Support and Services
Support
Home education in the ACT is supported by the ACT Department of Education and Training and through a number of community groups.
ACT Education and Training Directorate
220 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon ACT 2612
GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601
Contacts details
Educational Performance
Responsible for the administration of a range of assessment and reporting programs including National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
Phone: (02) 6205 7374
Fax: (02) 6205 8353
Email: assessment.reporting@act.gov.au
ACT Junior Secondary Bursary Scheme
ACT resident home educated students in the equivalent of years 7 to 10 may be eligible for assistance under the ACT Junior Secondary Bursary Scheme.
For further information please contact:
Phone: (02) 6205 9300
Curriculum documentation
The curriculum documentation for schools is available for use or as a resource from the Publications page or the Curriculum page.
Community Groups
Christian Home Education in Canberra (CHEC) is an ecumenical Christian support network for home educators in Canberra and surrounding areas. CHEC provides opportunities to meet informally for social outings, as well as to organise learning opportunities through excursions etc. A quarterly newsletter is published for members.
Website: www.chec.org.au
Email: info@chec.org.au
Home Education Network Canberra and Southern Tablelands Inc. (HENCAST ) is an informal network providing mutual support and opportunities for home educating families from the ACT and surrounding region. Group members often arrange social events and educational activities such as tours to places of interest. Events are publicised in the bi-monthly newsletter.
Email: HENCAST-Info@yahoogroups.com
Website: http://www.hencast.org.au 
The Home Education Association Inc. Australia (HEA) was formed to support, promote and encourage the practice of home education in Australia. The Association can be contacted at:
The Secretary
Home Education Association Inc.
PO BOX 245
PETERSHAM NSW 2048
Phone: 1300 729 991
Email: admin@hea.edu.au
Website: www.hea.edu.au
Services
Home educated students are eligible for a MyWay concession pass for student travel on ACTION buses.
Students may access the application form for a Myway card at:
https://forms.act.gov.au/smartform/public/FormServer?formId=1043
This form requires the home education applicant to:
1. identify the education institution: ‘ home schooling’
2. provide a 7 digit student ID number (If the Student ID number is 6 digits - place a zero before the number). I.D. numbers are provided to home educators on letters confirming registration of students.
3. provide date of birth
For further information please contact the Assistant Manager (Home Education). Phone (02) 6205 9299 or email: det.ngso@act.gov.au.
National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
The National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is used in ACT government and non-government schools to assess children in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 against nationally recognised benchmarks.
Home educators are eligible to nominate their child every second year. As a guide, most children in year 3 have their 9th birthday, in year 5 their 11th birthday, in year 7 their 13th birthday and they turn 15 years of age in year 9. It is recognised that there are children younger and older than their age cohort in each educational level.
Further information on the NAPLAN program is included in the department's information on Year K-10 Assessment and Reporting or by contacting the Manager, Educational Performance on (02) 6205 0970.
School Sport ACT
The ACT Schools Sports Council is chartered by ACT education providers to organise school sport. ACT schools are divided into four zones in the secondary sector and seven in the primary sector, catering for 60 000 students across the ACT.
On presentation of the current home education certificate, home educated children are able to obtain affiliation with the ACT Primary Schools Sports Association or the ACT Secondary Schools Sports Association for a nominal annual fee. This entitles children to participate in a range of sporting events planned for ACT school children at the zone, region and ACT representative level.
Parents should contact the Executive Officer of the ACT Schools Sports Council for more details or general information. The current sporting event calendar is available online at www.schoolsportact.asn.au
Executive Officer
ACT Schools Sports Council
School Sport Centre
Higgins Primary School
Fullagar Crescent
Higgins ACT 2614
Phone: (02) 6205 9174
Fax: (02) 6205 7799
Email: ssact@bigpond.com
Schools and Community Centre, University of Canberra
The Schools and Community Centre is a joint project of the University of Canberra and the Directorate. Parents as Tutors is an intensive program for parents and their children who are having difficulties with literacy learning. Access to the program is limited and generally arranged by referral from a school or through counselor services. Fees apply to cover the contribution towards materials. Home educators should contact the university on (02) 6201 2453.
Country areas program website
http://www.cap.nsw.edu.au
The objective of the NSW Department of Education country areas program is to contribute to the enhancement of the learning outcomes for students in geographically isolated areas so that their learning outcomes match those of other students.
This website contains links to resources including units of work on a range of topics and information on models of learning.
School dental and medical services
The dental health program is available to all ACT residents by contacting ACT Health.
Belconnen Health Centre (02) 6205 1541
Civic Health Building (02) 6205 0977
Phillip Health Centre (02) 6205 1463
Tuggeranong Health Centre (02) 6205 2768
Immunisation programs are accessed through Maternal and Child Health on (02) 6207 9977 or the Immunisation Inquiry Line (02) 6205 2155.
Screening and developmental checks are accessed through Maternal and Child Health on (02) 6207 9977.
After school care programs
The services are generally located in hired facilities co-located in a school environment. This service would require negotiation with individual local operators on a fee for service basis.
School based activities
Music ensembles, swim programs, school concerts, student performances or visiting performers are school based activities planned and operated by individual schools. Involvement in any particular activity would require negotiation with the principal at each school on a case by case basis.
