How to Register for Home Schooling in NSW: A Step-by-Step Guide

So you're thinking about home schooling your child in New South Wales. Maybe you've been weighing it up for a while. Maybe school has stopped working and you need to make a change. Maybe a friend mentioned it casually and now you can't stop thinking about it.

Wherever you're starting from, you're in good company. In 2024, NSW recorded 12,762 home schooling registrations, more than double the number recorded in 2019.

NSW home schooling registration requires a planned educational program based on the relevant NESA syllabuses, along with an assessment visit by an Authorised Person. For many families, preparing that program is one of the more time-consuming parts of the application.

So let's walk through it together, what you need, how it works, and what to expect from the famous Authorised Person visit.

💡 Quick update: Home schooling regulation in NSW is now administered by the NSW Department of Education. The current Guidelines for Home Schooling Registration in NSW remain in effect while the department finalises its new policy and procedures following the 2026 consultation.

🐨 Is home schooling legal in NSW?

Yes, completely. Home schooling is provided for under Part 7, Subdivision 5 of the Education Act 1990. The Act explicitly recognises that the education of a child is primarily the responsibility of the child's parents.

You don't need teaching qualifications. You don't need a degree. Any parent or legal guardian can apply.

There's one important quirk in NSW you need to know about up front: you must be registered before you withdraw your child from school. Your child has to stay enrolled until your registration is approved. (This is different from Queensland, where you can apply and start at the same time.)

✅ Who is eligible?

To register your child for home schooling in NSW:

🎂 Children aged 6 to 17 must be either enrolled in school or registered for home schooling, it's compulsory
👶 Optional registration is available for children turning 5 by 31 July in the year of application
🎓 Children may be registered up to age 18 and, where needed, for a continued period of up to 2 years to complete their planned educational program based on NESA syllabuses
⚖️ If there's a court order relating to parental responsibility, a copy must be included with your application

📋 How NSW differs from other states

If you've heard about home education in QLD, VIC, or WA, take note, NSW does things a bit differently:

🏫 You must be registered before you can withdraw your child from school. Your child stays at school until registration is approved
🚪 An Authorised Person (AP) will visit your home. This is a face-to-face assessment, not just a paper review. Don't panic, we'll cover what to expect below
📚 Your program must be based on NSW syllabuses. You have flexibility in how you teach, but your program needs to align with NESA's syllabus outcomes
📅 Registration periods vary. The maximum registration period is 2 years, although new applicants are generally granted a shorter period

None of this is a deal-breaker, it just means a bit more preparation up front. Which is exactly what this guide is for.

📦 What you'll need before you apply

Before submitting your application, get these ready:

👤 Your child's details: full name, date of birth, current school (if enrolled)
🪪 Supporting documents: your child's birth certificate or other identity document, plus two documents confirming the NSW residential address where home schooling will take place
⚖️ Court orders: if applicable to parental responsibility
📚 Your educational program: this is the most important part (more on this in a moment)
📓 A plan for recording learning: how you'll track activities and progress
🏠 A suitable learning area: a description of where learning will happen and what resources you have

🪜 How to apply

You can apply online through the Home Schooling Platform. A separate application is required for each child. If you prefer not to use the platform, you can also download the relevant application form and email it to the Home Schooling Directorate.

There are two types of applications:

Initial registration: for a child who has never been registered for home schooling
Renewal of registration: for a child who has been registered before (use this even if previous registration lapsed years ago)

You can submit your application:

💻 Online through the Home Schooling Platform
✉️ By email to homeschooling@det.nsw.edu.au if using a downloadable application form
📞 Contact the Home Schooling Directorate on 02 8340 8510 if you need help submitting an application

💡 Important timing tip: The Department advises that the process may take up to 12 weeks from application to receipt of a registration certificate, although it often takes less time. If your child is of compulsory school age, they must remain enrolled in and attending school until registration is approved.

📚 Writing your educational program

This is where most NSW parents feel the pressure and where getting it right matters most. Your educational program must be based on the relevant NESA syllabuses and meet the minimum NSW curriculum requirements for your child's stage of learning. If you'd rather not build the whole thing from scratch, you can also see our personalised NSW home schooling program.

Key Learning Areas you must cover

Primary (K–6):

📖 English
🔢 Mathematics
🔬 Science and Technology
🌏 Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE)
🎨 Creative Arts
⚽ Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)

Secondary (7–10):

📖 English
🔢 Mathematics
🔬 Science
🌏 Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) — one syllabus from this key learning area
➕ Two additional syllabuses, each chosen from a different key learning area from Creative Arts, PDHPE, Languages or Technology

Within those elective key learning areas, parents can choose from the relevant NESA syllabuses available for their child's stage. The selected subjects may also change from one year to the next during Years 7–10.

What makes a strong educational program

📌 Use the relevant NESA syllabuses. Identify the appropriate stage and use relevant syllabus outcomes and/or content when planning your child's educational program. Where new syllabuses have been introduced through NSW Curriculum Reform, use the syllabus required for the applicable implementation year.
💛 Personalise it to your child. Show that you've thought about their specific needs, interests, and learning style
📦 Be specific about resources. Name the books, programs, websites, and materials you'll use for each learning area
🎯 Describe your approach. Explain how your child will learn, structured lessons, hands-on projects, excursions, online courses, or a mix
📓 Include your recording method. Explain how you'll keep records of learning and track progress

🚪 The Authorised Person (AP) visit - what to actually expect

Let's address the elephant in the room. The AP visit is the part that worries most NSW parents, but it's much less intimidating than it sounds.

The Authorised Person's assessment focuses on your child's educational program and whether the registration requirements are, or could be, met. They will discuss your program and records with you, review the home learning environment and sight your child. They do not assess your child.

✅ Your program covers the required learning areas
✅ It's based on NSW syllabuses
✅ You have resources and a suitable learning space
✅ You have a plan for recording learning
✅ You've thought about your child's individual needs

Your child must normally be sighted during the visit, but the Authorised Person does not assess your child.

Before the visit

📖 Read through your educational program so you can discuss it confidently
📚 Have your resources, books, and materials visible and accessible
🏠 Set up your learning space so the AP can see it
👥 Consider having a support person present, an experienced home schooler or someone from the HEA can sit in with you

During the visit

💬 The AP will discuss your educational program with you
📋 They'll look at how it aligns with NSW syllabuses
🏠 They'll look at your learning space and resources
👋 They'll sight your child, but they do not assess your child

The visit is a conversation, not an exam.

After the visit

📝 The AP makes a recommendation to the Department of Education
⏱️ Their recommendation will specify the curriculum level and registration period
📜 You'll receive a Certificate of Registration by email if approved
📅 The recommended registration period will depend on the application and your home schooling history, with a maximum registration period of 2 years

🗓️ After registration: what's required

Once you're registered, here's what life looks like:

📚 Deliver your educational program as outlined in your application
📓 Keep records of learning activities and your child's progress
🔄 Apply for renewal before your registration period expires
📬 Notify the Home Schooling Directorate of any change of address or circumstances

❓ Common worries (answered)

"What if the AP doesn't approve me?"

Most applications are approved, but approval is not automatic. The Authorised Person will assess whether the registration requirements are met and make a recommendation to the Department. If requirements are not met, registration may be refused.

"Do I need a teaching degree?"

No. The Education Act explicitly recognises that parents are responsible for their child's education. You don't need any formal qualifications.

"Can I withdraw my child from school first and apply later?"

No — this is a NSW-specific rule. Your child must remain enrolled in school until your home schooling registration is approved. Plan your timeline around this.

"What if my house isn't 'set up' for home schooling?"

You don't need a Pinterest-perfect classroom. The AP just wants to see that you have a suitable space, resources, and a plan. Your dining table counts.

"Does my child need to participate in the AP assessment?"

Your child must normally be sighted during the home visit, but the Authorised Person does not assess your child.

"What if I'm granted a shorter registration period?"

Registration may be granted for less than the maximum 2-year period. The period recommended will depend on the circumstances of the application and your home schooling history.

📞 Helpful contacts and resources

NSW Department of Education Home Schooling Directorate: Phone 02 8340 8510 or email homeschooling@det.nsw.edu.au
Home Education Association (HEA) NSW: heansw@hea.edu.au — volunteer support for registration questions
HEA Helpline: 1300 72 99 91 — experienced home educators available to help
NSW Government home schooling page: nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling

✨ How Apply-ED can help

That's where Apply-ED can help. For NSW families, our program planning is designed to support the relevant NSW curriculum requirements while still being personalised to your child's stage, strengths, interests and learning needs.

When you create your program through Apply-ED, you'll receive:

🗺️ A one-pager guide: a simple, clear overview that walks you through how to use your program and navigate the NSW registration process
📋 A complete program overview: tailored to your child and structured to support the relevant NSW curriculum requirements and your discussion with the Authorised Person
🗓️ Weekly plans: four detailed plans (one for each 8-week study block) that map out your child's learning week by week, covering what you'll do, what your child will do, and how you'll measure whether the learning was achieved

Stop stressing about the paperwork and the AP visit. Start with a program you can be proud of.

Your program should reflect who your child is. Real children. Real lives. Real learning.

See our personalised NSW home schooling program →