There’s no set or standardised homeschooling curriculum, however there are requirements which every registered homeschooling student must meet. These include core literacy and numeracy topics, as well as a variety of history, science and HSIE subjects. Many states have their registration linked to the Australian National Curriculum or state variations of this.

This article offers everything you need in order to familiarise yourself with the Australian National Curriculum and state variations. It also suggests ways you can incorporate these into your homeschooling plans.

homeschooling curriculum Australia

What’s the Australian National Curriculum and why is it important for homeschooling?

The Australian National Curriculum details the subjects and topics all Australian students should be taught, regardless of where they live in Australia or the type of schooling they undertake. It’s developed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) in consultation with educators and subject matter experts.

According to ACARA:

The rationale for the introduction of the Australian Curriculum centres on improving the quality, equity and transparency of Australia’s education system.

  • Quality – an Australian Curriculum will contribute to the provision of a world-class education in Australia by setting out the knowledge, understanding and skills needed for life and work in the 21st century and by setting high standards of achievement across the country.
  • Equity – an Australian Curriculum will provide a clear, shared understanding of what young people should be taught and the quality of learning expected of them, regardless of their circumstances, the type of school that they attend or the location of their school.

Many schools follow the Australian National Curriculum, however some states, including NSW, WA and Victoria, incorporate state variations into their syllabi. Some educators believe the standard curriculum is too outcome-focused, so state variations have been developed to shift this focus to what is actually taught.

Meeting state requirements

Even in Queensland, Victoria, ACT and Tasmania, all of which offer more flexibility when it comes to homeschooling programs, authorities generally recommend following state-specific curriculums.

Each state has different homeschooling regulations and requirements.

New South Wales

Queensland

Victoria

Western Australia

South Australia

Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory

Tasmania

Factors to consider when choosing a homeschool curriculum

A curriculum plan is one of the requirements when registering for homeschooling. This can be a duplicate of the national or state curriculums, or you could take a more custom approach (as long as you’re covering the core requirements). This doesn’t need to be a day-by-day, hour-by-hour plan, but more likely will take the form of subjects, literature choices and resources for each.

Many parents choose to homeschool because they believe that teaching and learning isn’t one size fits all, which is why the curriculum you choose needs to be the best match for your child’s needs.

You might also explore an out-of-the-box homeschooling solution, many of which are high quality and developed by education experts, each based on a different approach and teaching philosophy. When choosing one of these, it’s important to consider the following:

  • How many hours per day/days per week do I plan on teaching?
  • What is my teaching philosophy? e.g. Charlotte Mason School of Thought
  • How flexible do I want to be with my scheduling?
  • Which subjects am I comfortable teaching, and which will I need to seek additional support for?
  • Which learning resources will I need to buy in order to deliver this curriculum?
  • Am I looking for a more creative, outdoor or academic approach? Which would best suit my child?
  • Does my child have any special needs?


Cluey homeschooling programs

Our learning programs are based on the Australian National Curriculum but structured to support your child’s individual needs. We take into account your teaching philosophy, as well as your child’s unique requirements to create a custom learning plan which is one hundred percent personalised.

We offer expert tutoring in Maths and English from Years 2-12 and Chemistry for Years 11 and 12. Our programs are tailored to your child’s year level and abilities, and adapt over time as your child progresses.

At the end of every session you’ll receive a report which shows your child’s progress and can form part of your homeschooling records.

Explore primary Maths programs >
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How Cluey's online tutoring programs can support your homeschooling

Cluey’s flexible, online model means that your child can log in to our online learning platform from anywhere, utilising our video, audio and collaborative whiteboard capabilities. You can choose the areas you’d most like to focus on and specify your learning goals. Our programs include unlimited practice questions and your child can submit work for review between sessions. What’s more, you get access to all session recordings to rewatch at any time.

Learn more about homeschooling support with Cluey >>