Home Schooling Consultative Group meeting – 12 June 2025

The chair gave an Acknowledgement of Country and welcomed those in attendance.

The chair also welcomed Tania Thompson who was appointed to the HSCG due to the withdrawal of a previous member at the start of 2025. 

Action arising: Nil. 

Nil disclosures.

Actions arising: Nil.

The chair provided members with an update on the transition of the Home Schooling Unit from NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to the NSW Department of Education. The chair informed members that:

• the existing team has moved from NESA to the NSW Department of Education.
• there have been no changes to processes or policy.
• technology challenges in the first few weeks of transition did impact the work of the team and added to processing time of applications, which is being addressed.
• Sharon Ford has been appointed A/Director of the Home Schooling directorate, and she has been working to ensure a smooth transition.

Members were provided with an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Actions arising: Nil. 

The chair acknowledged that while he was not present at the meeting on 4 December 2024, he could provide an update on the actions arising from the meeting.

1.Item 4 from 4 December 2025: Authorised Persons Briefings 2025

Members were informed that the first AP briefing of the year was held on 7 March 2025 and the theme was “Secondary Education”. The chair noted that the Department will be incorporating the previous feedback from the HSCG when planning future AP briefings for 2025.

2.Item 8 from 4 December 2025: General Business (iii. Terms of HSCG Members proposal)

Members were advised that on 26 February 2025 letters were sent to relevant members of the HSCG whose terms were due to expire. These letters invited them to extend their membership for a second and final term. All members accepted the offer of extension.

3.Item 8 from 4 December 2025: General Business (iv. HSCG Self-assessment questionnaire) 

The chair noted that the questionnaire was sent to members on 13 December 2024 and that the results would be discussed in item 5 of today’s agenda.

Actions arising: Nil. 

Members received a summary of responses to the self-assessment questionnaire. Feedback on the Terms of Reference for the HSCG and the administration of HSCG meetings was consistently positive.

Key themes from the future-focused section included:

• additional training for Authorised Persons regarding supporting children with diverse learning needs,
• staff training on religious and cultural diversity, and
• continued delivery of the webinar series for home schooling applicants.

Members were invited to ask questions and share feedback.

Actions arising: Nil. 

A member of the group has conducted informal research with stakeholders regarding the possibility of introducing a Year 12 Certificate of Completion and outlined possible benefits to such introduction. The member provided the group with an outline of responses to an optional certificate which were either neutral or positive.

The chair thanked the member for their research and asked for it to be submitted to the Home Schooling Unit for further consideration.

Members were provided with an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Actions arising: The member will provide their findings to the Home Schooling Unit for further consideration. 

A member of the committee wished to discuss how engagement by the home schooling community could be increased in any future review of the Guidelines, and the role that the HSCG could play in supporting that.

The Chair acknowledged that based on the time since the last review, the guidelines are due for review, however there are no current plans to do this, as the current focus is on continuing to ensure a smooth transition from NESA to the department. It was also noted that the final report by the NSW Auditor General regarding education in alternative settings may inform the review and that it is prudent to wait for the final report.

Any future review will involve substantial input from the HSCG to identify effective ways to engage the home schooling community.

Actions arising: Nil. 

A member raised the matter of current processing times for applications. Some suggestions were made by the group, including the use of provisional registration from the time an application is received, as a way to mitigate the impact of extended timeframes on home schooling applicants.

The Chair advised that the goal was to quickly reduce the current wait time to reduce any concern or distress some applicants may be experiencing while waiting for their application to be processed. The Chair provided members with an overview of the strategies being used to reduce the current waiting times for applicants.

The A/Director also noted that discussions are underway to explore ways to reduce application processing bottlenecks during peak periods, and that this is the preferred option.

Actions arising: The department will continue to closely monitor assessment timeframes and further consider the impact on families and possible measures to alleviate this issue.

The A/Director advised members that time-limited strategies have been implemented to support applicants affected by the recent floods in NSW. These include conducting assessments via video call when Authorised Persons are unable to access homes due to flood-related disruptions or damage.

A member shared anecdotal feedback that some in the community are unhappy with shorter approval periods following video call assessments. The A/Director acknowledged the concern, noting it was a balanced response to the natural disaster, and that impacted applicants had been contacted directly in each case.

Members discussed the possibility of developing a consistent strategy that can be implemented during any future situation that requires an exception to established processes.

Actions arising: Nil.

Members were provided with an overview of the resources that are available on the home schooling website including materials from the department. These materials will be easier to access with direct links from the home schooling website.

Some positive feedback was provided about the webinars conducted last year and their continuation into 2025. These webinars were very well received. Members were invited to provide input on possible areas to cover and ways of increasing engagement.

Actions arising: Nil.

Members were provided with an overview of data regarding home schooling registration numbers in NSW, including:  

• as of 31 December 2024, there had been an increase of just over 5% in the number of children registered for home schooling compared to 31 December 2023.
• in 2024 there were almost 1000 more applications compared to 2023.
• applications for a Certificate of Completion of Year 10 in 2024 decreased compared to 2023.

Members were also advised that the annual home schooling data report will be published shortly.

Actions arising: Nil.

A member of the committee asked if the HSCG could get an update on the work of the HSU/TAFE working group.

A member requested that the group revisit the potential for dual enrolment for home schooling children at a future HSCG meeting.

The group was also advised that an update regarding NESA’s Curriculum Reform parent roundtable will be provided at the next HSCG meeting.

Actions arising: 

• A member of the TAFE working group will be invited to the next HSCG meeting.
• An HSCG member will provide a summary of the most recent NESA Parent Roundtable discussion.
• Members will also be invited to raise possible agenda items as per normal processes before the next meeting.