Inside the NSW Homeschooling Audit: What It Means for Families | 39

Brett (00:01.934)
Hello and welcome to another episode of Future Learners. I’m your host, Brett Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Euka Future Learning. And I’m joined by my amazing co-founder and head of education, Ellen Brown. How are you doing today, Ellen?

Ellen (00:15.829)
Very well, thanks, Brett.

Brett (00:17.710)
An interesting topic that we’re going to be diving deep into today. And it’s a bit of a hot-off-the-press topic of conversation. It relates to the alternative school settings and homeschooling performance audit that was conducted. There was a 79-page report that came out on the 25th of September. It was an audit conducted by the Auditors General, and the purpose of the report is to examine the challenges faced by families seeking to homeschool in New South Wales. So we’re speaking specifically here about New South Wales, although there are similarities federally across the country. Just for a bit of a preface, this report and the findings we’re discussing are related to New South Wales. The purpose is to share and discuss the concern around growing delays in registration approvals, among a whole heap of other things. We’ll get into that today. Ellen, I know you did a piece for the Daily Telegraph last week. I was on a news segment with Sky News. It’s been picked up a bit and gained some traction. Of course, as always, they like to get our opinion on these things. I believe we’re well placed to provide our thoughts and feedback regarding these findings.

Something we always like to do is not just poke holes at things. We like to provide solutions. We have a number of solutions that we can discuss today and hopefully give some insights to our families on the process moving forward. I know you just mentioned five minutes before we hit record that the New South Wales Department has come out with their response to this report.

I haven’t looked at that yet, so I’ll let you touch on those replies and what they mean for families. To digest the 79-page report, because I’ve done the heavy lifting for you all, I’ll give you a summary of the findings, and then we’ll dive into it. Some key points to understand: homeschooling registrations in New South Wales surged from 5,907 in 2019.

To 12,762 in 2024. That’s a 116% increase. A lot of that was exacerbated by COVID, which highlighted to many families the opportunity of homeschooling—they didn’t have to follow the old ways of schooling. A couple of key points, which are really the main highlights of this report, include:

The average wait time for registration in New South Wales is 65 days, effectively one school term. In 2019, it was 40 days, which, in my opinion, was still too long. That represents a 62% increase in processing time. Families are withdrawing from mainstream schools often due to bullying, mental health challenges, and unmet learning needs. We’ve discussed these reasons in numerous press coverage over the last six months.

Another summary from the findings: during the waiting period, children are required by law to remain enrolled and attend mainstream schools. There are three or four key points there, Ellen, that I’d like to touch on first and foremost. Can you, for families who may not currently be homeschooling but are considering it, share the actual process around deciding to homeschool? It’s not just a matter of saying, “Hey, let’s homeschool tomorrow.” There is a process, so can you explain that and the concept of registration itself?

Brett (04:37.700)
Sure. Obviously, the process is broken, which we can see with a 65-day wait time. The process involves submitting your application to the Department, including a learning plan that outlines what you’ll do for the next 12 months while homeschooling. Then you wait for approval. In New South Wales, an Authorised Person (AP) assigned to your area may contact you via Zoom or a home visit as part of this registration process. This contributes to the slowdown. Once they’ve reviewed your plan and met your children, they can give approval, and you’re ready to start.

That’s the ideal process, but for most families, it doesn’t work that way. Often, families have to make the decision quickly, rather than planning a term ahead. There are nuances and ways around this 65-day wait time that we can discuss.

Brett (05:51.650)
Yes. To add context, most families are not forward-thinking about homeschooling months in advance. Although that’s a growing trend, currently, 25% of families—one in four—choose homeschooling primarily due to bullying. That aligns with the report’s findings. Fifteen percent come for educational philosophy reasons, 15% for individualised learning needs such as ASD, ADHD, anxiety, or depression.

Summing this up, nearly 75% of families come to homeschooling out of necessity. One key finding in the report is that while families wait for registration, by law, they must remain enrolled in mainstream school. That’s a major problem because parents, understandably, want to do what’s best for their children while staying within the law.

Some schools may provide exemptions, though not all principals do. Ellen, can you explain that exemption process?

Ellen (08:16.222)
Yes. In New South Wales, principals can provide an exemption allowing a child to remain enrolled but not attend the classroom. Typically, this is granted for situations like a short holiday. The ideal scenario is that the school provides an exemption if the child has supporting documentation, such as a doctor’s or psychologist’s certificate.

Having a learning plan in place, such as one provided by Euka, helps significantly. Parents can show the plan to the principal, demonstrating that the child is still receiving education. This reassures the school that duty-of-care obligations are being met. Even without an exemption, documentation like a medical certificate can support the case.

Brett (09:42.006)
Exactly. Preparing thoroughly minimizes roadblocks. Part of the registration involves providing a 12-month learning plan. Families not using Euka must create this themselves, mapping lessons to the Australian curriculum, which is laborious and time-consuming. With Euka’s registration service, parents receive the necessary documentation, removing a barrier when approaching the principal.

Principals must verify that children will actually receive lessons. Having a plan ready streamlines this process.

Ellen (11:43.947)
Brett: Can I add something? Principals often aren’t familiar with homeschooling options. Presenting a clear plan helps them understand your approach. It also benefits the child, as having structured learning ready prevents gaps and supports mental health.

Brett (12:43.534)
Additionally, a prepared plan aids the AP during the average 65-day wait. Without it, meetings may be delayed if parents are unprepared. Parents must ensure they meet all requirements to make the process as smooth as possible.

Brett (15:09.336)
The report concludes that the Department and NESA have not effectively supported eligible students in alternative school settings and homeschooling because:

They have not defined learning and wellbeing outcomes.
They have not monitored or responded to student demand in a timely manner.
They have not supported transitions in and out of these settings.
They have not proactively sought feedback from students and families.

This is scathing and shines a spotlight on the homeschooling sector. The 65-day delay is likely due to a lack of resources, with APs managing hundreds or thousands of students.

Brett (16:43.168)
The impact on families is significant. There’s fear with changes in oversight. Homeschooling was transferred from NESA to the Department of Education mid-year. Parents are concerned, but change also presents opportunity.

Brett (18:28.710)
Parents should have input. The report recommends consultation with stakeholders, including homeschooling parents, which we hope will be implemented.

Brett (20:56.024)
Recommendations include that by September 2027, the Department should develop and implement a strategy for alternative school settings in consultation with relevant agencies.

COVID accelerated homeschooling adoption. Like remote work, homeschooling is now normalized. Oversight and support must improve to handle transitions, safeguard children, and streamline processes.

Child safety monitoring is complex due to privacy concerns. Parents prefer flexible arrangements, such as meeting the AP in public spaces rather than at home.

Possible solutions include streamlining transitions, providing instant access to homeschooling where necessary, and supporting parents in documenting progress to satisfy department requirements.

Brett (27:01.818)
Euka supports parents in ensuring children meet educational outcomes. This documentation satisfies government requirements while giving parents confidence.

Brett (27:34.190)
Immediate exemptions should be available to remove the 65-day barrier. Hiring more staff will help, but governance changes and leveraging technology can also accelerate approvals.

Brett (29:59.288)
No student has ever been denied registration through Euka. APs recognize that plans are complete and well-considered, reducing processing time and stress.

Ellen (31:31.700)
Euka stands with homeschooling families and will support them through transitions, ensuring parents retain autonomy over education.

Brett (32:11.810)
Families shouldn’t have to choose between legal compliance and children’s wellbeing.

Brett (32:36.256)
The Department’s reply indicates a need for oversight and child safety monitoring.

Brett (33:41.130)
Excellent, we’ll leave it at that. Thank you very much, Ellen.