So you're thinking about home educating your child in Queensland. Maybe you've been considering it for years. Maybe school stopped working last term and you're scrambling to get your child out before things get worse. Maybe a friend mentioned it casually and now you can't stop thinking about it.
Wherever you're starting from, take a breath, you're not the only one. More than 11,800 children are now registered for home education in Queensland, and that number has more than doubled in just a few years. Whatever brought you here, you're in good company.
The registration process is genuinely simpler than most people expect. But like anything involving a government body, it helps to know what's coming before you start. So let's walk through it together , what you need, how it works, and what happens after you hit submit.
Yes, completely. Home education is a legally recognised alternative to school enrolment under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006.
You don't need teaching qualifications. You don't need to be a former teacher. You don't need a special degree. Any parent or legal guardian can apply. The only requirement is that you register with Queensland Home Education (QHE), the body that sits within the Department of Education.
That's it. No special permission, no interviews, no jumping through hoops.
To register your child for home education in Queensland, your child must:
Registration is compulsory for children of compulsory school age (from 6 years and 6 months). For children aged 5½ to 6½, registration is optional but available if you want to start early.
QHE offers two pathways depending on how quickly you need to get going.
This is your "I need to start now" option. Provisional registration lets you begin home educating immediately while you prepare your full application. It's perfect if you need to withdraw your child from school quickly.
Here's how it works:
This is the standard path. You submit a complete application, including your child's proposed educational program and QHE assesses it. Once approved, registration is ongoing, subject to a simple annual report.
Most families end up here either way. The provisional pathway just gives you breathing room to get there at your own pace.
Your application to QHE must include:
You can submit online, by email to homeeducation@qed.qld.gov.au, or by post.
💡 Good to know: If your education plan isn't ready when you apply, that's okay, you can submit the application without it and provide the plan within 28 days. QHE will let you know if anything's missing.
This is the part that worries most parents, but honestly, it's much less daunting than it sounds. QHE wants to see that you've thought about your child's learning and that you can provide a high-quality education. They're not looking for perfection; they're looking for thought and care.
Here's what your plan should cover:
Make it personal. QHE wants to see that you've tailored the plan to your child, their interests, their needs, their abilities. A generic plan that could apply to any kid is the most common reason for a callback.
You don't need to follow the Australian Curriculum exactly. You need to provide a high-quality education, but you have flexibility in how you do it. Many QLD families use a mix of structured programs and child-led learning.
There's no required length. Plans that are 1 page and plans that are 60 pages both get approved. The average is around 6–10 pages, but quality always beats quantity.
Show variety. QHE likes to see a mix of approaches, books, hands-on activities, excursions, online tools, real-world experiences. Your child's life is rich and varied, and your plan should show that.
Gather your documents (birth certificate, declaration form) and start thinking about your educational program. It doesn't need to be perfect before you apply.
On the same day you submit your application to QHE, send a quick email to your child's school to cancel their enrolment. Something simple like:
"Please cancel [child's name]'s enrolment as of [date], as we have registered for home education. Thank you."
Your child cannot be enrolled in school and registered for home education at the same time.
Apply through the QHE online portal, by email, or by post. You'll receive provisional registration as soon as your application is received — typically within a few business days.
If you didn't include your plan with the initial application, you have approximately 28 days to submit it. Email it to homeeducation@qed.qld.gov.au.
QHE will assess your application and educational program. This can take up to 90 days, but your child is provisionally registered and can be learning at home during this time. If anything is missing or unclear, QHE will simply contact you.
Once approved, you'll receive confirmation of your child's full registration. From here, you're legally responsible for providing their education and you're officially part of the growing QLD home ed community.
Once you're registered, here's what life looks like:
That's genuinely it. No surprise inspections, no home visits, no quarterly check-ins.
"Will QHE knock on my door?"
No. Unlike NSW, Queensland doesn't conduct home visits. The annual report is the main check-in point.
"What if my plan gets rejected?"
It almost certainly won't be, but if QHE wants more detail or clarification, they'll contact you and ask. Rejections are rare; revisions are normal. Don't panic if you get a follow-up email.
"Can I start home educating before I'm fully approved?"
Yes. Once you have provisional registration (usually within 2 business days of applying), you can begin straight away. You don't need to wait for full approval.
"Do I need to teach for a set number of hours each day?"
No. Queensland doesn't specify hours. You decide what works for your child and your family.
"What if I'm not confident I can do this?"
Most home ed parents felt exactly the same at the start. You're not alone, and you don't have to figure it out from scratch, there are wonderful support communities (and tools like Apply-ED) designed to help you.
The registration process itself is straightforward, but writing your educational program is where most parents get stuck. You want to get it right, but you're not sure what QHE is actually looking for. The paperwork shouldn't be the thing that stops you from giving your child the education they need.
That's exactly what Apply-ED is built for. Our programs are built on the Australian Curriculum (ACARA v9.0) and tailored specifically for QHE registration. When you create your program through Apply-ED, you'll receive:
Stop stressing about the paperwork. Start focusing on your child's education.
Your program should reflect who your child is. Real children. Real lives. Real learning.
No obligation. No submission on your behalf.
