years old. We have a monthly evening get together for a Mums chat/rave about home education (Dads are welcome)  and we organise activities like excursions to local farms/gardens, circus classes, zoo trips, science experiments, fun crafty days etc. Contact: Jane Hope 5968 1211 or blackcockatoo215 (at) gmail (dot) com

Gifted Home Education Group E-mail group for mutual support and discussion for those home-educating gifted children in Victoria. We are spread far and wide, but have in common that we came to home education because the school system would not cater for our children’s atypical learning needs. Of course, we now find that home education has many other advantages. Enquiries: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VHSG/

Hamilton area Support Group Contact: Tammy Cosson cossonfamily1(at)yahoo.com 0466 449 685 or Jayne Marti email – jayneandadrian(at)bigpond.com

HEN Autism Spectrum Home Educators A group initiated by the Home Education Network for the mutual support of parents home educating children on the autistic spectrum. Parents do not need to be members of HEN to join this list and parents not currently home educating but considering home education as an option for their family are most welcome. Join at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HENASD Also a related list available for kids – enquire on list.

Hen Excursion Group Email group to keep each other informed of excursions. Not restricted to HEN members. To join go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HEN_Excursion_Group/

Ibn Masood Institute Muslim homeschoolers http://www.ibnmasood.com.au/

Inner-City Homeschoolers 2nd Tuesday of the month (except January) at noon at Quarries Park, Eastern end of Ramsden Street, Clifton Hill. BYO morning tea/lunch plus rollerblades and skateboards (for use at the skate ramp), balls and bicycles. Enquiries – Jenni rainbowdivas(at)gmail.com or phone 0409 163 372 or check the HEN Excursion Group emails.

Inner Northern Homeschool Group – We are a supportive Melbourne homeschooling group, who meet every Wednesday morning during the school term, and who want to build a strong sense of community and belonging amongst our families.  We support each other as we share the homeschooling journey together, share in learning experiences and seek to develop good friendships for both kids and parents. Primary aged activities and a homeschooled Kinder Kids program available.
You can learn more about our group and events HERE or contact Julie at moyleja[at]gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Inner West Christian Homeschool Group. Meet weekly on Fridays in Newport.  Please visit our website for more information.

LaTrobe Valley Group Meets regularly and has regular excursions. Contact Anne Hardiman Ph 03 51764477, mobile: 0409701748

Macedon Ranges Meet at Riddells Creek community house. Art/craft $5 per family 1pm kids yoga 3-10yrs $10/child $15/family. Contact Colita colita(at)hollyburton.com.au 5428 5332 0427 384 950

Maldon Home Educators Study and excursion group meeting for Maths (approx year 8 level) on Monday afternoons in Maldon. Also craft and donkey riding in enough interest. Contact Netty 5475 1184

Melbourne Excursion group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Melbourne_homeschool_excursions/ An inclusive Melbourne Homeschool Excursion Group. Anyone can read the messages, but you need to be a member to post. Please help us to disseminate information on events and activities via the group to the larger community.
Click to join Melbourne_homeschool_excursions

Mornington Peninsula Events Group An online group for homeschoolers on the Mornington Peninsula. http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsulahome-ed/

Mornington Peninsula Homeschoolers Website http://peninsulawildthings.weebly.com/

Muslim Home-Schoolers http://www.missionislam.com/homed/index.htm

North-East Homeschoolers - Euroa, Benella, Mansfield Activities and excursions. Email Belinda at maclaugh(at)mcmedia.com.au

Otways Home Educators Meet monthly.    Contact Julie at juliemc9 (at) gmail (dot) com for more details.

Peninsula Home Education Network – Mornington Peninsula A very active group based in the Mornington Peninsula, meets weekly on Wednesday. Ring (03) 9513 2816 for a recorded message with a calendar of events or to leave a message.

Portland/Hamilton/Mt Gambier Contact: Charlene Bachmann Ph: 03 55847333.

Sale Area: Interested in starting new group for the area. Contact Shirley Rawlings shirleyandbill (at) wideband.net.au

Snowy River Home Educators Meet on the first Tuesday of the month. 1.30pm, Wairewa Hall for play and chat. All welcome. Please contact Rosanne Trevaskis, 03 51 557 242, trevaskis(at)activ8.net.au or Melissa Lohr, pmlohr(at)westnet.com.au for enquiries.

South Eastern Suburbs Home Education Group Closed forum intended for home educators living in the South Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne as well as other interested parties. Feel free to use it as you please to seek advice, support, information and to organise/advertise events. CJoin the mailing list/forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SEHE/

St Kilda Home Ed Group – meets every second Thursday, at the St Kilda Adventure Playground, from around 11am. Our kids are on the younger side at the moment (under about 8), but we’d love to have some older kids come along. New families from everywhere are welcome. Contact Anna on 0424 454 487 or anna_kucher (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) au

Sunraysia Home Educators Contact Maaike Johnston Ph: 50291523. Meets occasionally in and around Mildura.

Unschoolers New group for unschoolers meeting sporadically. Get togethers notified through yahoo group.  Join at http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/melbourneunschoolers  Enquiries Shae Reynolds. Email: yayforhome (at) yahoo.com.au

Upper Yarra Home-Ed Group Meets 1st Friday of each Month in Yarra Junction for mutual support, general activities and get-togethers.

Contact: Clare Morrissey clare_03 (at) tpg.com.au or (03) 5966 5401.

Warragul Home Educators (West Gippsland) Warragul and surrounding areas Organised picnics, excursions and activities Contact – Catherine Durant 5626 8252

Warrnambool & District Secular Home Educators A support group for secular homeschoolers in the Warrnambool area – new members and all ages welcome! Meets at 11am on the 1st Tuesday of the month. Please contact April Munson for more details –  munson_April (at) yahoo (dot) com (preferred) or 0355620076

South Australia

Mt Gambier Contact: Charlene Bachmann Ph: 03 55847333.

Tasmania

This community is designed to be a great resource for home educating families in Tasmania.
www.homeeducationtasmania.com
We meet twice a week (Wednesday and Fridays).  All are welcome to join at any time. For a list of meeting places please contact sara on sara_mark(at) bigpond.com.

New South Wales

Narrabri Homeschool Group Contact: Natalie Cameron Ph: 67 944 552