Home Education in South Australia

Author: Beverley Paine

Home Education is a legal alternative to school based education for children in South Australia. Families interested in teaching their children at home are urged to obtain a copy of the Education Act and Children's Services Act and become familiar with the regulations that apply to school attendence. Information about applying for exemption from attendance at school can be found on the Department of Education and Children's Services. Please download the information on our Registering for Home Education in SA page.

There are several homeschooling support groups in South Australia and these offer companionship and support for parents and children, as well as educational opportunities, excursions, activities and camps. Home educators seek the best education possible for their children and make use of the whole community, learning from many sources and in many different environments, as well as the home.

HEA members are welcome to join the HEA SA Chapter. It is a friendly on-topic Yahoo group that discusses any aspect of home education in South Australia, plan activities and events that support and promote the option of homeschooling, as well as helping to build the Home Education Association of Australia. To belong to this group you need to be a financial HEA member living in South Australia. Membership is by invitation only. Please email Beverley with your HEA membership number to receive an invitation join.

If you wish to share your experiences as a home educator or would like to make contact with other homeschooling families in your area please consider listing yourself as a contact person on the HEA Support groups and Contacts SA page.

If you are interested in meeting other homeschoolers and going on educational and social excursions, please think about joining the very active and friendly Yahoo group for South Australian home educators: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/home-education-sa.

Your inquiry and questions will be quickly answered. There are dozens of active members on the list experienced with all aspects of home education, including getting approval for exemption from attending school, answering doubts about socialisation, different home education approaches, where to find resources and educational materials, etc. Check out the files and database sections for dozens of articles and links to other great homeschooling resources.

The HBL SA newsletter is a 'non profit' effort, to help those in South Australia (and beyond if you wish) to stay in contact with what is happening and some local resources. The articles are written generally by other subscribers of HBL, (the parents and children) about various activities they are involved in, and wish to share with you. Published 6 times a year in print and online format.

Tamra, the 2010 editor, would love to hear from you! Articles and items for inclusion in the newsletter, welcome!

For subscription details please visit: http://www.websouth.com.au/hbl/.

The newsletter is the best way to stay in touch with what is happening in South Australia with homeschooling. It contains a list of activities for the coming term and is a valuable networking tool. Please support and use the newsletter by sending news, announcements and information about useful resources to the editor for publication.

Different families organise several homeschooling camps each year. Camps are fantastic ways to get to know other homeschoolers and make friends. Please join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SAHomeschoolCamps for more information and past and future camps.

Home educators run an Ashton Scholastic Book Club for the different metropolitan areas. Please post an inquiry to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/home-education-sa to find out who to contact in your area. It may take a day or two to receive a reply from the coordinator in your area. If you don't receive a reply, please ask again.

The South Australian Network Library is a free service and is a part of the SA Home Ed yahoo support group. The library database on iis available to all yahoo group members, who can upload a description of any book they wish to add to the library, or peruse to find books they'd like to borrow. To borrow a book, please contact the owner of the book listed on the database and arrange pickup/postage and return deliver. To become a member of the library you need to become a member of the Yahoo group. You can elect to not receive emails posted to the list and simply use the library or other resources on the site if you wish.