WA Home Education Application Form: What It Is and How to Get It

If you have searched for the WA home education application form online and come up empty, that is not a broken link — the form genuinely is not available to download. Western Australia requires you to phone your local Education Regional Office (ERO) to request it. For families used to finding government forms on a website, this creates unnecessary confusion before they have even started.

Here is what the application involves, which office handles it, and what you need to have ready before you call.

The Department of Education does not process applications directly

A common misconception is that registration is handled by the Department of Education in Perth. It is not. Home education registration in WA is administered regionally through seven ERO offices — and each family's application goes to the office covering the region where they live.

This matters because calling the wrong number wastes time, and the central Department of Education website is not the place to look for application forms or progress updates. Your ERO is your contact point from application through to annual moderation.

Finding your ERO region

The seven WA ERO regions and their principal locations:

For most Perth families, the question is simply North Metro or South Metro. If you are in the suburbs south of the river, that is South Metro (Beaconsfield). North of the river, North Metro (Tuart Hill). For regional families, the region is generally obvious from the list above.

To find the direct phone number for your ERO, search "Education Regional Office [region name] WA" on the Department of Education website — the contact details are listed there even if the application form is not.

What the application form requires

The application form itself is straightforward. The substantive work is the learning programme you attach to it. The form collects:

• Child's details (name, date of birth, current school and year level)
• Parent/guardian details and residential address
• The date you intend to commence home education
• Confirmation that you understand the ongoing registration requirements

The learning programme is the part that requires preparation. It needs to demonstrate that your child will receive regular and efficient instruction covering the 8 learning areas of the WA Curriculum (as set by SCSA — the School Curriculum and Standards Authority):

1. English
2. Mathematics
3. Science
4. Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
5. Technologies
6. Health and Physical Education
7. The Arts
8. Languages

You do not need to have purchased formal curriculum resources. You need to explain how each learning area will be addressed — what resources, methods, or approaches you plan to use, and approximately how much time you will dedicate to each area. Families using a structured curriculum can simply name it and describe its scope. Families using more flexible approaches need to be clear enough that the moderator can see the coverage.

What happens after you submit

Provisional registration is granted as soon as the ERO receives your complete application. You do not have to wait for the learning programme to be assessed before your child's home education begins. This is the key practical fact for families trying to manage the 14-day registration window — get the application in complete and correct, and provisional status is immediate.

After provisional registration:

• The ERO schedules an initial moderator visit within approximately three months
• The moderator reviews whether your learning programme is being delivered as described
• Annual moderation follows each year after that

Registration does not expire automatically, but it does depend on continued compliance. The moderator can issue a notice of concern if significant gaps are identified — but families who keep basic records and are delivering reasonable instruction rarely encounter problems.

Common delays and how to avoid them

Incomplete learning programme: The most common reason applications stall is that the programme description is too vague. "We will learn at home using various resources" does not give the moderator enough to work with. Name the learning areas, describe what you will use for each one, and be specific enough that someone unfamiliar with your family could understand the approach.

Wrong ERO contact: If you call the central Department of Education number and ask to lodge a home education application, you may be redirected multiple times before reaching the right person. Call your regional ERO directly.

Waiting until after the last day of school: The 14-day registration window runs from your child's last day at their current school. If you phone the ERO for the first time on that day, you are already behind. Have the form requested and your learning programme drafted before your child leaves school.

Private consultants are not required

SproutEd Consulting and similar services charge $150 or more for help with the application process. This is appropriate if you are genuinely stuck, but the application itself does not require professional support. The ERO staff can answer process questions over the phone, and HEWA (Home Education WA) — the peak advocacy body with over 30 years of operation — offers guidance through its member network.

The Western Australia Legal Withdrawal Blueprint covers the complete application process, including a learning programme template structured around the 8 SCSA learning areas, the withdrawal letter for your child's school, and the full compliance checklist for meeting the 14-day window without gaps.

Quick reference

• Form availability: Phone your ERO — not available online
• Who handles registration: Your regional ERO, not central DoE
• Key attachment: Learning programme covering 8 SCSA learning areas
• On receipt: Provisional registration granted immediately
• First moderator visit: Within approximately 3 months
• Annual requirement: Moderation each year after that

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