Office of the Education Registrar - Winter Newsletter

Should I pay an online education provider?

When you go online to research Home Education in Australia, you will find many providers who charge for providing what they may call “a full solution” for home education: providing your child with formal online learning and grading their work.

If you are a parent starting to home educate your children, you naturally might feel that you have to reproduce a school environment at home, and that these online programs will do that for you. 

However, in Tasmania, a home education program must qualify as “a broad and rich program,” which is “primarily provided by the parent”. This means that a program purchased from an online provider is not enough on its own to meet the Standards for home education registration.

A rich program can include online learning, but it would also include things like hands-on learning, learning discussions with you as the educator, practical and cultural activities, excursions, engagement with the home education community, and engagement with the wider community. 

Many of us remember that much of our learning at school was “bookwork” – formal written work done seated at a desk. We might feel that we have to reproduce that in the home, which can feel daunting. 

A home education program does not have to be the same as a school.  In fact, if you try to make it the same as a school, you may struggle with getting your children engaged. 

The concept of a rich program can take some pressure off you as a home educating parent, because you can start to see that many activities, such as following the child’s interests and strengths, and daily activities you do in and around the home, can be learning opportunities, which all form part of your home education program. 

If you feel that your child would genuinely learn best by using an online program, you can certainly use that.

However, you must still add to this program by providing diverse learning opportunities, and you must oversee their work as the home educator, keeping up with their daily work, discussing it with them, evaluating their progress, selecting the work they will do next, and helping them learn.  

Your own process of evaluation will also help you to know whether the online learning is working for your child. 

If you feel you need some expert help in some subjects as your children get older, there are other methods than a full online program. This might include engaging a tutor in certain subjects, or a part-time enrolment at  school. 

It is useful to research google “styles of home education”, and to read about the many styles of approved home education which draw on everyday life and are very different to the formal pattern of “schoolwork is bookwork”. 

Also, connecting with the home education community locally and around Tasmania, on Facebook and through email lists can be a great way to learn about different methods and resources.  Home educating families can be a wealth of knowledge on styles of home education and how to put together a strong program, and most are happy to share knowledge and experience. 

If you would like a list of contacts in the Tasmanian home education community, we can help. Please email registrar@oer.tas.gov.au and request a copy of the document Home Education Networks. 

The internet is central to the lives of many young people—helping them to learn, develop skills, connect with others, and relax. But it’s important for home educators to be aware of safety risks, such as online child grooming.

What is child grooming?

Grooming is when a person tries to build a trusting relationship with children or families with the goal of committing sexual abuse. A groomer may be an adult—or under 18 and targeting a younger child. Online grooming is illegal; you should report it to the police and the platform where it took place.

While grooming can occur in-person, it increasingly happens online. So, it’s vital for home educators to develop an understanding of digital safety.  

What are some common grooming tactics to look out for?

Be aware that groomers often use sophisticated strategies, including:

• Joining websites, chat rooms or apps children are likely to use.
• Impersonating a young person, celebrity, or trusted figure.
• Using ‘in game’ chat functionality on gaming platforms. 52% of young people have played online games with strangers.
• Using personal information to develop a connection, build secrecy, and distance a child from their support networks.
• Sharing sexually explicit material and/or requesting the child do the same.
• Using threats, gifts, bribes or fake modelling offers to manipulate a child.

Advice for home educators of children aged 5-12

The eSafety Commissioner provides online safety advice for various age groups. Recommendations for guardians of children aged 5-12 include: keeping the computer/digital device in an area where you can supervise its use, and considering if your child is ready to use social media. The eSafety Guide offers age recommendations for websites/apps and lists their risks.

Advice for home educators of young people

As children grow older, it’s best to focus on positive, open communication about online safety, rather than relying on  parental control tools to filter or block content. Such tools can increase the risk for young people over 14 as they don’t encourage the development of independent online safety skills. The eSafety Commissioner recommends guardians of children aged 13-17 encourage the use of screen names that don’t reveal personal information (e.g., full name, age or location). For further advice, refer to the Commissioner’s online safety basics page.

These sessions were such a hit earlier this year, with amazing feedback that we are planning on running some more seminars with Alison Hopwood and Catherine Silcock in October and November 2023.

SAVE THE DATE!!

Alison Hopwood - October 23 at 7pm

Catherine Silcock - November 6 at 7pm

Registration and topic details are to come!

This first anthology of creative writing from southern Tasmanian home education students was compiled by Fiona Lohrbaecher and cover design by Meg Baehr. 

Fiona's beautiful introduction in the anthology details how the name for the book was created. 

"When thinking of a title, my son said that it should reflect the nature of home education, of unique individuals, working in their own way, coming together to create something special. And I wanted it to reflect Tasmania.

Hence Archipelago of Dreams.

An archipelago is a group of islands, each with their own individual shape and identity but forming a larger unit. Tasmania is composed of many small islands as well as the main one. 

And dreams?

Dreams are born in the mind; magical worlds in which anything can happen, realistic or fantastical. And that reflects the work in this volume, born from the minds of home educated students".

If you would like your very own copy of this beautifully presented and inspiring creative works, please email Fiona at fiona.lohrbaecher@gmail.com 

The cost is $20 with $5 Postage 

The Great Hedgehog Queen 

A Villanelle 

All knowing is she, the Great Hedgehog Queen. 
All thumbs are fingers, fingers aren't all thumbs. 
This information from her I did glean. 

Man's best invention is the trampoline, 
Such great truths she sings as she plays her drums. 
All knowing is she, the Great Hedgehog Queen. 

All pretty ladies, who in town are seen, 
In truth are shapeshifters who hunt cake crumbs. 
This information from her I did glean. 

One plus eleven is indeed fifteen, 
My brain expands as she teaches me sums. 
All knowing is she, the Great Hedgehog Queen. 

All good children are heard but never seen, 
English's best word is strangbamagelums. 
This information from her I did glean. 

Fools say her intellect is not so keen, 
Liars like that shall never be my chums. 
All knowing is she, the Great Hedgehog Queen, 
This information from her I did glean. 

by Ahren Lohrbaecher 

*reproduced with the permission from  Ahren Lohrbaecher