Home Schooling Consultative Group meeting – 20 March 2024
Read the agenda and minutes from the Home Schooling Consultative Group meeting held on Wednesday 20 March 2024, 1.00 pm.
Agenda and minutes
Members
- Lyn Kirkby (Chair)
- Tarek El-Bikai
- Selena Guest
- Adele Latu
- Jo Lloyd
- Rachel Quirk
- Gersha Shteyman
- Sophie Tobler
- Neale Waddy
Date and time: Wednesday 20 March 2024, 1.00 pm.
Location: Meeting at 117 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000.
Present: Lyn Kirkby (Chair), Tarek El-Bikai, Selena Guest, Adele Latu, Jo Lloyd, Rachel Quirk, Gersha Shteyman, Sophie Tobler and Neale Waddy.
In attendance: Paul Martin, Gayatri Mahesh, Zannah Mathieson, Elicia Mendonça, Robert Bishay, Bradley Forster, Padraig Connolly (Item 8 & 9), Jarna Findlay (Item 10).
Apologies: Nil.
The chair gave an acknowledgement of country and welcomed those in attendance.
Chief Executive Officer of NESA, Mr Paul Martin, introduced himself to the HSCG and thanked group members for their involvement and commitment. He left the meeting at the conclusion of the welcome item.
Action arising: Nil.
Due to the withdrawal of a previous member, the HSCG welcomed Ms Rachel Quirk to the group and she provided a brief introduction of her background.
Action arising: Nil.
3a. NESA Curriculum Reform support material
Members were advised an update regarding NESA’s Curriculum Reform support material would be provided in agenda items 8 and 9.
Action arising: Nil.
3b. NESA Curriculum Reform parent roundtable
Members were advised an overview of NESA’s Curriculum Reform parent roundtable would be provided in agenda item 10.
Action arising: Nil.
Nil.
Action arising: Nil.
Members were provided with data regarding the results collected from the HSCG self-assessment questionnaire at the end of 2023. Overall, respondents had very positive feedback regarding their involvement with the HSCG and about the conduct of meetings in 2023. Other feedback regarding possible areas of focus will be considered throughout 2024.
Action arising: Nil.
Members were provided with an overview of the communication strategy implemented regarding the recommencement of home visits for initial applications from 29 April 2024.
HSCG members provided anecdotal feedback regarding their own positive, personal experiences of home visits by Authorised Persons. Members also raised the importance of Authorised Persons clearly communicating with applicants whether the assessment of their initial application would take place by home visit when scheduling visits close to 29 April 2024.
One HSCG member questioned whether it would be possible to include the name of the NESA Authorised Person in the email that is sent to applicants to inform them that their application has been allocated to an Authorised Person.
Action arising: NESA to consider the request to amend the automatically generated email to include the name of the NESA Authorised Person.
Members were advised NESA will be including an additional optional question on initial and renewal application forms for home schooling registration to provide applicants an opportunity to share information about a child’s previous schooling.
Members were provided with an opportunity to provide feedback on the wording of the optional question.
HSCG members provided feedback regarding:
- how the question should be structured to clearly indicate a response to the question is optional
- greater clarity to parents regarding what information is relevant in a response.
- potential reasons home schooling applicants may be reluctant to respond.
Action arising: NESA to consider the feedback provided by members when adding the additional optional question on application forms.
Members were presented with an overview of the changes made to the structure as well as additional content of NESA home schooling web pages that have recently been published on the NSW Government website.
Members provided positive feedback regarding the improved accessibility and user friendly nature of the website changes.
Members were also provided with an overview of planned future updates to the home schooling web pages.
Action arising: Nil.
Members were provided with updates on:
- resources that have been developed and published to date, designed to assist home schooling applicants with syllabus changes arising from NSW Curriculum Reform.
- changes and additions to the NESA home schooling website resulting from the NSW Curriculum Reform.
Members provided positive feedback regarding the published materials and reported engagement with the resources amongst home schooling community members.
Members were also provided with an overview of planned new resources to assist home schooling applicants.
Action arising: Nil.
Members were presented with an overview of NESA’s Curriculum Reform Parent Roundtable and the role it plays in consulting with stakeholders regarding curriculum reform. HSCG members are invited to be a part of this group.
Action arising: Nil.
Members were advised that the number of children registered for, or exempt from, home schooling has remained steady in comparison to the same period 12-months ago.
There was an increase in the number of applications received for Certificates of Completion of Year 10 compared to the previous year.
Action arising: Nil.
An HSCG member raised a question regarding applicant parents providing feedback on their experience with an Authorised Person after an assessment was conducted.
An HSCG member also queried whether NESA would consider implementing a process for issuing certificates of Year 12 completion for home schooled children.
Action arising: NESA will consider the suggestions provided by members.
The meeting concluded at 2.57 pm.