Homeschoolers advocating for reform of government “oversight” are a step closer to celebration ahead of the introduction of a new bill.
Boronia Heights mother of two, Patricia Fitzgerald, was one of two local home educators leading the charge against proposed changes to state legislation introduced by the previous government.
Last year, the Labor government proposed regulation that would have required homeschooled students follow the Australian curriculum and increased parent reporting requirements, among other changes.
Ms Fitzgerald was one of many firmly against the changes. Instead, they wanted the government to amend existing regulation that prevented 18-year-olds from finishing high school.
“Currently, only half the cohort gets to do Year 12 and the other half actually get kicked off at the end of grade 11,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“When they introduced Prep, it moved everyone up by six months so any child born in the second half of the year automatically gets kicked off homeschool at Year 12.
“They just completely forgot to amend the homeschool legislation. It was purely an oversight that went wrong.”
Ms Fitzgerald and another Logan mum have been advocating for these changes since 2022.
Both of their children were unable to complete Year 12 through home education.
The current government has drafted a new bill that includes an age eligibility extension to 31 December in the year the student turns 18 and six months.
It also leaves out the increased regulations proposed by the previous government.
The Education, Arts and Communities Committee recommended the Bill be passed.
