Seeking a NSW School Exemption
You have decided to home educate in NSW, but what comes next?
The application process...
Once you have made your decision to home educate, you need to ensure you have the appropriate documents available for your application.
These are:Â
- an appropriate form of identity for the child
- two documents confirming a NSW residential address
- any relevant court orders or guardianship documents
You can apply via the online portal through the NSW Department of Education website HERE, allowing you to upload your documents directly via the portal.
If you would prefer to complete your application in another way, you can download the PDF registration documents HERE and make contact with the Home Schooling Directorate for any assistance, either via the phone number or email provided.
Phone: 02 8340 8510
Email: homeschooling@det.nsw.edu.au
Whether you are withdrawing your child due to safety concerns or a misalignment of values with mainstream schooling, you can secure a temporary exemption to cover the interim period while your registration processes.
Simply request this directly from your school principal.
And we have provided a ready-to-use template in the section below to help you get started.
Although medical certificates can cover short-term school absences, a formal attendance exemption is the correct legal pathway while your home schooling application is being processed. Use our NSW Exemption Template to help you submit this request directly to your school.
You can use the following details to submit your completed template:
- To: [Principal’s Email Address]Â
- CC: homeschooling@det.nsw.edu.au (The Home Schooling Directorate)
- Subject: Application for Temporary Exemption from Attendance – [Child’s Full Name]
Home schooling is a valid and legal form of education for your child, and under section 4 of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) it is outlined that the education of a child is primarily the responsibility of the child’s parent/s.Â
You can contact the NSW Home Schooling Directorate via the following options:
- Website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schoolingÂ
- Email: homeschooling@det.nsw.edu.au
- Phone: 02 83408510
After the application has been submitted...
now the fun begins!
To apply for home education, you need to completely the application form on the following Queensland Home Education Unit website.Â
You need the following documents to be approved for home education:
- Proof of age/parental responsibility (usually a birth certificate)
- Educational plan
- Declaration
These do not need to be attached to submit the application, but they are required for the application to be processed, so it is best to do as soon as you can manage.Â
HavingÂ
You can find our active support group with Free2homeschool representatives and many experienced community members with years of home education experience via our Facebook group at Free2homeschool Qld and our page with all the important information, and advocacy updates, shared publicly at Free2homeschool.
