Australian Homeschool Stories

"Stepping back and letting kids learn is really what's at the heart of home education." Meet my friend, Nicola. We originally connected via substack and then in person whilst her family spent time down on the Peninsula. Our daughters, who are similar ages, hit it off instantaneously and in truth so did Nicola and I. This was prior to their move to the mid-north coast of New South Wales where they now call home, but Nicola’s story takes us on journey from Melbourne to Byron Bay, Vanuatu to Fa...

"I had this really strong feeling that she was just a number in this place and that's not good enough." Anna is a worm farmer, author and homesteading mother of three children aged 15, 7 and 2. In this episode she shares her journey from suburbia to living off the land and her eldest daughter's winding educational road to homeschooling. We also talk about permaculture, living life by design, managing chronic illness and her brilliant book Homegrown Healthy Living. This is episode 39 of Austr...

“I’m going to look back one day on this and think those were the glory years." Teacher by trade, Canadian by birth, Melanie is here to share how she wound up calling Newcastle home and why she and her partner chose home education for their two boys, aged 7 and 4. In this episode we talk about longing for community in the early years of motherhood, not being ‘ride or die’ homeschoolers, how play evolves as children mature, intentional living, why screens have become the new social playground ...

“If you can’t find your village or community - build one.” This is the story of Kacey’s blended family from Perth who have called themselves eclectic homeschoolers for the last three years. Her four children aged 19, 17, 6 and 4 have all had contrasting educational experiences, from thriving in the system, to never being able to catch up, to sidestepping school all together. In this honest and candid conversation, Kacey and I chat about school trauma, holistic, child-centred learning, finding...

“We said, I don't know if it's forever. I don't know if it's temporary. But we're making a change. Now we say we'll never go back.” This episode is a delightful doubleheader with Holly & Gemma, sisters who live 6 minutes apart in Queensland’s capital city where they homeschool three girls between them. You may already know their cheery voices from their podcast Sisters Who Homeschool, of which I had the pleasure of being a guest on earlier this year. I loved reconnecting with these ladie...

“Have trust in the kids, know that they can follow their passions intuitively. We don’t have to set all these standards of where they should be or would be or could be if they were in the system. Just trust.” Assunta, her husband and two daughters (aged 11 and 8), live on 2.5 acres in the upper Hunter region of New South Wales, where she is never happier than with her feet on the earth and her hands in the dirt. In this conversation we cover how their family navigated the transition from Ste...

"Before we had kids, we were both adamant that we wouldn't put our kids in daycare. We wanted to raise our kids at home. We always knew we were aligned on that. So that's where it started. We were at home. We were together.” The tables have turned and it’s me, your host Stephanie, in the hot seat. Helping me tell my story is the tech-side of this operation, my husband Daniel. For those who have listened to this podcast for some time you may have pieced parts of my story together over previou...

"Even all the times when it was really, really hard, if I could go back right to the beginning now, I would make exactly the same choices to do it all over again. It's just been the most beautiful experience of my life.” Today I have the pleasure of sharing Joss Goulden’s reflections on her adult children’s natural learning life. As an aware parenting instructor and parenting coach, Joss is passionate about supporting children and parents to thrive and heal with compassion and connection. In...

“How many of us are in our 40s now only just learning how to be artists again because we were told we weren't any good at it?” Bel is raising her two boys (aged 8 and 5) alongside her sister and daughter (aged 6) with the loving support of their parents. They all live & learn together on four acres overlooking the beautiful Derwent River in the Central Highlands of Tasmania. This multigenerational family are an inspiring example of folk who have dared to do things a little differently. T...

"I want to unschool to give her more freedom. I can't start the journey by forcing her out of school... you can send your kids to school and still be an unschooler in my view. The point is they have the choice” Italy may be Ilaria’s country of origin but she well and truly calls our nations capital home. She and her husband (who fatefully met on the day she arrived in Australia over 23 years ago) are raising their two daughters (ages 14 and 8) on a small farm, that she lovingly describes as ...

“They spent their preschool years when they were three and four years old playing all the time. But then they went to school and they forgot how to play.” Elisa is a newly minted homeschooler. This is the episode you are going to want to listen to if you are on the precipice of taking the leap into homeschooling or you have found yourself deep in the trenches of deschooling your own children and yourself. The daughter of a teacher who became a teacher herself, Elisa is now a homeschooling mu...

“Children learn best intrinsically motivated, following their own interests and when adults step back.” One year ago, we hit publish on the first episode of the Australian Homeschool Stories podcast with Vicci Oliver’s story. I was a very nervous first-time interviewer and Vicci was the most gracious, kind and supportive first guest I could have hoped for! Today, to celebrate one whole year of sharing homeschooling stories from across our beautiful country, you are going to hear Nicki Farrel...

“That's the beauty of an unschooling lifestyle, it’s just continuing what you’ve always done with your children.” Having always homeschooled and having been homeschooled herself, Debbie’s story spans across both analog and digital generations. Whilst she never set out to become a radical unschooler, she now confidently embraces the path her family have chosen. Along the way she has created a viable small business that has the potential to revolutionise the way we balance working and homescho...

“I hope at the end of all this I’ll have raised two kids who love learning.” If they are not home, chances are Anna and her kids (ages 9 & 4) can be found in their local library. So great is their love for this community haven of literature, living within walking distance of it strongly influenced where they chose to reside in Rockingham, Western Australia. Homeschoolers from day dot, this musical, book loving, nature appreciating family value time together and connection over curriculum...

“Don’t let fear guide you. You’ve chosen this path, lead it with love.” Richa and her husband, who were both born and educated in India, now live in Melbourne and home educate their two children, aged 7 and 2. We cover a variety of topics in this episode including Montessori, minimalism, community building, sibling dynamics and fostering a love of reading, nature and kindness. SUMMARY: When Richa and her husband were house hunting in Melbourne they were ironically drawn to Bayside for the sc...

I can think of no better spokesperson for unschooling in Australia than Sara, whose four daughters (aged 15, 13, 10 and 8) have never been to school. This inspiring family of six who call sunny Queensland home, have collaboratively and creatively designed their lives. As well as unschooling, she is a passionate advocate for respectful parenting and children's rights. SUMMARY Growing up on the Sunshine Coast, Sara went from being private schooled herself to zero percent school for her o...

Danika's homeschooling story takes place on opposing sides of the country, beginning on the Gold Coast in Queensland, where she and her children (aged 6 and 3) were born and raised, up to where her family are currently based in Bunbury, Western Australia. Danika is speaking up and sharing her short but intense journey in the hopes that someone listening will hear her story and feel seen. SUMMARY As a loud, outgoing, social girl, Danika loved school, particularly the social side, and li...

"These are amazing schools and amazing teachers, but the overarching curriculum that is forced upon them gives them no space to breathe or be creative" Kickstarting season three of the Australian Homeschool Stories podcast, is the owner of Fearless Homeschool, Micarlé. She homeschools her two children (aged 10 & 7) on the Surfcoast of Victoria where they are surrounded by national park, the beach and immersed in nature. SUMMARY How Micarlé and her husband came to be living in Anglesea, ...

This short and sweet episode is a preview to Season Three of the Australian Homeschool Stories podcast. Dropping in to say a quick hello is me, your host Stephanie, with happy not back to school wishes as well providing an update on the most recent statistics available about homeschooling in Australia today. To read more about the rising percentage trends and state by state breakdowns, take a look at this article here. All this means to highlight is that homeschooling numbers continues to r...

On the cusp of becoming a mother to three kids under 3, Adele certainly has her hands full in this season of life but her conviction to home educate her children is unwavering. In this, the final episode of season two, she share her naturally evolving journey from teaching as a career to staying at home to teach her own. SUMMARY The story of how Adele and her family ended up moving to Tasmania at the tail end of COVID lockdowns Her reflections on her own catholic schooling where...

In the forest of the Adelaide Hills is where you will most likely encounter Celeste and her three wildings (aged 9, 7 and 4). Their family embrace the philosophy of wildschooling, where they live and learn outdoors through free play with likeminded community and from their interactions with the natural world. SUMMARY Celeste's full circle journey of growing up in Adelaide before travelling extensively both interstate and overseas as a young woman, only to return to South Australia to s...

If the thought of adding homeschooling to your load seems daunting, Jasmin may be the person to inspire you. She is a multi-passionate mum, who in partnership with her husband, juggles homeschooling her two children (aged 6 and 3) and running three small businesses. They are living a rich and full, purposeful life where education, family and work are interwoven and inseparable. SUMMARY Jasmin's schooling journey across various Catholic all-girls private schools in NSW and the ACT, wher...

Have you wondered what school actually looks like for teens today? Aaron, a high school teacher and home educating father to three girls (aged 6, 5 and 2) is here to lift the veil. In this episode he shares his perspective on the challenges students are facing and grants all parents permission to take the pressure off kids to perform and follow the path of joy instead. SUMMARY Aaron fondly recounts his own positive schooling experience in Devon, England attending an all boys Grammar school w...

If you are curious to know what a Charlotte Mason education can look like for a modern Australian family than this is the episode for you. With three children (aged 17, 15 and 11) whom she has homeschooled from the get go, one of whom is now attending university, Jo has a plethora of wisdom to share. SUMMARY The only time her kids attended school was to be one of their friends 'show & tell'Growing up living on the same street in Sydney as all of her extended family who were all inv...

Carla is a single mum who is unschooling her two neurodivergent boys, aged 8 & 5 in South Western Victoria. In today's episode you will hear how she juggles co-parenting and co-homeschooling as she reflects on her pathway from studying her masters in teaching to now revelling in her boys learning through autonomous play. SUMMARY Carla's childhood growing up on acreage as a country kid who adored horses but didn't particular enjoy schoolHer eldest sons time spent in the NICU as a ne...

If Aware Parenting is on your radar, chances are you've heard of Marion Rose. Her work in bringing compassion and connection to the forefront of parenting has been underscored by her own beautiful journey through motherhood. In this episode I'm delighted to share with you Marion's reflection on her family's natural learning path and what life looks like now living in a multigenerational household alongside her mother and grown children (aged 21 and 17). SUMMARY Her career has been guided by ...

Eclectic, natured based, Waldorf inspired, holistic homeschoolers is how Melinda sums up her family's approach. With four children in tow ranging in age from 11 - 1, she and her husband have crafted their lives in celebration of the seasons, community, art and the natural world. SUMMARY Being the kid who spent her lunchtime doing art by herself because she struggled with the social side of schoolMelinda dabbles in all sorts of arts, predominately a fibre artist, in particular felting -...

Laura and her family have been on the road since the beginning of 2023 exploring our beautiful country in their 9m caravan. With three kids in tow aged 8, 5 and 2, I spoke with Laura whilst in FNQ about the highs and lows of unschooling with no fixed address and she shares her top tips for embracing an adventure filled life. SUMMARY Laura recounts what life was like for her moving around and attending a number of different schools (including a brief stint being homeschooled herself)Bec...

Unschooling on a farm in country Victoria, Carolyn, her husband Michael and their three children (aged 8, 6 and 2) are living their dream life. Currently in their third year of homeschooling, two of her kids have attended school for periods of partial enrolment, they have now chosen to wholeheartedly unschool, completely free and unscheduled, dig deeply into their values and celebrate living simply and joyfully. SUMMARY After growing up in country NSW she moved to Melbourne, where she ...

Rounding out the first season of Australian Homeschool Stories is my partner in life, homeschooling and podcasting, Daniel. Together we are raising our two wildlings, aged 5 and 2, amidst the natural splendours of the Mornington Peninsula. SUMMARY Dan recalls his journey through public, international and private schooling and how gaining early acceptance into his preferred tertiary course meant year 12 was a write off and his ENTER score proved irrelevant a second time when he returned...

Suze and her husband homeschool their three girls aged 10, 7 and 2 from their suburban home in Adelaide. Not only is she the primary homeschooling parent, Suze is also a teacher by trade and in this episode we discuss how she reconciles educating her own children at home whilst working in a school setting and the importance of advocating for all children, not just our own. SUMMARY Suze reflects on the contradictions of her own schooling - uniform mandates, compulsory sport - and the hangover...

Jules & Dan are true partners in life, homeschool and business, with four girls aged 7, 6, 4 & 1. They split their time between their home in Melbourne and with family in Singapore, and all of their learning is derived from play! SUMMARY How Jules & Dan's paths crossed in Melbourne despite growing up in Singapore and Malaysia and both recount their heavily academic focused upbringings Jules always knew she wanted to be a teacher but her view of what learning could look...

You may know Paul West as the loveable TV presenter, cookbook author, radio host and garden extraordinaire that he is, but you may not know that he has recently taken up the mantle of homeschooling Dad to his two boys, 8 & 6, alongside his wife Alicia in their small country town of Bermagui on the South Coast of NSW. When they are not travelling around the country for Paul's work the West family is deeply embedded in their community and in this episode Paul shares the joys of life in the ...

Sheree grew up an only child and now homeschools her only child, her outgoing 5 year old son on the Mornington Peninsula. As well as delving into Sheree's passion for music and her struggles at school with undiagnosed dyslexia, we chat about socialisation, community and our mutual love for our local toy library. SUMMARY The story of how Sheree and Steph metGrowing up in suburban Melbourne, struggling throughout school and never feeling like herselfHer passion for music which propelled her th...

Sam & Christian homeschool two of their three "bare feet little nature loving" children whilst their teenage son until recently has always been in the school system. This down to earth couple share the ups and downs of their experiences with school, how a Steiner playgroup opened their minds to this alternative educational pathway and the joy of living amongst the natural splendours of WA. SUMMARY Comparing their son's catholic kinder to their daughter's Steiner playgroup led Chris...

Elizabeth describes herself as a lover of learning and confesses she was not a typical candidate to homeschool her children. In this honest conversation she eloquently shares how she went from counting down the days until her three kids (now 9, 7 and 6) were at school to questioning everything she had always taken for granted, and the wonder led life her family now lead that was born out of the tumble down the rabbit hole. SUMMARY Growing up with a 'socially acceptable amount of school...

Steph and her husband not only homeschool their two boys aged 10 and 6 but also welcome a number of other children into their home with their family day care Spirited Hearts in Toowoomba. We discuss trauma in relation to her own school wounds and her son's experience of moving in and out of the school system despite Steph knowing she wanted to homeschool before she became a mother. SUMMARY Practicing aware parenting so her children don't have to grow up and heal from their chil...

Emma and her family have lived in a number of different cities along the eastern seaboard of Australia but recently put their roots down in Brisbane where she and her husband are raising their four girls aged between 1 - 8 years old. You may know Emma and her family from her instagram account @play_at_home_mummy where she generously shares their wonderful world of play. I loved hearing Emma's journey of homeschooling thus far, one that celebrates following the lead of her children and trust...

Sarah is a mother of three girls aged 6, 4 and 2 and she also happens to be a dear friend of mine. Similarly, we are raising our homeschooled kiddos amidst the spoils of the Mornington Peninsula. This is a candid conversation between friends about Sarah's journey thus far - travels, motherhood and living with intention. In a nutshell: The story of how Steph and Sarah metSeeking connection with likeminded folk in the pre-school years and how being brave and bold lead to a beautiful frie...

Lauren & Oberon Carter not only homeschool their three girls aged between 12 & 19 on their suburban block just outside of Hobart, but also passionately advocate for waste free living, permaculture and climate action. They have most recently become record store owners too! We dive into all these topics in our conversation. Here is a snapshot of Lauren & Oberon's story : Growing up in Melbourne and their different educational pathways before relocating to Tasmania Lauren's 13t...

Vicci Oliver is a dead set nature play legend, and a voice you may recognise. She is one half of the Raising Wildlings Podcast and owner of Wildlings Forest School in sunny Queensland. Vicci has always homeschooled her two daughters, now aged 11 & 9. In our conversation we talk about: What her own school days looked like growing up and what type of student she wasHer love of marine science and following her passion into a career that didn't live up to her expectationsBecomin...

Welcome to Australian Homeschool Stories. In this introductory episode you will find out what to expect from this podcast series. Stephanie (your host) also shares a glimpse of her family culture and what their homeschooling life looks like at present. Have you got a story to tell? Connect with us via email or instagram: australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.com @australianhomeschoolstories Music: Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposer This podcast is recorded on Bunurong country. Alw...