Homeschool families have welcomed new proposals that would make home education more accessible.
A Queensland-government commissioned report into home education has made eight recommendations to modernise home education regulation.
The recommendations align with the suggestions of 12 home educators and will aim to make home education “more supportive and user friendly” to educators, as well as expand resources and streamline regulatory processes.
The release of the report comes six months after the state government backflipped on its plans to require home educators to follow the national curriculum.
The government said the reforms would enhance child safety and wellbeing and were “much-needed” as the number of homeschooled Queenslanders had almost tripled since Covid.
According to the most recent data from the Department of Education, as of 4 August 2023, there were 2007 homeschool registrations in south-east Queensland.
In 2019, there were only 670.
By 2022, there were 1709.
But backlash from the homeschooling community prompted education minister Di Farmer to withdraw the proposal.
Boronia Heights mother and homeschooling advocate Patricia Fitzgerald was one of many firmly against the changes.
She claimed the national curriculum was inferior to the level of education she offered her two children.
Ms Fitzgerald has since welcomed the report’s recommendations.
“We hope to see the recommendations implemented with consultation and collaboration
of the home education community through the home education expert group members,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“We look forward to building a more connected relationship with the Home Education Unit moving forward, for the community as a whole, but most importantly for the equality of home education in the sector.”
Fellow Free2Homeschool advocate and campaign director Amanda Bartle said the public’s understanding of the home education community was growing.
“This report paves a path to an equal playing field for home education,” she said.
“We would hope that the newly appointed lead educator would be someone with some
homeschooling experience behind them.”
