Homeschooling in Australia
Homeschooling is legal in every Australian state and territory. Each one runs its own registration, so the rules your family follows depend on where you live.
This guide covers who you register with in each state, what registration involves, how an online school fits in, where to sit A Level exams, and how A Level results become a selection rank for Australian universities.
Cognia-accredited online school Approved Pearson Edexcel centre, International GCSE to A Level
- Legal in every state and territory
- Each state runs its own registration
- 13,894 registered in Queensland in August 2026
- A Levels convert to a university selection rank
Is homeschooling legal in Australia?
Yes. Every state and territory allows home education, and each has its own law, registration authority and requirements.
There's no national home education law. A child of compulsory school age has to be enrolled at a registered school or registered for home education in the state or territory where they live. Compulsory school age starts at 5 or 6 and ends at 17 or 18, depending on the state.
The most recent national count found 42,452 children registered for home education in 2022, up 110% since 2018. The researchers, Couper and Harding (2024), note that those figures leave out families who don't register.
State data shows the rise has continued. Queensland counted 13,894 registered students on 7 August 2026, up from 11,800 a year earlier, and registrations in secondary year levels almost doubled between 2022 and 2026, according to the Queensland Department of Education.
What this means for families using an online school
CambriLearn isn't a registered school in any Australian state, so a child who lives in Australia needs home education registration alongside their CambriLearn enrolment.
How NSW describes the enrolment dutyRegister, then build your plan around your courses
Most states let families choose their own materials, so CambriLearn's courses can form the core of your educational program. The plan still has to meet your state's requirements, such as the NSW syllabuses or Victoria's eight learning areas.
The parent stays responsible
Home education means the parent takes responsibility for the child's education. In Queensland, home education is provided by a parent or a Queensland registered teacher, so the parent remains accountable for the program even when an online school teaches the lessons.
Families on temporary visas
Many temporary visas carry condition 8517, which requires adequate arrangements for the education of school-age children who are in Australia for more than three months. Queensland's Department of Education says families with this condition must meet the state's compulsory schooling requirements, so check your visa conditions before you start.
Families who move between states or countries
Registration belongs to the state you live in, so a move means registering again. Your CambriLearn enrolment carries on without a break.
Exams and qualifications for home educated students in Australia
Home educated students can work towards a state senior certificate or an international qualification, sat as a private candidate at an exam centre.
| Route | Awarded by | How it works | Used for | At CambriLearn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State senior certificate (HSC, VCE, QCE, WACE, SACE, TCE) | The state's curriculum authority | Eligibility for home educated students differs by state. In the Northern Territory, home education students don't receive the NTCET | A direct ATAR | Not offered |
| Cambridge International GCSE, AS and A Level | Cambridge International | Sat as a private candidate at an approved Cambridge centre that accepts private candidates, in May/June or October/November | A selection rank for Australian universities, and universities abroad | Taught on the International British Curriculum |
| Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and A Level | Pearson Edexcel | Sat as a private candidate at a Pearson centre in Australia that accepts them | A selection rank for Australian universities, and universities abroad | Taught on the Pearson Edexcel pathway |
| American High School Diploma | Score Academy Online, a Cognia-accredited school | Enrol with the school and complete coursework assessed online | US colleges, and Australian universities alongside SAT, ACT or AP results | Through sister school Score Academy Online on the US K-12 pathway |
Cambridge and Pearson exams in Australia are sat at schools that are approved exam centres. Not every centre accepts private candidates, so confirm a centre and your subjects before your child starts a course, using Cambridge's private candidate guidance and Pearson's centre search. Cambridge runs two series a year, in May/June and October/November, and Pearson Edexcel International A Levels add a January series.
South African families who plan to return home can also follow CAPS or KABV, which lead to the National Senior Certificate through SACAI and are billed in rand. Ask a consultant how exams work from Australia before you choose.
How much does homeschooling cost in Australia?
Home educators don't receive an education allowance from the Australian Government, so families pay for their own courses, books and exams.
See every fee on the pricing pageCambriLearn sets its International GCSE and A Level fees per subject in US dollars, and the same fees apply to families in Australia.
| Level and package | Per subject, per year | Per subject, per month (10 instalments) | Typical year |
|---|---|---|---|
| International GCSE, Standard | $565 | $66.67 | $2,825 for 5 subjects |
| International GCSE, Premium | $1,115 | $131.57 | $5,575 for 5 subjects |
| AS or A Level, Standard | $605 | $71.39 | $1,815 for 3 subjects |
| AS or A Level, Premium | $1,300 | $153.40 | $3,900 for 3 subjects |
Paying for the year upfront costs 15.25% less than ten instalments. A once-off registration fee applies to new enrolments. Textbooks aren't included, and exam entries are paid to the exam centre. CambriCommunity clubs, events and meetups come with every enrolment.
Per year figures are the 2026 fees paid upfront, and monthly figures are the same fees paid in ten instalments. Primary, Lower Secondary, US K-12, CAPS and KABV fees, and the few subjects priced separately, are on the pricing page.
Can home educated students go to university in Australia?
Yes. Students with A Levels apply through the state admissions centres, and their results are converted into a selection rank.
UAC's admission criteriaA selection rank instead of an ATAR
Students with an overseas qualification such as A Levels don't receive an ATAR. The admissions centre or university converts their results into a selection rank, and course offers are based on that rank.
How A Level grades are counted
Universities publish their own conversions. The Australian National University's indicative table scores each grade from A* (6) to E (1) across the best three or four subjects, so a rank of 90 needs 15 points from three subjects, such as AAA. ANU counts only exams taken in the same academic year, apart from one subject from the year before or after. The University of Sydney bases admission on up to four A Level subjects.
Admissions centres
Apply through UAC for New South Wales and the ACT, VTAC for Victoria, QTAC for Queensland, SATAC for South Australia and the Northern Territory, and TISC for Western Australia. The University of Tasmania takes applications directly.
Universities abroad
UK universities accept A Levels through UCAS, and the American High School Diploma from Score Academy Online supports applications to US colleges.
Questions parents ask about homeschooling in Australia
If your question isn't here, a consultant can take you through your options in a fifteen-minute call.
Book a free consultationIs homeschooling legal in Australia?
Yes. Home education is legal in every state and territory, and each runs its own registration. A child of compulsory school age must be enrolled at a registered school or registered for home education in the state where they live.
Who do I register with to homeschool?
It depends on your state: the NSW Department of Education, the VRQA in Victoria, Queensland Home Education, your regional education office in Western Australia, the Department for Education in South Australia, the Office of the Education Registrar in Tasmania, the ACT Education Directorate or the NT Department of Education.
Can my child use an online school instead of registering?
No. CambriLearn isn't a registered school in any Australian state, so a child who lives in Australia needs home education registration too. Families register with their state and use CambriLearn's courses within their educational program.
Do we have to follow the Australian Curriculum?
It depends on the state. Tasmania has no requirement to follow it, Victoria asks for the eight learning areas, NSW programs are based on the NSW syllabuses, Western Australia checks consistency with the Western Australian Curriculum, and the Northern Territory requires programs to meet ACARA requirements.
How long does registration take?
It varies by state. Queensland gives you 60 days' provisional registration once you apply, and the ACT lets you start as soon as you submit a complete application and decides within 28 days. In Western Australia you register within 14 days of leaving a WA school.
Can families on temporary visas homeschool in Australia?
Registration is based on where your child lives. Many temporary visas carry condition 8517, which requires adequate arrangements for the education of school-age children, so check your visa conditions and your state's rules before you start.
Can home educated students get an ATAR?
Students with A Levels or other overseas qualifications don't receive an ATAR. Their results are converted into a selection rank, which universities use in the same way. A state senior certificate such as the HSC or VCE leads to an ATAR, but eligibility for home educated students differs by state.
Where can my child sit A Level exams in Australia?
At a school that's an approved Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel centre and accepts private candidates. Not every centre does, so confirm a centre and your subjects before your child starts a course.
What time are CambriLearn's live lessons in Australia?
Live lessons are timetabled in South African time. Australia is six to nine hours ahead, depending on the state and daylight saving, so lessons fall in the Australian afternoon or evening. Lessons are recorded for students who can't attend.
How much does CambriLearn cost?
International GCSE subjects on the Standard package cost $565 a year each when paid upfront, and AS or A Level subjects cost $605. Exam entries are paid to the exam centre.
Talk to a consultant about your options
Fifteen minutes, no obligation. Tell us your child's age, which state you live in and the qualifications they're aiming for, and a consultant will explain how CambriLearn fits with your state's registration.
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This guide summarises the home education requirements published by each state and territory's registration authority, the national registration figures in Couper and Harding (2024), Issues in Educational Research, volume 34, pages 906 to 927, and Queensland Department of Education data released in September 2026. It is general information rather than legal advice, and requirements change, so check your state authority's current rules before you apply. Last checked 26 September 2026. CambriLearn is Cognia-accredited, an approved Pearson Edexcel centre, and registered with SACAI and the IEB. The US K-12 pathway is delivered through sister school Score Academy Online, which is Cognia-accredited and offers NCAA-approved courses. CambriLearn is not a registered Cambridge school and is not affiliated with Cambridge Assessment International Education.