Homeschooling in Australian Capital Territory
Home education is legal in the ACT, regulated under Chapter 5 of the Education Act 2004 by the ACT Education Directorate (contact HomeEd@act.gov.au).
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At the February 2025 ACT schools census, 571 children and young people were registered for home education — an increase of 15.4% since February 2024.
Source ↗ · February 2025
What's expected of your program
No particular curriculum is required. The Directorate 'encourages' parents to be aware of, and to model their program on, the Australian Curriculum; the Act itself requires the program to deliver 'a high-quality education'.
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Your checklist to register
- A registration form, with a certified copy of your child's birth certificate or passport and proof of ACT residency.
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- A written plan documenting the educational opportunities offered to the child and the teaching strategies used — due within 3 months of initial registration.
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The timeline that matters
Registration is granted for up to 2 years (you can request a shorter period). A decision on a new application must be made within 28 days, and renewals must be lodged at least 3 months before the current registration expires.
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Give the Directorate a Progress Report on your child's education once every year, including as part of any renewal.
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Confirm every detail on the official Australian Capital Territory page
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