Tasmanian Home Education Advisory Council

Role

The role of the Tasmanian Home Education Advisory Council (THEAC) is to:

• provide policy advice and information to the Minister in relation to home education
• be responsible for adequate monitoring of home education and to advise on the adequacy of individual programs of home education
• provide a reference point for inquiries regarding home education
• respond to community concerns about home education
• maintain liaison with other agencies on matters regarding home education
• organise ongoing support and assistance to home educators.

Membership

THEAC consists of six members appointed by the Minister for Education, three nominated by home educators and three nominated by the Minister for Education. The 2005 membership was:

Employees

THEAC employs a part-time administration officer and two part-time monitoring officers.

Administration officer

The key function of the administration officer is to provide administrative support and information to THEAC and to execute the decisions of council.

This involves:

• maintaining high levels of responsibility and confidentiality to successfully handle sensitive issues and personal information
• managing all office procedures, facilitating advice and support to home educators and performing such other duties as the council may from time to time determine
• representing the role and function of THEAC in good faith amongst home educators and the wider community
• working independently and exercising initiative, discretion and judgement while working to the direction of council and the broad supervision of the chair.

Monitoring officer

The key function of the monitoring officer is to assist council in the monitoring of home education according to the established policies and practices of the council.

This involves:

• high levels of responsibility and confidentiality to successfully handle sensitive issues and personal information
• representing the role and function of THEAC in good faith amongst home educators and the wider community
• working independently and exercising initiative, discretion and judgement while working to the direction of council and the broad supervision of the chair.

Office base

THEAC’s office is at 23 Canning Street, Launceston, Tasmania 7250
Phone/fax 6334 5381
Email: admin@theac.org.au
Website: www.theac.org.au

Charter: purpose and vision

Context

Home education occurs when parents choose to assume responsibility for planning, implementing and evaluating their children’s learning program from the home base. The council has been established by the Minister for Education to assist in the management and support of home education in Tasmania. The role of THEAC is to provide policy advice and information to the Minister in relation to home education.

THEAC accepts responsibility for monitoring new and on-going home education programs for families who have given ‘notification of home education’ and have made themselves available for the monitoring process. In addition, it provides a reference point for queries, responds to community concerns, and maintains liaison with other agencies about home education. The council is not responsible for families who withdraw their children from school, or do not send their children to school and have not given notice of their intention to home educate.

Beliefs and values

THEAC members believe that:

• All children are entitled to receive an adequate and appropriate education, including students who are being home educated.
• Home education is an excellent educational option for many children.
• Home education should continue to be recognised and supported as a legitimate option for education in Tasmania.
• All matters relating to individual circumstances of home educators should be maintained in accordance with the requirements of privacy legislation.
• Monitoring should be unobtrusive and sensitive to differing beliefs and practices, and be undertaken in a spirit of collaboration, support and assistance.
• Home educating parents should be free to choose from a wide variety of resources, commercial programs and curriculum materials in line with their educational values and beliefs.
• THEAC should not favour any particular home education program or curriculum materials.
• THEAC should maintain its independence from the Department of Education, and from any other government agency or non-government affiliation, and be directly responsible to the Minister for Education.

Operating principles

The employees and members of THEAC operate according to the following principles:

• closely apply the home education policy in relation to their work
• maintain a non-intrusive and professional point of reference for all home education queries
• ensure that all families registered with THEAC are adequately monitored in a collaborative manner according to the requirements of the home education policy
• maintain accurate records of matters pertaining to THEAC’s business
• ensure liaison with other agencies and professionals involved with home educators
• respond quickly to inquiries raised about home education either in general or in relation to individual circumstances
• provide accurate and timely information and policy advice to the Minister, as appropriate.

Report on council activities for 2005

Meetings

The council conducted nine regular meetings during the year. The main function of the council meetings was to consider the monitoring reports relating to home educators’ programs and new applications for home education. Two workshops were also arranged, to discuss the administration and management role and function of THEAC and to review and update policies and procedures. The council maintained liaison with the Minister for Education throughout the year.

Registration and monitoring

During 2005, council received notice from parents, on behalf of 164 children, seeking registration as home educators. Together with families with ongoing home education programs, monitoring reports for 393 children from 239 families were prepared, including 30 self-reports. A total of 468 students from 262 families were registered with THEAC as at December 31, 2005.

Policy and procedure issues

• Council clarified with branch directors the procedure to be followed if a school attendance issue is outstanding in relation to a parent registering for home education.
• Clarification of ‘parent’ in THEAC documentation occurred.
• THEAC Manual was drafted, confirmed and completed. This brings all THEAC policies, procedures and documents together in one manual. This is for use by council members and staff, ensuring all have latest documents. The manual will be regularly updated.
• An information fact sheet was developed to provide a summary of THEAC’s role and responsibilities on home education in Tasmania. This is available to assist in any enquiries that the office may receive.
• Work started on a new registration process, whereby the child’s birth certificate information is used on the notification form.
• Email encryption and signing is to be used where possible to increase security.
• Council approved various terms for use when ‘completion of registration’ occurs.
• Council investigated the requirements in relation to mandatory reporting.
• Part-time enrolment in a college and part-time home education enrolment was investigated and confirmed.

Office and administrative procedures

• The administration officer continued to maintain administrative procedures for THEAC and support for home educators.
• The monitoring officers visited families statewide as requested by council and presented reports on these families to council for consideration. Council members assisted with the monitoring process as required.
• To address the increased demand for monitoring visits due to the increase in short-term registrations and changed council procedures, a second part-time monitoring officer was appointed in 2005, based in the south of the state.
• THEAC received 175 requests for its information kits during the year.
• A council member maintained the THEAC website, reviewing and updating regularly.
• The Minister’s office and branch offices continued to be advised regularly of families who either register for or cease home education. Families are advised of this procedure when they register.
• A council member took the role of personnel manager for THEAC employees.
• A council member took the role of treasurer for THEAC finances.

Monitoring policy and procedures

• Flow charts were developed in the areas of monitoring procedures and completion of registration.
• Monitoring officers attended personal development on ‘my futures’ and career pathway planning.

Public and Professional Relations

• The council maintained liaison with various government departments, including the Department of Education, in particular the branch offices, in carrying out its support for home educators.
• The council continued to disseminate information both within the community at large and the community of home educators throughout the state.
• Notices about home education were placed in the Back to School supplement in regional newspapers at the beginning of the year.
• Two council members presented a lecture on home education in Tasmania and the role of THEAC to the first year Bachelor of Education students at the university campus in Launceston.
• An information session for intending home educators was held in Hobart and Launceston.
• Two afternoon tea/home education gatherings occurred in Hobart and Launceston.

Support for home educating families

• Many home educators continued to use resources from Distance Education to supplement their programs.
• Several home educators participated in the government schools benchmarks testing.
• Five newsletters were published for home educators over the year and provided on the THEAC website. These newsletters provided information updates and were used to continue a supportive liaison between the council and home educators.
• The resource library was reviewed/upgraded and restocked.

Financial report

A financial report for the period July 2004 to June 2005 has been presented to the Minister for Education.