Home educator responsibilities and registration

Home education is a recognised educational option in Western Australia that allows parents and guardians to take responsibility for their child's education and learning. The Department of Education is responsible for registering home educators and evaluating the education programs and progress.

Before registering for home education

Home education is one educational option available to families in Western Australia.

Before registering, you may consider whether your child's needs can be addressed through existing supports or educational options.

You may choose to:

• discuss any concerns with your child's school principal
• contact your local education regional office if you have concerns about your child's education or wellbeing
• explore alternative education settings or programs that may be available to your child
• seek information about support services that may assist your family.

Registering for home education will affect your child's school enrolment.

When you register for home education, your child is no longer enrolled at their current school. Before withdrawing your child, discuss any enrolment implications with the school.

This is particularly important if your child attends a school outside your local intake area, as they may not be able to return to the same school in the future.

Before you register for home education, check if you are eligible and understand the responsibilities of home educators.

Eligibility

To register as a home educator, you must: 

• live in Western Australia with a current WA residential address
• be the child’s natural or adoptive parent, or legal guardian 
• be a permanent Australian resident, New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa.

Home educator responsibilities

Home education can be delivered in many different ways. As a registered home educator, you are responsible for providing an education program that meets your child's individual needs and supporting their learning and progress over time.

To maintain your registration as a home educator: 

• contact your home education moderator to schedule the initial evaluation meeting within 3 months of registration 
• schedule your annual evaluation meeting at least 21 days before it is due 
• participate in evaluations at your child’s usual place of learning, or another place agreed upon by you and the home education moderator 
• provide examples of your child’s learning and progress from the past year 
• provide details of an intended education program
• avoid rescheduling evaluations more than twice without valid evidence 
• notify your education regional office of any changes to your contact details 
• participate in re-evaluation meetings if concerns are identified. 

If these requirements are not met, your registration may be cancelled.  

Your child is welcome to participate in all or part of the evaluation meeting. Some children enjoy sharing their learning, while others prefer not to. Participation is encouraged but not compulsory.

Find information about evaluation meetings.

Travel within Australia or internationally

If you are travelling while your child is registered for home education, consider the following.

Maintain all registration requirements:

• schedule and participate in evaluation meetings
• prove continued WA residency.

Evaluation meetings:

• can be online
• proposed times must be reasonable for AWST (UTC +8) (if interstate or international)
• ensure reliable internet access for evaluations.

Non-compliance may result in a cancellation of registration in accordance with the School Education Act 1999 (WA).

Supports and services available to home-educated students

Home education provides flexibility and allows learning to be tailored to individual needs. As home education is a parent-led educational option, some services and programs available through schools are not available to home-educated students.

The Department of Education does not provide: 

• workbooks 
• curriculum materials 
• direct support in developing your program. 

Home-educated students are not eligible for:

• Year 12 completion certificates 
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 
• Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) pathway for university entry 
• department-developed workbooks or educational plans 
• work experience insurance 
• education email addresses (for example, for Microsoft Office or Canva discounts) 
• in-school or interschool sporting and athletics competitions 
• school-based support services (for example, psychologists, education assistants, therapy, school nurses) 
• school-organised excursions or incursions, and associated discounts.

While some school-based services are not available, home-educated students may be eligible to participate in a range of educational programs and access resources, support services and pathway opportunities. Find information about optional education programs, resources and support.