School is not compulsory, however children of compulsory school age must be able to access an education. Compulsory school age is defined in the NSW Education Act 1990 and the ACT Education Act 2004.
Parents may choose to take responsibility for their child's education, organising resources, opportunities and assistance themselves.
Parents decide to home educate for a range of reasons. The decision may be based on the belief, religious or otherwise, that they, as parents, should be deeply involved in the education and development of their children. It can also be based on a life philosophy that home education will provide the best opportunities for the child and better meet the child's developmental needs. When a child is unhappy at school, or particular needs cannot be met at school, home education may be an option to consider. No decision need be permanent. A child can move between educational settings, perhaps home educating for just a while, or continuing through to tertiary options or the workforce.
Home education is conducted in a myriad of ways, reflecting such factors as families' values, beliefs, interests, learning styles, and available resources. A home education may be quite different from school, hence our preference for the term 'Home Education'. Unlike distance education, home educating families source or create their own learning materials and opportunities.
Home education is legal in all states of Australia but each state has its own legislative requirements.