Eligibility for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Distance Education Allowance (DED) 010-03040020

Hours of home study as a percentage of full-time school hours

Pro-rata amount of DED (as percentage)

• 75% or more, or
• the school advises the student is enrolled full-time in home-based study

N/A - full DED rate payable

20 - 74.9%

Rate based on actual study load percentage (hours)

Less than 20%

No entitlement

School advises that student is enrolled and attending the school face to face on a full-time basis

No entitlement

Example

Description

1

Consistent rate of study across a term instalment and study by days

In 2019, Joshua is studying 60% days per week by distance education in Terms 1 and 2, and the remainder of the time is by face to face schooling.

Using Table 1 as the reference, the AIC DED entitlement is 60% of the distance education rate.

• For Term 1 in 2019, DED of $623.00 is payable ($4211/365 x 90 days x 0.6)
• For Term 2 in 2019, DED of $629.92 is payable ($4211/365 x 91 days x 0.6)

2

Consistent rate of study across a term instalment and study by lessons

In 2019, Louisa is studying a combination of distance education and face to face schooling due to illness.

Louisa's school confirms they are sending lessons home for Louisa to complete.

For Term 3 in 2019, Louisa will be doing 57.1% lessons by home study.

Using Table 1 as the reference, Louisa is studying 57.1% workload by distance education (20/35).

For Term 3 in 2019, DED of $606.06 is payable ($4211/365 x 92 days x 0.571).

3

Not consistent rate of study across a term instalment and study by subjects

In 2019, Annabelle was studying full-time by distance education. Partway through Term 2 Annabelle is also doing some subjects at the local New South Wales school as part of a re-integration program.

The local school confirms that Annabelle:

• started on 22 May 2019
• is studying 37.5% by face to face studies, and
• is expected to continue the subjects for the rest of this year

Annabelle's parent confirms Annabelle is still studying the rest of the subjects through the approved distance education provider.

Annabelle is studying 37.5% workload by face to face and 62.5% workload by distance education. The Term 2 instalment period has 91 days and runs from 1 April 2019 - 30 June 2019.

In the Term 2 instalment period, the full distance education allowance was payable from 1 April 2019 - 21 May 2019 (51 days). The pro-rata rate takes effect from 22 May 2019 - 30 June 2019 (40 days):

• For Term 2, the DED entitlement for Annabelle is: $588.39 ($4211/365 x 51) + $288.42 ($4211/365 x 40 x 0.625) which is a total of $876.81
• For Terms 3 and 4, the rates would be calculated using examples 1 or 2 above as the reference

4

Not consistent rate of study across year

Charlie has been studying face to face at the local Queensland school. Due to health issues, the school recommended Charlie only attend during the mornings and study from home in the afternoons. Charlie is enrolled in a distance education school for the study undertaken at home.

Charlie's health issues have had varying impacts on Charlie's ability to attend the local school. As a result, Charlie's study load percentage at school and home have varied over the last 2 terms.

Charlie's guardian has supplied the following details from the school:

• In the period 1 January 2019 - 8 March 2019, Charlie was studying 66.6% workload by face to face and 33.4% by distance education
• In the period 9 March 2019 - 31 March 2019, Charlie was studying 58.3% workload by face to face and 41.7% by distance education.
• In the period 1 April 2019 - 10 May 2019, Charlie was studying 60% workload by face to face and 40% by distance education
• In the period 11 May 2019 - 7 June 2019, Charlie was studying 36.7% workload by face to face and 63.3% by distance education
• In the period 8 June 2019 - 30 June 2019, Charlie was studying 20% workload by face to face and 80% by distance education

Term 1 instalment period:

• In the period 1 January 2019 - 8 March 2019, Charlie was studying 66.6% workload by face to face and 33.4% by distance education. The pro-rata DED rate payable was $258.17 ($4211/365 x 67 days x 0.334)
• In the period 9 March 2019 - 31 March 2019, Charlie was studying 58.3% workload by face to face and 41.7% by distance education. The pro-rata DED rate payable was $110.65 ($4211/365 x 23 days x 0.417)
• Total payable: $368.82

Term 2 instalment period:

• In the period 1 April 2019 - 10 May 2019, Charlie was studying 60% workload by face to face and 40% by distance education. The pro-rata DED rate payable was $184.59 ($4211/365 x 40 days x 0.4)
• In the period 11 May 2019 - 7 June 2019, Charlie was studying 36.7% workload by face to face and 63.3% by distance education. The pro-rata DED rate payable was $204.48 ($4211/365 x 28 days x 0.633)
• In the period 8 June 2019 - 30 June 2019, Charlie was studying 20% workload by face to face and 80% by distance education. As this is considered full-time distance education, the full rate of DED was payable, that is, $265.35 ($4211/365 x 23 days x 1.0)
• Total payable: $654.42

Terms 3 and 4

DED should not be paid until verification has been supplied of the actual face to face and distance education percentages undertaken.

As this is a complex case, Service Officers should collect all the evidence and make their calculations. Service Officers may need to:

• check results with Local Peer Support (LPS). See Tier 0 technical support - self-sufficiency

Example

Description

1

Sam and Stardust work for the circus

• Their circus tours Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) every year, and has done so since 2010
• Each year they spend 3 months in PNG and 9 months in Australia
• In 2020, they relocated 4 times in Australia and 3 times in PNG

Their children qualify for AIC:

• The parents have relocated more than 5 times for work, and
• The children have not been overseas for a period of 12 months or more
• The children remain enrolled at a recognised Australian distance education institution and Sam and Stardust have provided assurance their children will continue to undertake the required school work on a full-time basis

2

Joe and Sibyl are journalists, who cover the Pacific region

Joe and Sibyl:

• are based in Sydney
• travel overseas throughout the year taking their children with them
• travel overseas around 7 times during the year
• move to 2 or 3 separate locations while working overseas
• return to Sydney during the year in between work commitments
• have done this for the past 5 years

Their children are eligible for AIC:

• They are not away from Australia for more than 12 months on any one trip
• They meet the criteria of relocating more than 5 times a year
• The children remain enrolled at a recognised Australian distance education institution and Joe and Sibyl have provided assurance their children will continue to undertake the required school work on a full-time basis

3

Megan and Johannes are diplomats. They are posted to Hanoi for a continuous period of 3 years

• They return to Australia every Christmas
• They are not overseas for any period that is equal to or exceeds 12 months

Their children do not qualify for AIC:

• The parents have not relocated at least 5 times in a year
• It is reasonable to expect the children would be settled in Hanoi and would undertake schooling in Hanoi

State

Does state/territory education authority support dual face to face school and distance education enrolments?

Does state/territory education authority support dual face to face school and official Home School enrolments?

ACT

Yes, permitted.

Yes, permitted. A letter from the approving school should outline the arrangements.

NSW

Yes, permitted.

No, this is not permitted for primary or secondary school.

However, homeschooled students may apply for an Alternative Education Program such as TAFE, employment or other training options.

NT

Yes, permitted.

No, this is not permitted.

QLD

Yes, permitted where student has a Flexible Arrangement Assessment.

No, this is not permitted for primary or secondary school.

Non-secondary school forms of education such as TAFE may be accessed part-time without affecting registration.

SA

Yes, permitted.

No, this is not permitted.

TAS

Yes, permitted.

Yes, permitted. A letter from the approving school should outline the arrangements.

VIC

Yes, permitted.

Yes, permitted. A letter from the approving school should outline the arrangements.

WA

Yes permitted.

No, this is not permitted.

State

Rule

Details

ACT 19999

Certificate

A current or provisional certificate or statement from the state or territory education authority confirming the student's home school registration.

Registration Ages

See Home education.

Out of State

Itinerancy

• If the family is not residing in the ACT the child cannot be registered for home education in the ACT

Relocation to another state or overseas

• Registration stops once the family has permanently left the ACT

NSW 2AIC1

Certificate

A current certificate from the NSW Government Department of Education.

Registration Ages

See Applying to register for home schooling.

Out of State

Itinerancy

• Home schooling is not approved for families who are travelling out of state regularly
• The home address, that is, where the home schooling is 'taking place' needs to be in NSW.

Relocation to another state or overseas

• Registration stops as of the date of the move

Notes

Home schooling registration is only for students residing in NSW. Alternatively, parents should consider distance education providers.

NT 8AIC1

Certificate

A current or provisional registration certificate or statement can be accepted.

Registration Ages

See Age your child attends school.

Out of State

Itinerancy

Home education is not approved for families who travel regularly.

Parents can apply to enrol their child with a distance education provider.

Relocation to another state or overseas

• Registration stops as of the date of the move
• The usual place of residence of the child must be in the NT

Notes

The NT education authority for home education is the NT Department of Education.

QLD 4AIC1

Certificate

Only formal registration certificates or statements can be accepted.

Registration Ages

See Home education.

Out of State

Itinerancy

• Registration can continue when a family is travelling interstate or moving around the state

Relocation to another state

• Registration continues until the family permanently relocates to another State
• Registration in QLD is unlikely to fully satisfy compulsory schooling obligations in other States or Territories

Relocation overseas

• When a family is moving and living overseas, the child is generally no longer eligible for home education registration

Registration stops as of the date of the move.

Notes

The Queensland Home Education (QHE) previously known as the Home Education Unit is the Queensland Department of Education authority.

SA 58888

Certificate

A current certificate or statement from the state or territory education authority confirming the student's home school registration.

Registration Ages

See Home education.

Out of State

Itinerancy

• where a family retains a South Australian residential address, registration can continue

Relocation to another state or overseas

• Registration stops as of the date of the move

Notes

• The SA education authority for home schooling is the Home Education Unit of the SA Department for Education
• The home schooling certificate must show that the student is enrolled with a school but exempted from attending it

TAS 77777

Certificate

A current or provisional certificate or statement from the states Office of the Education Registrar (OER) as the education authority confirming the student's home school registration.

Registration Ages

See School starting and leaving ages in Tasmania.

Out of State

Itinerancy

• Registration can continue when a family retains a Tasmanian residential address, providing they continue to meet the requirements of:
• having a face to face assessment visit in Tasmania every second year and
• a skype session in the alternate year

Relocation to another state or overseas

• If the family has moved interstate, registration continues until the expiry date and then is not renewed

Notes

The Tasmanian education authority for home education is the Office of the Education Registrar.

It administers home education on behalf of the Tasmanian Home Education Advisory Council (THEAC).

VIC 30076

Certificate

A current certificate or statement from the state or territory education authority confirming the student's home school registration.

Registration Ages

See Home Education.

Out of State

Itinerancy

• VRQA allows families to remain registered with them when they travel interstate or overseas if they:
• retain a Victorian residential home address
• do not move permanently to another state or overseas
• intend to return to Victoria

Family relocates to another state or overseas

• Registration stops if they permanently relocate to another state or overseas

Notes

The Victorian education authority for home schooling is the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). VRQA sends renewals by email direct to parent.

The enrolment renewal email gives formal verification of home schooling enrolment.

WA

Certificate

A current certificate from the state education authority confirming the student's home school registration.

Registration Ages

See Home education.

Out of State

Itinerancy

• If the family continues to meet their 'meeting requirements' their registration continues. Meeting requirements are in person in WA:
• at end of the first 3 months, and then
• every 12 months
• If the family does not attend a meeting, then registration stops as of that date

Relocation to another state or overseas

• Registration stops on the date of the move

Notes

The WA education authority for home education is the WA Department of Education. It is administered by its 8 regional offices.

Use the code for the regional office the certificate comes from:

• 6AIC1 North Metro
• 6AIC2 South Metro
• 6AIC3 Southwest
• 6AIC4 Wheatbelt
• 6AIC5 Goldfields
• 6AIC6 Kimberley
• 6AIC7 Midwest
• 6AIC8 Pilbara

Remote School (hub school) or Administrative School

Community names and known alternative names

Arlparra School (Utopia)

• Apungalindum
• Clinic (Amengernterneah)
• Irrultja
• Iyngiynyala (Soapy Bore)

Gapuwiyak School

• Gurrumala
• Ramingirr (Raymangirr)

Gunbalanya School

• Manmoyi
• Marmadawerre

Imanpa School

• Ukaka

Laynhapuy Homelands school

• Barrkira
• Biranybirany
• Dhalinybuy
• Gangan
• Garrthalala, includes Makarrata Senior Boarding facility
• Gurrumuru/Ninydjiya/Wandat HLC
• Gutjangan/Bremer Island
• Rorruwuy/Gulnga
• Rurrariala/Mandjawuy
• Wandawuy/Boruwuy or Wulwulwuy

Maningrida School

• Ankabadbirri
• Barridjowkeng
• Borlkdjam
• Buluhkaduru
• Gamardi
• Gochan Jiny Jirra
• Jibabbal
• JiBena
• Jimilawa
• Ji-Marda
• Kakodbebuldi
• Kolorbidahdah
• Kumurrulu
• Malnjangarnak
• Marrkolidban
• Mumeka
• Nardilmuk
• Ngankalord (Aliases include Mangalod, Mankorlod)
• Wurdeja
• Yikarrakkal
• Yilan

Milingimbi School

• Gama-Guyurra
• Langarra
• Murrunga

Shepherdson College, Elcho Island

• Mirrngatja
• Galiwin’ku

Tennant Creek Primary School

• Mungkata HLC