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Tasmanian Home Education Advisory Council Annual Report (2012) Home education occurs when parents/guardians are formally recognised as conducting the child/ren’s learning program from a home base. Whilst they may purchase or borrow curriculum materials or learning resources, the responsibility for planning and implementing the educational program rests with the home educator. In Tasmania, parents/guardians who are home educating their children are required to register with the Tasmanian Home Education Advisory Council (THEAC). Role of THEAC THEAC was established by the Minister for Education to assist in the management and support of home education in Tasmania. The role of THEAC is to: • provide policy advice and information to the Minister in relation to home education • maintain a register of parents/guardians who are home educating • monitor the educational programs of children whose parent/guardian/s have applied for registration as home educators, and make appropriate recommendations to the Minister as a result of initial and periodic monitoring • provide a reference point for inquiries regarding home education • respond to community concerns about home education • maintain liaison with other agencies on matters regarding home education • organise ongoing support and assistance to home educators. Membership THEAC consists of six members appointed by the Minister for Education, three nominated by home educators and three nominated by the Minister for Education. Members for 2012 are detailed below. Member Comments From Until Ms Suzanne Pennicott-Jones Ministerial appointee – Department of Education 1/1/2012 31/12/2014 Mr Peter Norton Ministerial appointee 1/1/2007 31/12/2012 Mr Simon Deeth Ministerial appointee (chair 16/03/2009–31/3/2012) 1/5/2008 1/4/2012 Ms Jacinta Sinclair Home educator nominee (chair from 1/4/2012) 1/8/2009 31/7/2015 Mrs Keren Golab Home educator nominee 1/10/2009 30/9/2015 Mrs Margaret Sonnemann Home educator nominee 1/10/2009 30/9/2015 Employees THEAC employed two part-time administration officers, two part-time monitoring officers and a part-time financial officer during 2012. The key function of the administration officers is to provide administrative support to THEAC, including maintaining data, and to execute THEAC decisions. The key function of the monitoring officers is to assist THEAC in the monitoring of home education according to established policies and practices. The key function of the financial officer is to undertake payroll and accounting work. Contact details 3 Dowling Street, Launceston, Tasmania 7250 Phone/Fax: 6334 5381 Email: admin@theac.org.au Website: www.theac.org.au Charter Context THEAC is responsible for monitoring new and ongoing home education programs for families who have registered for home education. Beliefs and values THEAC members believe that: • all children are entitled to receive an education that enables them to reach their potential, including children who are being home educated • home education is a viable educational option for many children • home education should continue to be recognised and supported as a legitimate option for education in Tasmania • monitoring should be unobtrusive and sensitive to differing beliefs and practices, and be undertaken in a spirit of collaboration, support and assistance • home educating parents/guardians should be free to choose from a wide variety of resources, commercial programs and curriculum materials in line with their educational values and beliefs • THEAC should not favour any particular home education program or curriculum materials. Operating principles The employees and members of THEAC operate according to the following principles: • maintain a non-intrusive and professional point of reference for all home education queries • ensure that all families registered with THEAC are adequately monitored in a collaborative manner according to THEAC procedures • maintain accurate records of matters pertaining to THEAC’s business • provide accurate and timely information and policy advice to the Minister. 96 Required Reporting » Other Annual Reports
Report on council activities for 2012 Meetings THEAC conducted nine regular meetings during the year. The main function of the meetings was to consider the monitoring reports relating to home educators’ programs and new applications for home education. Two workshops were held to discuss the administration and management role and function of THEAC and to review and update policies and procedures. Ministerial liaison THEAC maintained liaison with the Minister for Education throughout the year through the provision of minutes of meetings and email, mail and phone contact with his office. The three Learning Services within the Department of Education were provided with weekly updates of newly registered and ceasing home educating families. Registration and monitoring During 2012, the parents/guardians of 172 children were approved for registration as home educators through THEAC. Together with families with ongoing home education programs, monitoring reports for 404 children from 232 families were prepared. A total of 665 students from 350 families were registered with THEAC as at 31 December 2012. Administration The administration officers continued to maintain administrative procedures for THEAC and support for home educators. The monitoring officers visited families statewide as requested by THEAC and presented reports on these families to THEAC for consideration. Staff engaged in professional development in archiving, cultural sensitivity and Asperger’s Syndrome, and all staff participated in a staff appraisal process. During 2012, two council members completed their service to home education in Tasmania as members of THEAC. Mr Peter Norton concluded six years of service. Mr Simon Deeth concluded four years of service, most of which was as chair of THEAC. Their valuable contribution was recognised with gratitude. Public and professional relations THEAC maintained liaison with various government departments in carrying out its support for home educators, including Department of Education legal advisors who provided ongoing advice on policy matters. THEAC continued to work with the Tasmanian eSchool in trialling courses for home educated students of secondary school age. Early success has been encouraging, and THEAC continues to work with the eSchool to seek ways to make this available and affordable for home educating families. THEAC continued to disseminate information both within the community at large and within the community of home educators throughout the state. Home educator get-together/information sessions were held in Ulverstone, Launceston and Hobart in November. All were well attended. After a competition within the Tasmanian home education community, THEAC adopted a new logo in April. The Minister approved the new THEAC website which went live in December. Policy THEAC reviewed and amended the policy on cancellation of registrations to ensure greater clarity, transparency and natural justice. Support for home educating families Development of the Australian Curriculum continued to be monitored to gauge any impact for home educators. Fifty home educated children registered for the 2012 National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Four newsletters were published for home educators over the year. These newsletters provided information updates and were used to continue a supportive liaison between THEAC and home educators. THEAC initiated a project to seek financial assistance by way of discounts for goods and services for home educating families. Financial report THEAC employs a financial officer to prepare relevant financial documents with a THEAC member maintaining the Treasurer’s position. An audited financial report for the period July 2011 to June 2012 has been presented to the Minister for Education. Jacinta Sinclair Chair Required Reporting » Other Annual Reports 97
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DEPARTMENT OF Education ANNUAL REPO
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Contents About this Report 2 Depart
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Department at a Glance
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our key drivers Successful Learners
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Tasmania, along with other states,
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An Innovative Workforce A motivated
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Community Confidence The department
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the implementation of high quality
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Commission and other Tribunals. The
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Clients Number of education and chi
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Active registered library users by
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Average age of teachers (years) as
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Pre-Compulsory and Compulsory Educa
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LiL acknowledges the important role
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Australian Early Development Index
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Early years school improvement meas
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Lead School/ Lead Teacher strategy
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School improvement planning - incor
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NAPLAN 2013 performance - general c
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Commentary • Tasmania improved on
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Commentary • Tasmania improved on
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Post-Compulsory Education and Skill
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Major Initiatives Implementation of
Page 47 and 48: Australian School-based Apprentices
Page 49 and 50: Year 11 and 12 Education in Rural a
Page 51 and 52: LINC Tasmania OUTPUT GROUP 3
Page 53 and 54: Major Initiatives New Regional Lear
Page 55 and 56: Wireless access for clients Followi
Page 57 and 58: Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Offi
Page 59 and 60: Performance LINC Tasmania achieved
Page 61 and 62: Required Reporting
Page 63 and 64: Staff employed as at 30 June 2013 S
Page 65 and 66: General workforce recruitment (Incl
Page 67 and 68: Internal grievances procedures Publ
Page 69 and 70: Employee Performance and Developmen
Page 71 and 72: Professional learning The programs
Page 73 and 74: Disability Framework for Action The
Page 75 and 76: Implementation of child and family
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Page 79 and 80: Nonstatutory bodies Tasmanian Abori
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Page 103 and 104: Financial Statements AS AT 30 JUNE
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Page 147 and 148: Auditor-General's Report Financial
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Appendices
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Access to computers in classrooms R
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Publications Curriculum Services
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Contact Details Postal address: Dep
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M Major Capital Projects 84-85 N Na
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Compliance Index This index identif
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Department of Education Level 1, 73
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Education

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