An Introduction

As a relatively new home based learning family, we have been researching our options for home based learning in Australia for the past few years. These are exciting times as home education gains popularity, laws change and acceptance is growing. It is important to keep abreast of the changes to ensure we are making the best possible choices for our families.

Currently, I believe that Victoria is the only state in Australia where it is legal to home educate without "permission" from the relevant authorities. The other states and territories have varying degrees of involvement in home education and many Australians make a concientious decision to home educate without gaining permission. The HERLIN website in my links list on this page offers legal information for Australians and it is also wise to contact one's local support network or state authorities to ensure you know the latest laws regarding home education.

There is a growing number of web sites created specifically for Australian home based learners. These most often either provide information or are family-run companies offering a range of resources. The best overall site at the moment would be Homeschool Today! created by "pioneer" home educator and author Beverley Paine (with the help of her talented family). I suspect as home based learning increases in popularity we will see a lot of fun family pages published like those from the U.S. in particular. I just love to browse those pages, meet the families and enjoy all of their shared ideas and links.

This year we have welcomed a website for Stepping Stones Home Education Magazine. It offers so much more than just subscription details, and is evolving into a rich online resource for home based learners. At the site www.australia.edu/stepppingstones you can sample items from the current issue, read archives, get to know the people behind the publication and enjoy many more resources. Be sure to check back often as the content increases. Are you a Stepping Stones subscriber? It is the best Aussie home ed. publication available!

There are online mailing lists specifically for Australian Home Education. Mailing List membership and participation is a rewarding support network. It can generate a lot of mail, some off-topic chat and some heated discussions, but it is worth the time for me - I regularly feel encouraged by the other parents I have met on these lists.

In upcoming articles I would like to share with you the different styles of home based learning in Australia and discuss some sources of curriculum and supplies. With each article I hope to discover some great web sites for you to visit - both Australian and international links. I welcome links from readers too - so if you've somthing to share, please e-mail me!

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