Inside the NSW Homeschooling Audit: What It Means for Families | 039

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I'm your host, Brett Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Euka Future Learning. And I'm joined by my amazing co-founder and head of education, Ellen Brown. How are you doing today, Ellen? Ellen: Very well, thanks, Brett. Brett: An interesting topic that we're going to be diving deep into today. And it's a bit of a hot-off-the-press topic of conversation. It relates to the alternative school settings and homeschooling performance audit that was conducted. There was a 79-page report that came out on the 25th of September. It was an audit conducted by the Auditors General, and the purpose of the report is to examine the challenges faced by families seeking to homeschool in New South Wales. So we're speaking specifically here about New South Wales, although there are similarities federally across the country. Just for a bit of a preface, this report and the findings we're discussing are related to New South Wales. The purpose is to share and discuss the concern around growing delays in registration approvals, among a whole heap of other things. We'll get into that today. Ellen, I know you did a piece for the Daily Telegraph last week. I was on a news segment with Sky News. It's been picked up a bit and gained some traction. Of course, as always, they like to get our opinion on these things. I believe we're well placed to provide our thoughts and feedback regarding these findings. Something we always like to do is not just poke holes at things. We like to provide solutions. We have a number of solutions that we can discuss today and hopefully give some insights to our families on the process moving forward. I know you just mentioned five minutes before we hit record that the New South Wales Department has come out with their response to this report. I haven't looked at that yet, so I'll let you touch on those replies and what they mean for families. To digest the 79-page report, because I've done the heavy lifting for you all, I'll give you a summary of the findings, and then we'll dive into it. Some key points to understand: homeschooling registrations in New South Wales surged from 5,907 in 2019 to 12,762 in 2024. That's a 116% increase. A lot of that was exacerbated by COVID, which highlighted to many families the opportunity of homeschooling. The average wait time for registration in New South Wales is 65 days, effectively one school term. In 2019, it was 40 days, which, in my opinion, was still too long. That represents a 62% increase in processing time. Families are withdrawing from mainstream schools often due to bullying, mental health challenges, and unmet learning needs. During the waiting period, children are required by law to remain enrolled and attend mainstream schools. Ellen: Yes. In New South Wales, principals can provide an exemption allowing a child to remain enrolled but not attend the classroom. Typically, this is granted for situations like a short holiday. The ideal scenario is that the school provides an exemption if the child has supporting documentation, such as a doctor's or psychologist's certificate. Having a learning plan in place, such as one provided by Euka, helps significantly. Parents can show the plan to the principal, demonstrating that the child is still receiving education. This reassures the school that duty-of-care obligations are being met. Brett: Exactly. Preparing thoroughly minimises roadblocks. Part of the registration involves providing a 12-month learning plan. Families not using Euka must create this themselves, mapping lessons to the Australian curriculum, which is laborious and time-consuming. With Euka's registration service, parents receive the necessary documentation, removing a barrier when approaching the principal. The report concludes that the Department and NESA have not effectively supported eligible students in alternative school settings and homeschooling because they have not defined learning and wellbeing outcomes, they have not monitored or responded to student demand in a timely manner, they have not supported transitions in and out of these settings, and they have not proactively sought feedback from students and families. This is scathing and shines a spotlight on the homeschooling sector. The 65-day delay is likely due to a lack of resources, with APs managing hundreds or thousands of students. Recommendations include that by September 2027, the Department should develop and implement a strategy for alternative school settings in consultation with relevant agencies. COVID accelerated homeschooling adoption. Like remote work, homeschooling is now normalised. Oversight and support must improve to handle transitions, safeguard children, and streamline processes. Possible solutions include streamlining transitions, providing instant access to homeschooling where necessary, and supporting parents in documenting progress to satisfy department requirements. Euka supports parents in ensuring children meet educational outcomes. No student has ever been denied registration through Euka. APs recognise that plans are complete and well-considered, reducing processing time and stress. Ellen: Euka stands with homeschooling families and will support them through transitions, ensuring parents retain autonomy over education. Brett: Families shouldn't have to choose between legal compliance and children's wellbeing. 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In 2019 the average was 40 days, meaning processing time has increased by 62%. During this waiting period, children are legally required to remain enrolled in and attend mainstream school unless the school principal grants an exemption." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can my child stay home while we wait for homeschooling registration approval in NSW?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, in some cases. NSW school principals can grant an exemption allowing a child to remain enrolled but not attend the classroom while the registration application is being processed. This is most likely to be approved when the family can present supporting documentation — such as a medical or psychologist certificate — alongside a completed 12-month learning plan demonstrating the child will continue to receive a structured education. 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COVID-19 also accelerated adoption by demonstrating that learning outside a traditional classroom was viable." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What did the NSW Auditor-General's homeschooling audit find?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Alternative School Settings and Homeschooling Performance Audit, published 25 September 2025, found that the NSW Department of Education and NESA have not effectively supported eligible students in homeschooling because they have not defined learning and wellbeing outcomes, have not monitored or responded to student demand in a timely manner, have not supported transitions in and out of alternative settings, and have not proactively sought feedback from students and families. The report recommends that by September 2027 the Department develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for alternative school settings in consultation with relevant agencies and families." } } ] } ] } Host Brett Campbell, CEO of Euka Future Learning, joins co-founder and Head of Education, Ellen Brown, to unpack the findings from the recent Alternative School Settings and Homeschooling Performance Audit compiled by the New South Wales Auditor-General. Together, they explore the growing challenges families face with registration delays, the reasons behind the surge in homeschooling, and what these findings mean for parents. Brett and Ellen share their insights on how the system can evolve, offer practical solutions for families navigating the process, and discuss Euka’s vision for a more supportive, flexible future of learning in Australia. Want to have a positive impact on thousands of families like you? Leave us an audio question or share your homeschooling journey — anonymously if you like. Real questions from real families help us bring more value to every episode.  <button class="voice-widget-popup-cta" type="button" data-voice-widget-popup-trigger aria-label="Send us a message" > Send us a message <div class="voice-widget-popup-overlay" data-voice-widget-popup-overlay role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Voice message recorder" style="display: none;" > <button class="voice-widget-popup-close" type="button" data-voice-widget-popup-close aria-label="Close" > <div class="voice-widget voice-widget--compact" role="region" aria-label="Voice message recorder" data-bark-component="VoiceMessageWidget" data-voice-widget-popup-content > We&#039;re listening Send us your voice message Up to two minutes. Speak in your own words Your name Email Send message anonymously <img decoding="async" class="voice-widget__recorder-shape-tr" src="https://euka.edu.au/wp-content/plugins/euka-voice-widget/assets/elements/quarter-circle-burnt-yellow.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true" /> ● Tap the red dot to start Re-record Download I'm happy for Euka to keep this recording and to share it (or part of it) on the Future Learners Podcast. See our privacy policy. Yes, let me know when new episodes drop. Fresh conversations every week — unsubscribe any time. Send to the Future Learners team <img decoding="async" class="voice-widget__success-illustration" src="https://euka.edu.au/wp-content/plugins/euka-voice-widget/assets/illustrations/three-smiling-people.svg" alt="The Euka team celebrating receiving your message" /> Thanks — we&#039;ve got it. Brett, Ellen and the team will give it a listen. Keep an ear out — we&#039;ll let you know if your message features in an upcoming episode. Key Points: Homeschooling in NSW is on the rise Homeschooling across New South Wales has grown rapidly, with registrations increasing by 116% since 2019. Families are choosing homeschooling for their child’s wellbeing Many parents make the switch not by choice, but out of necessity. Bullying, anxiety, or unmet learning needs often push families to look for a safer, more nurturing environment where their child can thrive. The registration process needs streamlining Currently, registration can take up to 65 days &#8211; a long wait for families ready to start a new chapter. During this time, children are still legally required to attend mainstream school, leaving families feeling uncertain and caught between systems. The system needs compassionate reform Homeschooling reform in NSW can be improved with clearer pathways, faster processing times, and an approach that recognises each family’s unique circumstances. transcript The post Inside the NSW Homeschooling Audit: What It Means for Families | 039 appeared first on Euka.