NSW Legislative Assembly Select Committee Inquiry into Home Schooling

On the 28th May 2014, in response to growing concern expressed by home educators, combined with the tabling of a petition with 10,000 signatures regarding dissatisfaction with the revisions published the previous year in the Board of Studies Information Pack (the official guide to families applying for or renewing registration as home educators), a Parliamentary Inquiry into Home Schooling, "focusing on the context of home schoo ling and its regulatory framework, including any impediments to registration", was established.

In July 2013 members from the Home Education Association (HEA) met with representatives of the NSW Board of Studies to discuss concerns raised by HEA members over the previous 18 months with what they perceived and experienced as onerous and unworkable changes in the procedure and management of applications for registration and the renewal of registration processes. The Board of Studies insisted that changes to the Information Pack were only 'minor edits' which had become necessary due to the incorporation of the new national Australian Curriculum into the NSW syllabus. However, upon official publication of the revised Information Pack it became very evident that the changes were indeed procedural as described by home educating families. Since it's inception the Home Education Association had sought and obtained meaningful consultation on behalf of its members with the NSW Board of Studies and were dismayed that no consulation with home educators had been sought in respect to the revisions of the Information Pack.

The Home Education Association's Lobbying Subcommittee swung into action with a series of planned actions to bring their concerns regarding this lack of consultation to the attention of politicians and Members of Parliament. They see the Inquiry as an opportunity "to influence both how home education is regulated and the resources and support available to home educators in NSW".

The HEA has published a guide to making a submission to the Legislative Assembly Select Committee Inquiry into Home Schooling. The aim of the document is to "provide a structure for, and indications about , how to address the Inquiry's Terms of Reference" and you are welcome to "use any of the ideas contained within". Submissions are open to anyone with an interest in the topic. The Inquiry wishes to hear from all stakeholders, including unregistered home educators in NSW. Provisions for anonymous submissions are being accommodated by the HEA.

The terms of reference of the Inquiry into Home Schooling are to inquire into and report on home schooling in New South Wales, and in particular:

(a) the background of home schooling including comparison of practices with other jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand,

(b) the current contex t of home schooling in New South Wales including
(i) outcomes of home schooling including in relation to transition to further study and work,
(ii) financial costs,
(iii) demographics and motivation of parents to home school their children,
(iv) extent of and reasons for unregistered home schoolers,
(v) characteristics and educational needs of home schooled children,
(vi) comparison of home schooling to school education including distance education,

(c) regulatory framework for home schooling including:
(i) current registration processes and ways of reducing the number of unregistered h ome schoolers,
(ii) training, qualifications and experience of authorised persons,
(iii) adherence to delivery of the New South Wales Syllabuses,
(iv) potential benefits o r impediments to children's safety, welfare and wellbeing,
(vi) appropriateness of the current regulatory regime and ways in which it could be improved,

(d) support issues for home schooling families and barriers to accessing support,

(e) representation of home schoolers within Board of St udies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BoSTES), and

(f) any other related matter.

The Committee will also invite some individuals and organisations to give evidence at public hearings.

Submissions open on 5th June 2014 and submissions close on 8th August 2014. Written submissions may also be lodged online by sending to:

The Director
Select Committee on Home Schooling
Parliament House
Macquarie St
Sydney NSW 2000
Fax: 9230 2981

The Home Education Association encourages families to make submissions to the Inquiry, addressing some or all of the terms of reference, including provision of facts, opinions, arguments, and any recommendations for action. The HEA has produced resources to help families make submissions and welcome offers from volunteers keen to help.

For more information please visit or download:

• Press Release announcing the Inquiry
• HEA's NSW information page
• What does an Inquiry do?
• NSW Home schooling Inquiry
• HEA's Guide to Making a Submission
• Currently applying for registration or renewal? Recommendations by HEA to help you...
• Board of Studies Home Schooling in NSW, Information Package and IP Q&A
• HEA newsletter outlining previous action on this matter

Related articles on this topic:

• Hear Our Voices: HOVA Help Homeschoolers Get Their Message To Parliament
  

See also:

• Summary of Feedback to HEA from members regarding changes to the Information Pack
• Push for Legislative Change for Home Education in NSW survey
• Petition Against Changes to NSW Registration Process
• NSW Legislative Assembly Select Committee Inquiry into Home Schooling
• Hear Our Voices: HOVA Help Homeschoolers Get Their Message To Parliament
• NSW 2013 Home Education Regulation Changes