Since first term 2015 it has been mandatory for Home Educators to use the WA Curriculum for English, Maths, Science and History (years Preprimary to 10).  From 2017, Home Educating families will also need to follow for PP-Y10:

• Humanities and Social Sciences  - This learning area incorporates History; Geography; Economics and Business; and, Civics and Citizenship. Civics and Citizenship is introduced at Year 3 and Economics and Business is introduced from Year 5.  The Scope and Sequence on this link -  http://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/24833/Humanities-and-Social-Sciences_HASS_P-10_Scope-and-Sequence_Phase_1_March_2016.PDF

• Health and Physical Education - In Health and Physical Education, students learn how to enhance their own and others' health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing environments.  The Scope and Sequence on this link  http://k10outline.scsa.wa.edu.au/home/p-10-curriculum/curriculum-browser/health-and-physical-education/health-and-physical-education-overview/Health-and-Physical-Education_HPE_P-10_Scope-and-Sequence_March_2016.PDF

To be implemented first term 2018

     •     Technologies

     •     The Arts

     •     Languages Year 3 only

Year 11 and 12

At this time, the WA Curriculum and Assessment Outline (Australian Curriculum for Maths, English, History and Science and Curriculum Framework for all other subjects) only caters for kindergarten to year 10. Year 11 and 12 students will still use the Curriculum Framework in its entirety.  

Moderators and Reporting

Your Responsibilities

The Department of Education publish a policy statement on home education with background information and the required procedures for Department employees. You can download the Policy Statement from the WA Department of Education website or by clicking here.

Moderators are obliged to follow the Department policy, however it is the School Education Act 1999 that home-based families need to keep uppermost in their minds when undergoing moderation. The most relevant section for home educators is Section 6, page 66.  Click here to download a copy.  Section 53.2(a) Cancelling s.48 Registration, gives the Department of Education and Moderators the authority to assess progress against the current WA Curriculum.

It is important for home educators to familiarise themselves with the Homeschooling Policy and Education Act in order to fully understand their rights and responsibilities.

Insurance – Who needs it and why?

Anyone who organises an excursion. If you book the excursion, collect names or money to pay for the excursion and/or have children under volunteer supervision during the excursion then you should have Liability insurance. 

·        Anyone who organises regular activities or gatherings at a venue should have Liability insurance

·        Anyone who organises regular activities or gatherings at a venue and collects funds to cover the activities and/or pays an instructor/teacher to provide some form of class should have Liability insurance and Workers Compensation insurance.

By organising or being part of a group/team that organises any of the above you have a Duty of Care or responsibility for the safety of the participants, as well as any property that is damaged by participants or the event organiser/team.  If an accident or damage occurs that could have been prevented by the organiser(s) taking reasonable care then the organiser(s) are legally and financially responsible for any expenses incurred as a result of the accident or damage.  In the case of an accident this could mean having to pay large medical bills.  For damage to property, this could mean paying for the replacement of electronic equipment, furniture or repair of the hired venue.

If you are organising any of the above you should have Liability insurance cover to protect your family’s financial situation.  At Risk Management seminars I’ve attended, it’s been pointed out many times that volunteers need to be protected for the situations outline above as well frivolous lawsuits which may be brought against them.  Regardless of whether a lawsuit has merit, volunteers still have to pay legal costs to defend against them.

From the start of 2015 home educators are required to comply with the new West Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline.

The Arts, Languages, Geography, Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Health and Physical Education and Technologies will continue to use the Curriculum Framework until such time as they are included in the WA Curriculum Assessment Outline.

HEWA has received a response from the Education Department in regard to the level of compliance required for Home Educators. The Authority referred to below is the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (previously WA Curriculum Council).

“The Authority has advised that all educational programs, whether they are delivered in school or through a home education program, must reflect the Outline’s general capabilities, and the content and achievement standards.”

“Of course, moderators will continue to be flexible to cater for the different approaches of home educators and use their professional judgement when they come to evaluating home education programs according to the Outline.”

Therefore, from 2015 those families who are currently home educating will need to use one of the approved curriculum below for Maths, English, Science and History.

Continuing the theme of Higher Education options for homeschooling families there have been a number of posts on facebook recently  regarding NAPLAN, OLNA and WACE exams and how they apply to Home Education.

The recent Higher Education mini Expo hosted by HEWA and ECU was given rave reviews by those who attended.  The expo was held at ECU's Mt Lawley campus in one of their lecture theatres which was filled to capacity with over 130 home edders in attendance.  The initial part of this workshop involved presentations from UWA, ECU, Curtin, Notre Dame, Murdoch Universities, Cyril Jackson Senior College, Tuart College and Central Institute (Tafe).  All discussed the various paths open to home educators who wish to access higher education.  Nearly all faculties offer portfolio entry along with a STAT test.

This is one of the most frequently asked 'frequently asked question' about home education. It is important to question whether the social needs of children are properly met through exposure to hundreds of other children for long periods of time, as occurs in a formal schooling environment.

Prior to the advent of modern education, children were not socialised in this way. It is also unlike the world our children will experience when they emerge as adult contributors to society. Rather, a child's social needs are often more fully met through interaction with their direct and extended families and as they mingle with their community. This involves exposure to people of varying ages in real world contexts, whereas interaction in school is largely restricted to a single, narrow age band in an environment which offers limited experience. Home educators believe that, far from disadvantaging their children socially, education at home gives them a social advantage, with an ability to communicate with all age groups and an absence of the restraint of negative peer pressure.   - from Home Education Australia