WA · register through your regional office

Frequently asked questions - WA homeschooling

How do I register to homeschool in Western Australia?

Apply through your regional Department of Education office. WA is administered regionally, so your starting point depends on your address - metropolitan Perth (north or south), country south, country north, Kimberley, Pilbara, etc. The Department's home-education central team can direct you to the right office. Submit child and parent identity documents, proof of address, and a learning plan aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum. Registration is free and is typically granted for 12 months.

What does the WA moderator visit involve?

WA is one of the states where an annual home visit is part of the standard process. A moderator visits each registered family during the registration year to review the learning program, see work samples, and meet the child. Visits typically last 60-90 minutes and are conversational rather than adversarial. The moderator is generally a current or former teacher experienced with home education. Bring an updated portfolio for the year and let the child show what they're working on.

Is the WA Curriculum the same as the Australian Curriculum?

The Western Australian Curriculum (developed by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority, SCSA) is closely aligned with the Australian Curriculum and uses the same eight learning areas, but with WA-specific content and assessment language. Your learning plan should reference WA Curriculum outcomes rather than the national document where they differ - WA moderators are reading against the WA syllabus.

Can a WA homeschooler sit the WACE?

Yes, through enrolment in the School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE), the WA Department of Education's distance school. SIDE is open to home-educated students for senior years. The student remains home-registered with the Department for any non-credentialed time and SIDE-enrolled for the WACE subjects they sit. The Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) calculates the ATAR for WA students.

How long are WA home-education registrations?

Initial registrations are typically 12 months. Renewal continues annually, with the moderator visit each year. Some families establish a stable pattern over several years where the visit becomes a familiar conversation rather than a review.

What does the WA Department want to see in a learning plan?

The eight WA Curriculum learning areas (English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Technologies, Languages) addressed across the registration period, age-appropriate content under each, an indication of resources and approach, and a plan for assessment and record-keeping. WA moderators are practical - they want to see that a coherent program will be delivered, not that you have produced a 40-page document.

What if I move within WA - do I need to re-register?

A change of address within WA is a notification, not a re-registration, but your moderator allocation may change if you cross regional office boundaries. Notify the Department at your earliest opportunity. Interstate moves require a fresh registration with the new state's authority.

Why does the WA Department refuse home-school applications?

The most common reasons are (1) the program is not aligned with the eight WA Curriculum learning areas (typically one learning area, often Languages or Technologies, is missing), (2) the moderator visit reveals a gap between the documented program and what is actually happening at home, (3) inadequate assessment plan, (4) the program is age-inappropriate (too thin for the child's stage), and (5) child welfare or supervision concerns. Most issues are addressed through amendment requests rather than outright refusal. Formal review is available through the Department's internal process and, ultimately, the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).