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Home schooling arrangements for Youth Allowance (YA), Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-06070090

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This document outlines how to assess whether a customer who is undertaking home-based schooling satisfies the YA full time study requirements or the approved course requirements for AIC as a full-time student. It also outlines the procedure for assessing whether a customer who is undertaking home-based schooling is a full-time or concessional study load student for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES).

Home schooling and YA or PES

YA is not intended to provide assistance to families who choose to withdraw their children from a formal school setting without considering the requirements of the State/Territory education authorities that grant education qualifications. However, YA and PES is available for home-based schooling where the relevant State/Territory Government school education authority has given specific approval for the student to undertake home study. The authority must confirm that the study is full-time and conforms with, and will be credited towards, the secondary qualification accredited by that authority.

In some cases, where education authority approval has not been given, YA or PES is available for home schooling where the student is:

  • formally registered at a secondary school recognised for YA purposes
  • studying accredited subjects, and
  • undertaking a study load deemed to be full-time by the school

Home schooling and AIC

A primary or secondary student undertaking home-based schooling satisfies the AIC study requirements for the payment of Distance Education Allowance if:

  • their course of home tuition has been formally approved as being a satisfactory alternative to a state-provided education by the education authority in the state or territory in which they live, and
  • they are undertaking full-time studies in the approved course

Note: there is no requirement for the education authority to accredit home schooling towards any primary or secondary qualifications in the state or territory.

Certificate of exemption from home schooling registration

Some states and/or territories may grant a certificate of exemption from home schooling registration.

The certificate of exemption is regarded as appropriate registration, enrolment and evidence of full time study load for the purposes of home schooling.