Homeschool Australia Teach Your Children at Home

Information and resources for South Australian families interested in educating their children at home.

Home Education Association: South Australian Group

South Australian members of the Home Education Association are invited to join the SA Chapter of the HEA. We keep in touch via our own yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SAChapterHEA/

It is a friendly on-topic mailing list where we discuss any aspect of home education in South Australia, plan activities and events that support and promote the option of homeschooling, as well as helping to build the Home Education Association of Australia. To belong to this group you need to be a financial HEA member living in South Australia. Membership is by invitation only. Please email Beverley with your HEA membership number to receive an invitation join.

Home Education SA Yahoo Group

If you are interested in meeting other homeschoolers and going on educational and social excursions, please think about joining the very active and friendly Yahoo group for South Australian home educators: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/home-education-sa/
Your inquiry and questions will be quickly answered. There are dozens of active members on the list experienced with all aspects of home education, including getting approval for exemption from attending school, answering doubts about socialisation, different home education approaches, where to find resources and educational materials, etc. Check out the files and database sections for dozens of articles and links to other great homeschooling resources.
"Thank you everyone - I was very encouraged by your emails. I'm loving this group, wish I'd found it months ago." Deb

HBLSA Newsletter
Home Based Learners of SA Newsletter is a 'non-profit' cooperative effort by homeschoolers to help families in South Australia (and beyond) stay in touch with each other and share information about activities and events local resources.

The newsletter is published monthly in print and online format. For subscription details please visit: http://www.hblsa.com/

The newsletter is the best way to stay in touch with what is happening in South Australia with homeschooling. It contains a list of activities for the coming term and is a valuable networking tool. Please support and use the newsletter by sending news, announcements and information about useful resources to the editor for publication.

Cynthia, the new editor would love to hear from you! Articles and items for inclusion in the newsletter are welcome: email to cynth70@aapt.net.au .

SA Homeschool Camps
Different families organise several homeschooling camps each year. Camps are fantastic ways to get to know other homeschoolers and make friends. Please join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SAHomeschoolCamps for more information and past and future camps.
The following articles are provided to help families organise and prepare for homeschooling camps. If you like quality time with other homeschoolers why not get together with some friends and organise a homeschooling camp?

Information about organising homeschooling camps can be found in the e-booklet Homeschool Camps by Beverley Paine.

Ashton Scholastic Book Club
The book club has been split into separate clubs for the different metropolitan areas. Please post an inquiry to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/home-education-sa/
to find out who to contact in your area. It may take a day or two to receive a reply from the coordinator in your area. If you don't receive a reply, please ask again.

Getting Approval to Home Educate in SA
Families interested in teaching their children at home are urged to obtain a copy of the Education Act and Children's Services Act and become familiar with the regulations that apply to school attendence. Information about applying for exemption from attendance at school can be found on the Department of Education and Children's Services.

Home Education in South Australia

Getting Started with Homeschooling in SA

Application For Exemption from Attendance at School

Many families in South Australia apply for exemption from attending school and are member of the online support group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/home-education-sa/
The group is a good source of up-to-date information about families' experiences with this process. Read through the archived messages or send a post to the group introducing yourself and asking any questions that you may have.

Curriculum

See Beverley Paine's excellent Australian Home School Curriculum for information on getting started with homeschooling, how to write your own curriculum, checklists, ideas and more. Beverley continues to add to this site and welcomes your feedback and input.
Need to find a homeschool supplier in Australia?
Want to buy text books and student work books locally?
Looking for secondhand and pre-loved educational resources?
SA Curriculum Guidelines
Interesting places to visit in South Australia by subject...

South Australian Network Library
The South Australian Network Library is a free service and is a part of the SA Home Ed yahoo support group. The library database on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/home-education-sa/database is available to all members, who can upload a description of any book they wish to add to the library, or peruse to find books they'd like to borrow. To borrow a book, please contact the owner of the book listed on the database and arrange pickup/postage and return deliver.
To become a member of the library you need to become a member of the Yahoo group. You can elect to not receive emails posted to the list and simply use the library or other resources on the site if you wish.

Research on Home Education in Australia
Glenda Jackson has complied a very thorough summary paper on research on home education in Australia.

Community Information Services Australia Inc has launched a new website called SAcommunity, with links to sites such as Eventspool, Infosearch, Commonwealth Carelink, etc.

Charlotte Mason Support Group
Mason was an British educator who emphasized the use of whole, living books, nature study and the humanities. Our group is for parents interested in sharing their ideas on homeschooling with a CM flavour. Meetings commence sharply at 2.00 pm and finish promptly at 4.00 pm. Group Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CatholicUnschooling/

For those interested there's info on the ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research) site regarding the national tests conducted and some sample tests for different year levels. www.acer.edu.au/tests/schools/lanna/intro.html Thanks Tina for this information!

Child and Youth Health (CYH) offer free screening done by CYH for all 4-5 year olds. This includes weight, height, hearing and vision testing. It takes about 30 minutes. Just book in at your local CYH centre.

Home Education Australia
National association that organises national conferences together with Education Choices: http://www.hea.asn.au/

UnschoolKidz
A place for homeschooled children to share stories, jokes, games etc. By homeschoolers for homeschoolers! No longer accepting contributions but still available for viewing. Contributions welcome for the HEA online magazine!
http://unschoolkidz.beverleypaine.com/

Opportunities for Part Time School / Homeschool in SA

After 20 years of being a contact and support person Beverley no longer takes phone call or email inquiries. Please join one of her yahoo groups if you want to know more about homeschooling or have a question.