Home Schooling Victoria 2025: Requirements, Costs and Support

Are you considering homeschooling for your child in Victoria?

With more families exploring this educational path, homeschooling offers a unique, flexible approach to education that allows parents to shape learning experiences tailored to their child’s needs. 

However, it’s essential to understand both the benefits and challenges that come with this commitment. There are key factors to consider, from legal requirements and registration processes to balancing costs and finding the right resources.

This blog covers everything you need to know about starting homeschooling in Victoria, including navigating compliance, meeting requirements, and optimising your child’s learning. 

For a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling, check out our dedicated blog on the topic. 

Understanding Home Schooling in Victoria

The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) oversees homeschooling in Victoria, setting guidelines for parents who choose to educate their children outside a registered school. According to the VRQA:

Flexible Learning Approaches: Homeschooling can be tailored to fit different needs and may include:

• One or both parents providing instruction at home,
• Small groups of homeschooling families gather for shared lessons,
• Community excursions and activities,
• Short-term tutoring to support specific subjects or skills.

Quasi or Unregistered Schools: Certain setups don’t qualify as homeschooling. An unregistered school typically:

• Has staff delivering instruction without parental involvement,
• Operates outside the home,
• Follows a standard school curriculum across eight learning areas,
• Holds classes during regular school hours.

The VRQA’s homeschooling policy outlines how they work with parents and organisations to ensure compliance and support a high-quality homeschooling experience.

Requirements for Home Schooling

In Victoria, homeschooling requires parents to meet certain essential requirements to ensure children receive a quality education that aligns with state standards. Here are the key steps:

1. VRQA Registration: If you live in Victoria and have a child between 6 and 17 years old, you must register them with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). Registration can start at the beginning of the year your child turns six or by their sixth birthday.

2. Learning Responsibility: When you choose to homeschool, you assume full responsibility for:

• Planning: Create a structured learning plan that outlines the subjects and skills your child will cover.
• Teaching: Delivering education in a way that best suits your child’s needs, especially if they require specialized support or accommodations.
• Assessment: Regularly evaluate your child’s progress to ensure they’re meeting their learning goals.

3. Learning Plan Submission: Before starting, you must submit a detailed learning plan for approval by the VRQA.

4. Eight Learning Areas: The curriculum must address the following areas to meet standards:

5. Regular Reviews: To ensure quality, the VRQA may conduct reviews to assess the homeschooling setup and confirm that the educational standards are being met.

How much does it cost to home-school in Victoria?

In Australia, registering to homeschool is free. However, while registration comes without a cost, you may incur expenses related to providing a well-rounded educational experience for your child.

Though homeschooling registration is free, families often invest in resources to set up a conducive learning environment, plan curriculum, and engage in enriching extracurricular activities. 

Here’s an outline of typical expenses:

If you’re seeking cost-effective educational support, Dr. Study Tutoring provides tailored tutoring services that complement homeschooling and fit within various budgets, making it easier to support your child’s academic growth.

Home Schooling Victoria Registration Process

By following the steps outlined by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), you can provide a structured learning environment that aligns with state requirements. Here’s how to get started:

• Complete the Application Form: Begin by filling out the application form available on the VRQA website. This form gathers essential information about your child and your intent to homeschool.
• Attach Required Documentation: Include necessary supporting documents, such as proof of identity and evidence of parental responsibility. This helps verify your eligibility for homeschooling.
• Prepare a Learning Plan: Develop a detailed learning plan that outlines your child’s curriculum, educational goals, and the approach you will take to cover key learning areas.
• Submit Your Application: Send your completed application, learning plan, and documentation to the VRQA for review.
• Approval and Confirmation: Once your application is reviewed and approved, you will receive a confirmation letter from the VRQA. This letter indicates that your child is officially registered for home education.

For more information on requirements and guidelines, visit the VRQA website.

Partial Enrolment: Combining Home and School Education

In Victoria, partial enrolment allows homeschooled students to attend specific classes or programs at their local government school. Supported by the Victorian Government, this hybrid approach enables families to blend homeschooling with access to specialized resources like science labs, sports facilities, and language programs.

Key points:

1. Registration: Parents must register their child with the VRQA for homeschooling if they are of compulsory school age.
2. Support: The Department of Education permits partial enrolment, allowing homeschooled students to join specific school activities agreed upon by the school and parent.
3. Responsibilities: Parents retain responsibility for the child’s overall education, with the school providing support for selected subjects. This partnership ensures full inclusion in chosen programs.
4. Principal’s Role: Principals can approve or decline partial enrolments based on factors like class size and school capacity.

Families moving from traditional schooling to homeschooling should keep their child enrolled until VRQA registration is confirmed. For more details, refer to the Guidelines for Partial Enrolment of Registered Home Schooled Students.

Home Schooling – Compliance and Reviews

Each year, the VRQA reviews a selection of homeschooling families to ensure they meet the requirements of the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017. The review process focuses on verifying that:

• Students receive regular and efficient instruction that substantially covers the eight required learning areas.
• The education provided aligns with the principles and practices of Australian democracy.

It’s important to note that the VRQA does not review your child directly or assess their learning outcomes. Instead, the review assesses whether you have met the registration requirements, specifically by ensuring that your educational program covers the necessary learning areas.

Enhancing Home Schooling in Victoria with Dr. Study’s Support

At Dr. Study Tutoring, we understand the unique challenges of home-schooling and are dedicated to supporting home-schooling families. Our programmes are designed to complement your home curriculum, providing targeted support in core subjects and enrichment areas to ensure your child’s academic growth. 

Our home-schooling support services include:

• Core Subject Tutoring: Support in essential subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, and more, helping to build a strong academic foundation.
• Enrichment Courses: Engaging courses in creative areas such as advanced maths, writing, and languages to enhance your child’s learning experience.
• Assessments and Progress Tracking: Regular assessments to track academic progress, identify strengths, and address any learning gaps.
• Study Skills and Learning Strategies: Guidance on effective study habits, organisation, and time management to support independent learning.
• Customised Learning Plans: Tailored learning plans designed to meet the specific needs and goals of home-schooling students.
• Small Group Sessions (One-on-Four): Small group learning with a maximum of four students, offering personalised attention within an interactive, collaborative environment.

With Dr. Study Tutoring’s support, your child will have access to resources and expertise that enhance their home-schooling journey, helping them stay on track academically and thrive in their education.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some common questions about homeschooling in Victoria:

Conclusion

We hope that this blog has provided valuable insights and guidance as you consider or continue your homeschooling journey. Remember, you don’t have to go through this process alone. Support is available to help you design a comprehensive curriculum, track progress, and access enrichment resources.

Are you ready to take the next step in supporting your child’s homeschool journey?

Book a free assessment with us today to explore how we can support your homeschooling goals in Victoria and help your child thrive.

Author

Dr. Lakmal Abeysekera

Lakmal arrived in Australia as an international student from Sri Lanka in 2002 to complete his undergraduate degree in Commerce at Deakin University. After completing his Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction, he was invited by Deakin University to undertake an Honours degree which he completed with a First Class Honours. Subsequently, Lakmal was able to secure a full-funded scholarship from Monash University to complete his PhD. As part of his doctoral research, Lakmal explored how the importance attached to work and family roles by couple dyads influence each partner’s experience of work-family conflict.

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