Yes. Home Education is legal to practice in Australia.

There is provision in the Education Act of each state and territory in Australia for parents or guardians of children between the ages 5-6 to a registration period including over 17 years of age.

Here is a list of all the legislation and regulations that determine your rights as a home educator.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

• Home education in the ACT is regulated by the Education Act 2004, Chapter 5 and in Education Regulation 2005 Part 4.

New South Wales (NSW)

• Education Act 2009 Part 5, Part 7 Subdivision 5 & 6, and Part 9.
• Education Regulations 2017 Part 2

Queensland (QLD)

• Education and Training Reform Act 2006 Section 493 and 495 and Chapter 9 Part 5
• Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 Part 6 & 12

Victoria (VIC)

• Education Act 2006
• Home schooling – as form of compulsory attendance at school 2.1.1 – disclosure of information regarding 4.9.4 – information for school attendance officers 5.8.5 – protection of details of students registered for 4.9.1- registration of students for 4.3.9 – review of decisions regarding 4.8.1

Tasmania (TAS)

• Education Act 2016 Division 7
• Education Regulations 2017 SCHEDULE 1 – Standards for Approved Home Education Programs

South Australia (SA)

• Education Act 1972 – In this state it is required that all students be enrolled in a school before applying for exemption from attending school for the provisions of a home education. See here for a link to the appropriate state home education information.

Western Australia (WA)

• School Education Act 1999 – Division 6

Northern Territory (NT)

• Education Act 2015 – Section 46
• Education Regulations 2015 Section 12

There is an academic resource by Glenda Jackson and Sonia Allan, published 2010 which discusses issues of registration and legislation in Australia on home education.

Ed Consult. Supporting Home Educators Across Australia.