09 Nov Why are more Australian families choosing to homeschool their children?
Homeschooling is growing across Australia, with more parents looking for alternatives when traditional schooling isn’t working for their child. But is learning at home the right answer for every family?
Homeschooling was once considered an unusual choice, but increasing numbers of Australian families are now educating their children at home.
Around 45,000 children are currently estimated to be homeschooled across Australia, roughly double the number recorded before the pandemic.
Queensland has experienced some of the strongest growth. By August 2025, nearly 12,000 children were registered for home education, with similar numbers in Victoria and New South Wales.
But what’s behind this growing interest in homeschooling?
According to CQUniversity’s Head of Educational Neuroscience, Professor Ken Purnell, parents are often turning to homeschooling because their child’s experience at school has become difficult.
When school isn’t working for your child
“Most of the reasons families choose homeschooling are what I would call repellent factors rather than attractant factors,” Professor Purnell said.
“Bullying, school refusal and a poor fit between the child and the school environment can push families to look for another option, particularly when they feel their child’s needs, including neurodivergent needs, are not being adequately met.”
For some parents, the decision comes after considerable effort to make mainstream schooling work for their child.
Others are attracted by the freedom to organise learning around family life, travel or their child’s individual interests and abilities.
“There are also families attracted by the flexibility – they may want to travel, accommodate a particular family lifestyle or simply give their child the opportunity to learn at a different pace,” he said.
What about friendships and socialising?
One of the biggest concerns parents have about homeschooling is whether children will miss out on friendships and social opportunities.
Professor Purnell believes the answer isn’t necessarily straightforward.
“School is the main social hub for most children, but for a real minority it can be the opposite – it can be a place of exclusion rather than connection,” he said.
While some people assume homeschooled children have fewer opportunities to socialise, research suggests their experiences can vary considerably.
Some children develop friendships through sporting clubs, community activities, homeschooling groups and friendships with children of different ages.
For children who have struggled socially or emotionally at school, learning at home may provide a more comfortable environment.
Professor Purnell said homeschooling could be particularly helpful for some neurodivergent children when mainstream schools have been unable to provide the flexibility or support they need.
Homeschooling isn’t always the easy option
Despite its benefits for some families, homeschooling comes with significant responsibilities.
“The flip side is that homeschooling can be a very heavy load for parents,” Professor Purnell said.
“It requires considerable time, money and expertise, and families can experience very different levels of support and oversight depending on where they live.”
Parents must also consider how they will manage their child’s education alongside work, family commitments and opportunities for social interaction.
And while homeschooling is becoming more popular, Professor Purnell cautions that research into its long-term educational and social outcomes remains limited.
This makes it difficult to say whether homeschooling itself leads to better outcomes than conventional schooling.
Finding the right fit for your child
Homeschooling isn’t the only alternative for families whose children are struggling with regular school attendance. Distance education is another option, offering structured learning away from the traditional classroom.
The two approaches are different, and registration requirements, curriculum expectations and available support vary between states and territories.
For parents considering a change, the important question is whether a different learning environment would better meet their child’s educational, emotional and social needs.
“Rather than asking whether homeschooling is good or bad, we should be asking what children need to learn, develop and thrive, and whether the educational environment they are in is providing those things,” Professor Purnell said.
“For some children, that will absolutely be a conventional school. For others, it may be homeschooling, distance education or another model.”
Ultimately, he believes education systems need to make sure children aren’t left behind simply because the traditional school model doesn’t suit them.
For parents considering homeschooling
Home education is legal throughout Australia, but each state and territory has its own registration and reporting requirements. Parents should check with their state or territory education authority before withdrawing their child from school.
Source: CQUniversity, Professor Ken Purnell, Head of Educational Neuroscience.
