Australian Homeschool Stories

“Dream big. What do you want your homeschool to look like? What do you want your whole life to look like? Go after that.”Marieka, her husband and their five children aged 16, 11, 9, 7 and 1 have been homeschooling family style for the last 6 years in sunny Western Australia. As a teacher who'd become disillusioned with the classroom, she decided she would much rather teach her own and they haven't looked back. I couldn't have asked for a more inspirational guest to round out this season of Australian Homeschool Stories. Enjoy all the gold Marieka has to share and stick around until the end to hear what 2025 has in store for this podcast. This is episode 41 of Australian Homeschool Stories, Marieka's story.FULL SHOW NOTES HEREFollow the link above to find the detailed show notes for this episode along with quotes, links and references to all that Marieka and I discuss.CONNECTInstagram - @mariekalakeYoutube - Marieka Lake Sign up to our mailing list HERE to receive new episodes and their accompanying show notes delivered straight to your inbox as they are released.This podcast was recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

"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 Far North Tropical Queensland. Hers is a story of profound loss and grief, of spirituality and discipline, of wanting to be the person to teach her daughter to read and of being deeply connected to the natural world. This is episode 40 of Australian Homeschool Stories, Nicola's story.FULL SHOW NOTES HEREFollow the link above to find the detailed show notes for this episode along with quotes, links and references to all that Nicola and I discuss.CONNECThttps://surrendernow.substack.com/Sign up to our mailing list HERE to receive new episodes and their accompanying show notes delivered straight to your inbox as they are released.This podcast was recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

"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 Australian Home School Stories - Anna's Story.FULL SHOW NOTES HEREFollow the link above to find the detailed show notes for this episode along with quotes, links and references to all that Anna and I discuss.CONNECTWebsite - homegrownhealth.auInstagram - @homegrown_healthy_livingSign up to our mailing list HERE to receive new episodes and their accompanying show notes delivered straight to your inbox as they are released.Alternatively you can stay in touch with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstoriesThis podcast was recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land. 

“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 and the magical power of asking the question ‘What If…?' FULL SHOW NOTES HEREFollow the link above to find the detailed show notes for this episode along with quotes, links and references to all Melanie shares.CONNECTInstagram - @freespirithomeschoolInstagram - @digital_wellbeing_teacherSign up to our mailing list HERE to receive new episodes and their accompanying show notes delivered straight to your inbox as they are released.Alternatively you can stay in touch with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstoriesThis podcast was recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land. 

“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 yourself in homeschooling, the ins and outs of building a community co-op and yearning for something outside of motherhood. FULL SHOW NOTES HEREFollow the link above to find the detailed show notes for this episode along with quotes, links and references to all Kacey shares.CONNECTInstagram - @homeschooling.our.wildflowersInstagram - @wildlingshomeschool.collectiveSign up to our mailing list HERE to receive new episodes and their accompanying show notes delivered straight to your inbox as they are released.Alternatively you can stay in touch with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstoriesThis podcast was recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land. 

“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 ladies and diving deeper into their stories of how and why they came to choose home education for their families. As well you will hear us discuss Canaries in the Coalmine - Teachers who Choose to Homeschool, Gemma's new book she has written which is due out next year, creating a micro village, prioritising mental wellbeing and connection, why none of us like the word ‘resilient', granny hobbies, interest based learning and busting homeschool myths. FULL SHOW NOTES HEREFollow the link about to find the detailed show notes for this episode along with quotes, links and references to all Holly & Gemma share.CONNECTPodcast - Sisters Who HomeschoolInstagram - @sisterswhohomeschoolEmail - hello.sisterswhohomeschool@gmail.comSign up to our mailing list HERE to receive new episodes and their accompanying show notes delivered straight to your inbox as they are released.Alternatively you can stay in touch with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstoriesThis podcast was recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land. 

“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 Steiner education to homeschooling, mourning the loss of the life they had envisaged whilst being accepting of change, permaculture, craft clubs, screen boundaries, travelling as a form of deschooling and Assunta's Seeds of Gratitude curriculum.FULL SHOW NOTES HEREFollow the link above to find the detailed show notes for this episode along with quote, links and references to all Assunta shares.CONNECTInstagram:@seedsofgratitude_@lola_sage_homeschool@assunta.laylaSign up to our mailing list HERE to receive new episodes and their accompanying show notes delivered straight to your inbox as they are released.Alternatively, you can stay in touch with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstoriesThis podcast was recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

"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 previous episodes, but I'm sitting down to share it all in what will be the final episode of Season Three.SUMMARY:Our family live on the Mornington Peninsula, Bunurong Country, in a sleepy little country town beside the sea. We left our Melbourne roots when I turned 30 to pursue a slower, simpler life and to raise our kids immersed in the natural world.I had a fairly typical, carefree 90s childhood, spent running around the streets with the neighbourhood kids. At primary school my fondest and most vivid memories are of spending recess and lunch up trees with my friends, deep in imaginary play. Even though I hadn't come across the idea of homeschooling until after we had our daughter, the roots of homeschooling had naturally been embedded into our lives unknowingly as we were adamant we wanted to keep them close and at home whilst they were little.The irony of feeling pulled towards homeschooling whilst having our baby daughter on the waitlist for private high schools.Once the idea had taken hold in my heart, I began devouring anything and everything I could get my hands on to do with homeschooling. I spent years deschooling myself through book and podcasts because the vision of what our lives could look like if we followed this path was so clear.I had faith that if it meant enough to me, Dan would find his way to where I was too. But I knew it would take time, for him to even consider it, so I was patient but remained persistent.When setting up our lives to adopt a homeschooling lifestyle we moved houses to a more affordable area, we went from being a two car to a one car family, and these descision all aligned with the vision we had for our future.We have four tenets in our family that guide our days. They are art, music, books and nature. Community and food and are also hugely important. That's what I always come back to.The hardest thing about homeschooling is toddlers.CONNECTSubstack - Splendid To BeInstagram - @splendidtobeNOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find quotes, links and references to all Steph shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

"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 this episode she beautifully espouses how much her family's homeschooling journey has meant to her. Settle in, pour yourself a cup of tea and let the sage words of encouragement from Joss wash over you.SUMMARYJoss was born in the Phillipines but grew up mostly in the UK. Her father was a diplomat which meant her family travelled a lot and at the age of 8 she was sent to boarding school in the UK, where she stayed for the remainder of her schooling.Joss left school with a lot of trauma that she wasn't aware of at the time but she was interested in people and psychology and how we work as humans and went on to study psychology, human communication science & counselling.She and her husband settled in Australia after spending years travelling themselves, and when they decided to have children of their own, Joss dove deep into the attachment and aware parenting philosophies.Attachment is the first and most fundamental aspect of aware parenting and what children need in order to thrive is this sense that they are safely connected with another adult who loves them, who cares about their wellbeing, who is tuned into them and is responsive to their needs. Where they feel safe and supported and loved. Attachment, relationship, connection and safety are vitally important for children's well-being.How & why homeschooling naturally evolved into natural learning for their family.The importance of surrounding yourself with like minded community and how her own community varied and evolved over the years.Seeing the value of all kinds of learning equally.How Joss navigated the teen years and the natural separation process with the strong foundation of love and support that has guided them throughout.The pathways her eldest took getting into TAFE and university.It's okay to take your children out of school. It's okay to do things differently. CONNECTInstagram - @awareparentingwithjossFacebook - Aware Parenting with JossWebsite - awareparenting.com.auNOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find quotes, links and references to all Joss shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

“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. They are all reaping the benefits of living life without school, with plenty of love and support.SUMMARYBorn and bred Tassie girl Bel attended a tiny primary school (42 kids in total) and aside from two difficult years, she mostly loved school. She had a great memory, was an early effortless reader and eager to please - a teacher's dream!Bel always knew she wanted to be a mum, but was unlucky in love. After a few nudges from others, she woke up one morning and thought, I'm just going to do it myself. It felt like the right thing to do and it was a straight forward IVF experience.Bel recalls how one property sparked all their imaginations and brought three generations of the one family together, six years ago.Her eldest son enjoyed his kindergarten experience so it came as a shock to Bel when his teacher suggested he would be labelled a naughty kid at school for being a bit of dreamer and that maybe she should consider homeschooling.When Tassie borders re-opened post covid lockdown, Bel's hand was forced into giving homeschooling a chance so to keep her family healthy in order to keep her business running.They began with a play based pre-school curriculum at home and were learning & deschooling on the fly with their choice to homeschool being a last minute decision."And then by the time I'd really read into homeschooling, I was like, well, this is it. I can't go back now.”How Bel is able to run her business, unschool her kids and take care of herself and her familyBel outlines how each member of the family has a different role to play in the larger dynamic of this multigenerational household and how these have naturally fallen into place over the years.Despite easily deschooling, Bel still gets the reading wobbles! Don't we all?Freedom and time together are her favourite aspects of homeschooling.Homeschooling kids deserve to have interests that aren't an educational topic.CONNECTInstagram - @bel.birdsNOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find quotes, links and references to all resources, books and inspiration Bel shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

"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 a geriatric retirement home for animals. Their unschooling experiment began during the covid pandemic lockdowns and they haven't looked back.SUMMARYGrowing up Ilaria's parents described school as her job. They went to work, she went to school. Her duty was to make the most of it and do a good job and she did. The idea of homeschooling began as a joke when Ilaria was deciding on which school to send her daughter to and none of the local options were overly impressive, but it was lockdowns that opened her eyes to the real possibility of adopting an unschooling lifestyle.Because her kids were home, she started observing them and thinking - if she let them do whatever they want, what would they actually learn?Once she saw first hand that they were naturally ticking off the curriculum, they began their unschooling adventure in earnest.Social connections, just like learning, are different in this lifestyle. Navigating teen friendships has been their greatest, but only challenge. Everything else has been a joy.Ilaria loves that her kids ask a tonne of really amazing, left field questions as she herself remembers never asking questions in class because she was so terrified of saying the wrong thing."For the first time in my life, I'm learning because I want to. You know, I think maybe that's secretly the best part of it."Ilaria and her family are a tech family, if they are not out and about in the world they tend to be on screens at home.Other resources that contribute to unschooling for their family are Chat GPT, the wildlife sanctuary where her daughter volunteers, musical theatre, boardgames, science kits, podcasts, audiobooks and social media.The Canberra Homeschool Open Day organised by Ilaria will be held on May 20th 2024 and you can find out more information about it via their website.“I do have hobbies. Like I love to sew and I make soap and all of that. But really, at the moment, my main hobby is homeschooling my kids. It sounds pretty, I don't know, weird. But I'm having a ball doing it.”INSPIRATIONUnschooling Mom2Mom podcastCONNECTInstagram - @unschooling_adventureCanberra Homeschool Open Day website - homeschoolopendaycanberra.weebly.comNOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find a more detailed summary of what Ilaria shares in this episode.FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

“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 mum to twin boys and a daughter (ages 6 and 3) bravely sharing how she's navigating these new, unchartered waters. SUMMARYElisa was the child who loved school and thrived academically, enjoying the accolades and recognition she received. She grew up in suburban Sydney only minutes from where she & her husband are now raising their own family, with grandparents close by for extra support.Her mother was a teacher and despite discouragement, both she and her sister followed in mums footsteps and became teachers themselves. It wasn't until her own boys started school at the same school she was working at, that her life did a complete 180.We shouldn't be preparing kids for school, we should be preparing them for life.Her own boys really enjoyed school. It wasn't that they disliked the concept of school and they were quite happy to go. They just really didn't enjoy the period in the classroom. They were happy to be with friends outside. They loved going to the canteen. They loved playing soccer. But it became quite clear that they weren't quite coping or enjoying what they were expected to do, sitting at a desk or table.Elisa believes the seeds were sown early on because she had started to question school, but almost didn't know that homeschooling was an option. Social media, podcasts and lockdowns gave Elisa the confidence to give homeschooling a shot. Overall her boys are enjoying being at home, they mostly enjoy learning. The challenge for Elisa has been to figure out how to teach without teaching or being a teacher. It's a learning process for all of them.Questioning school has prompted Elisa to look differently at other aspects of life, such as food choices, low-tox living and commercialisation. She wants her kids to know that the important, wonderful things in life are not a pair of Nike Air Jordans.Elisa wants her kids to be kind and school as it is today isn't the best environment to foster this.INSPIRATIONHunt Gather Parent - Michaeleen DoucleffThere's No Such Things as Bad Weather - Linda Åkeson McGurkA Matter of Principal - Mandy Davis1000 Hours Outside podcast CONNECTInstagram - @learning.beyond.four.wallsNOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find a more detailed summary of what Elisa shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

“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 Farrell's story. Nicki is an ex-teacher turned wildschooling, unschooling mum of two boys (aged 11 & 9), the co-founder of Wildlings Forest School and co-host of the Raising Wildlings Podcast. SUMMARY:Nicki grew up as a free range kid in country South Australia, spending all her free time roaming outdoors and climbing trees.Her tiny country school consisted of just 60 children. The teachers there knew their students on such individual levels and could cater for their differing needs.Nicki found her schooling experience as a teacher vastly different from what she had encountered as a child, and that was a big reason to not send her own children to school in the end.As soon as she had her own children she immediately thought: "For years I've been doing things to children I wouldn't want done to my own."Nikki & Vicki met at a playgroup and instantly connected. Before creating Wildlings, they started out as a structured learning co-op. However after observing the kids in free play at the nearby creek afterwards they realised what they had been trying to ‘teach' them, they were naturally just learning through play.Nicki shares what a typical week looks like for their family, with her husband working 4-5 days, Nicki working in her business 2-3 days, co-ops, forest school and slow days at home.20-30 years ago, homeschooling was really unusual. But here and now, it's it is absolutely booming on the Sunshine Coast which she is certain has one of the highest rates of homeschoolers in the country."AI has imploded education already. Absolutely, it is going to turn it on its head to the point that I'm wondering, why are we sending children to school?”If Nikki were principal for a day she would scrap traditional schooling, full stop. But she still loves the idea of families and children meeting, forming social friendships and exploring the world and learning together. Can we keep it that simple?Each child is different, so what works for one child might not work for the other and that's okay. That's the beauty of home education, you really can cater in a way that schools absolutely cannot.Comparison is the thief of joy - do what's best for your family, not what everybody else is doing.CONNECT:Website - wildlingsforestschool.com Instagram - @wildlings_forestschool and @raising_wildlings_podcastNOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find quotes, links and references to all resources, books and inspiration Nicky shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

“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 homeschooling, a dilemma many modern home educating families face. Summary:Homeschooling was a very unusual choice 30 years ago. She never thought of herself as weird or strange but looking back she could see how tiny the homeschooling community must have been compared to what it is now.Whilst it might have been true back then, the perception that people have of homeschooling today, that children aren't going to be able to socialise and they will be stuck at home, is so inaccurate.School as it is currently laid out, is not very effective.Having a transformative VBAC home birth with her second child proved to be a catalyst for considering homeschooling for her own children.When your child is two and you are going to the local show that's got diggers, you are unschooling. You're following your child's interests. You just keep doing that as they get older, ignoring that there's an arbitrary age where some people have decided that we should start doing learning only through doing book work and we should start learning only by doing a particular subject in a particular way.Debbie shares her interpretation of the differences between unschooling and radical unschooling. She doesn't believe anyone identifies with radical unschooling unless they actually are unschooling all of the time.Debbie created The Village Hub as there was no place that existed where you could take your kids and they could have some fun and you could also get some work done. The Village Hub is an unschooling friendly space. It is not structured. It is free play. It is messy play.With the homeschool community continuing to grow, this could be the way of the future - having hubs in every area of Australia is her next dream because it really does tick so many boxes. She would love to mentor others to open something similar to The Village Hub in other areas of Queensland and Australia.On the 6th of March 2024, legislation changes were proposed that impact homeschooling in Queensland and Debbie is working with the Free 2 Homeschool advocacy team. She outlines the major changes that are being proposed and how we can all get involved and do our bit to help.NOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to dive deeper and find quotes, links and references that Debbie shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect:Instagram - @thevillagehub.qldFacebook - The Village HubInstagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.

“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. SUMMARY:Anna was born in Kalgoorlie but has lived in Perth since she was 6 years old. She met her husband on a trip to South Africa and convinced him to move to WA where they are now raising their family together.Being the recipient of a high school music scholarship didn't equate to Anna loving school. She would have loved to have been homeschooled herself.Seeing the best and worst of kids lives, working in school chaplaincy prior to having kids herself, was a contributing factor to choosing to homeschool.Homeschooling was always on her radar. It wasn't a really ‘out there' decision for them, which made the choice easy, and they also didn't experience any negative reactions from friends, family or their larger community.Anna loves the efficiency of homeschooling - particularly the one-on-one learning aspect of homeschooling, which schools aren't able to replicate.Theirs is a literature based homeschool - books are at the centre of everything they do. Literature is the spine.Letting the kids loose in the library can lead to tangents of learning they may follow for a week.Being a one income family, the library is an incredible resource that she utilises to the utmost. Nature Discovery is an Australian nature study curriculum she wrote because she couldn't find a resource that addressed the things that her kids saw around them.Connection drives all that they undertake and she loves being able to learn through experiences together. All life is learning.Books are wonderful, but there is a big world to experience out there beyond the books too.Her favourite thing about this lifestyle is getting to hang out with her kids and learn alongside them. Learning does't stop at the completion of grade 12. Homeschooling extends childhood and play, and you can keep playing as an adult too.Wanting her kids to have a tree climbing childhood, pottering about in the garden and being part of the natural world.CONNECTInstagram - @naturediscoveryauFacebook - Nature DiscoveryWebsite - Nature DiscoveryNOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find quotes, resources and inspiration Anna shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

“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 schools, but it was the solace and peace of being next to water that solidified their choice to call this area home.Early on people would point out that her child had a lot of anxiety and that she was so attached, but isn't that how humans are designed to be? We are supposed to be close to our caregivers. They migrated to Melbourne without any support system, all their family live in India. Finding other friends who homeschool has been an incredible help and given their family both mental and physical support.There is chaos in bringing a younger sibling into the mix of homeschooling but it is also enriching for the sibling connections and bonding - if her daughter were in school right now, her son would hardly see her.Open your house up to welcome friends in, share a meal together, do a craft together. It can be hard finding the people with whom you can connect with on a deeper level.Intentionally not over-scheduling their week. Letting them be, giving them free time to tinker around - she values that more.Homeschooling minimally means not having more things and more materials. Not overwhelming yourself with the multitude of curriculum choices out there. It's very easy to bring overwhelm into your space. It's about prioritising less. She is looking forward to seeing the beautiful people her children turn out to be and the joy they bring to othersRead more, talk to people who have been doing this for a long time. It's easier and less daunting than it seems.INSPIRATIONSimplicity Parenting - Kim John Payne (book)Unconditional Parenting - Alfie Kohn (book)The Secret of Childhood - Maria Montessori (book)Good Inside Podcast - Dr Becky Kennedy@bigmothering (instagram) @mainly.montesorri.homeschool (instagram) @wonderled.life (instagram)RESOURCESBlossom & Root - Nature based, secular homeschooling curriculum CONNECTInstagram - @waliarichaNOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find quotes and read aloud recommendations Richa shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYGrowing up on the Sunshine Coast, Sara went from being private schooled herself to zero percent school for her own children. Once she became a mother, admiring her curious, happy, carefree children, all she could think was that school would wreck this.If you had asked her as a child whether she enjoyed school herself she would have said she loved it, but looking back she can only remember the bad things, such as being overwhelmed and stressed by assessments and carrying everyday anxiety that she might get in trouble.The stereotype of teens being lazy is not her experience at all, they are on the go all the time, the have a million ideas and projects. They are not what people say. As a result of starting young and never sending her kids to school, they have grown up being in control of their own interests and learning for so long they are experts now.Sara defines adultism/childism and how this is perpetrated throughout modern day society. There is a way to do things better, where we can all be equal.We all have different responsibilities based on our age and our relationship to children but that doesn't mean we have different rights.Unschooling is an extension of respectful parentingDeschooling never ends. There is always more that comes ups and every age your kid gets to there is something else. She and her husband got to a point where they had read too much and could not knowingly send their girls to school knowing what they knew. Once you've gone down the rabbit hole, there is no turning back.More people need to talk about homeschooling and unschooling, so more people know this in an option, because so many still don't.The importance of having a community and feeling like you belongHow her community has evolved over the years from early years to teens - book club, project fairs, talent show, markets, monthly excursions and lots of hanging out and playing.Why we need to stop using the word sacrifice when it comes to choosing home education.There is no end date to learning. Her own teenage daughter's perspective is that nothing's really going to change when she turns 18, they'll just keep living like they are now and life will carry on as it always has.You have a lot of time. You don't need to know what you're doing, you can just start and work it out as you go along. All of us are making it up as we go along.No one is an expert. You can literally do whatever works for your family.NOTE: This is an abridged version of the show notes.Follow the link below to find quotes and references to all resources, books and inspiration Sara shares in this episode:FULL SHOW NOTES HEREConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool StoriesThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYAs a loud, outgoing, social girl, Danika loved school, particularly the social side, and like most parents thought her own kids would follow in her footstepsWhen her eldest began school, she was looking forward to getting more time to herself, to be able to focus on her career, but a twisting, turning waterslide of a year lay ahead, one she could not have foreseenHer son's anxiety prompted her to undertake placement as a teachers aide and it was this experience which opened her eyes to what actually goes on in the classroomIt quickly became clear to her that teachers are under resourced and time poor. They are all not being seen and heard and it's the same thing, day in, day out.It took a trauma for Danika to come to homeschooling and that trauma had a massive effect on everyone in their family, but she is proof you can come out the other side “I had to strip back what was expected of me from society, what was expected of me from our families, drown out all the noise and just listen to my child.”Deschooling meant recalibrating what she thought her life was going to look like and she believes they are all better versions of themselves having the time and space to beWhat lifeschooling looks like for their family of four nowNeurodiverse kids in school are often brushed to the side and sent elsewhere, but they are going through traumatic feelings, and we as adults rush them along, not giving them the space they need. They get told to be quiet and sit still, but they are  trying to regulate their bodies so they can listen.If you are on the fence about homeschooling, ask yourself “What's important to you?” You've really got to sit with that. Are you doing something just because you are expected to?Losing one whole income doesn't mean you can't still travel and adventure, it's just not on such a grand scale. Microadventures are just as important and homeschoolers have the freedom to go wherever they want, whenever they want.“School works for some, it doesn't work for others, the beauty of life is that we have a choice. I feel like we made the best choice for our family.”INSPIRATIONStark Raving Dad podcastHer Homeschooling Era podcastA Different Way to Learn - Dr Naomi FisherChanging Our Minds - Dr Naomi FisherMothering Our Boys - Maggie DentRaising Boys - Steve BiddulphAdaptEd - Neurodiversity HandbookCONNECT@danikajainConnect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstoriesSubstack - Australian Homeschool Storiesaustralianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

"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.SUMMARYHow Micarlé and her husband came to be living in Anglesea, her long standing connection to this small seaside town and wanting for her kids what both she and her husband had growing up in small country town communitiesMicarlé's education saw her throwing herself into everything and anything and milking school for the all extracurriculars on offer, in contrast to her husband's experience feeling disengaged from learning and not being reached by his teachersAs a service orientated person she was drawn to the teaching profession and taught in a range of secondary schools before taking the leap into home educating her own childrenWe discuss applied learning pathways for teens in high school, a space she worked in for many years under the VCAL/VCEVM program and how different schools have differing stigmas around these streamsAfter 15 years teaching in the secondary space, she began questioning whether the mainstream school system would even work for her own childrenMicarlé recalls how the pandemic gave their family a glimpse into what homeschooling could be like and how they transitioned over the lock down years from remote learning and remote teaching to fully fledged homeschoolersBusting the myth “You're a teacher, it makes sense for you to homeschool" - deschooling for any parent is hard but deschooling for teachers is even harderHomeschooling has given their daughter time and space to rebuild her confidence and self-worth and for that reason alone it has been the best decision they ever madeHow Micarlé came to be the owner of Fearless Homeschool and what to expect from the 8th Australian Homeschooling Summit, that runs from the 4th-15th March 2024The summit includes 30+ online workshops such as how to afford homeschooling, curriculum comparisons, sustainable living, feeling empowered in unschooling, as well as teen, graduate, neurodiversity and tech panels. You can find out all the details and get your ticket hereINSPIRATIONCarol Dweck Dr Dan SiegelBrené Brown CONNECT@fearlesshomeschoolAustralian Homeschooling Summit websiteFearless Homeschool website~Connect with us:Instagram - @australianhomeschoolstories Substack - Australian Homeschool Storiesaustralianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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 rise, year on year, and that there has never been a better time to home educate than now. Homeschoolers now make up over 1% of the student population in Australia and we are a pretty rad bunch of people to hang with, if I do say so myself.Wherever you are in your own family's journey of homeschooling / unschooling / natural learning / wild schooling / road schooling / life schooling, it it my hope you will find inspiration, encouragement and camaraderie within the stories you will hear this season on the show.New episodes will be with you at the tail end of February.Happy Homeschooling in 2024!~Connect with us:Instagram -  @australianhomeschoolstories Substack - https://aushomeschoolstories.substack.com/Email - australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYThe 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 she thrived academically but struggled socially, underpinned by the stability of her home life which she credits to her mothers presence as a stay at home parent  Teaching these days is not just teaching - there's so much that is thrown onto teachers which is not part of what they are trained to do, which is to teach the curriculum, and how this is contributing to burn out in the professionAs parents we put a lot of faith into someone we don't actually know very well to educate our kids but the important things we hold near and dear should be coming from usBeing a blended family with older step children who live interstate plays a big part in their choice to home educate in that they don't have to worry about conflicting school holiday schedules interfering with sibling relationships The roles she and her husband have opted for and how their dynamic works to everyones benefit in their familyWhy do we have to wait until they are 5 or 6? The importance of connecting and forming communities with other families of pre-homeschool aged kids Having two bright girls with a penchant to learn from a very young age informs her choice to homeschool having experienced first hand that kids who excel in school often get forgotten about “We want to be the ones that are guiding them and setting them up for life and for adulthood and we just feel like this is the best way to have the biggest impact on what kind of people they go out into the world as”If you want it badly enough you will find a way to make it workINSPIRATIONHold onto your kids - Dr Gordon Neufeld & Gabor MatéDumbing us Down - John Taylor GattoConsider asking your local library to order in a copy of these books if they don't already have them in their catalogueEmma @play_at_home_mummy Instagram Jules @storiesofplay Instagram Life Without School Podcast by Stark Raving DadCONNECT@homemakerhaven.blog InstagramHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYCeleste'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 start her family in a place where her heart had always belongedBeing an intelligent kid who struggled in school due to an undiagnosed learning disability that wasn't picked up until year 10Wishing she could go back in time and pluck herself out of school, bring herself over to her house, now, and learn all the things she wanted to know, that the teachers always told her noAfter initially viewing home education through a Steiner lense, over time her kids showed her that an unschooling approach was more suited to their learning  styles and personalities "My kids are just not the type of kids that sit around randomly finger knitting at the table or building a lemonade stand out the front - they want to climb trees, throw rocks and play with sticks" Celeste defines Wildschooling (term coined by Nicolette Sowder) as having a home education environment that's deeply rooted in the natural world and shares what this practically looks like for her familyThe benefits of having a nature rich childhood which Celeste has witnessed with her own kidsThe trap of overscheduling - trying to manage their time well but wanting to do all of the thingsThe burden of responsibility - the buck stops with us for everything. You can't palm anything off onto school, it's all on us as homeschooling parents.“I don't feel like I need a holiday from my life. I've tried to build a life that they can be a part of too.”Her tips for getting kids outdoors more - having all the gear, being prepared and sticking with itINSPIRATIONNicolette Sowder - Wildschooling websiteUnconditional Parenting - Alfie KohnThe Brave Learner - Julie BogartChanging our Minds - Naomi FisherA Different Way to Learn - Naomi FisherCall of the Wild and Free - Ainsley ArmentConsider asking your local library to order in a copy of these books if they don't already have them in their catalogueSage Family PodcastExploring Unschooling PodcastWild and Free Podcast CONNECT@freerangejourney InstagramHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYJasmin's schooling journey across various Catholic all-girls private schools in NSW and the ACT, where she was heavily involved in representation sport and extra curricula activitiesFeeling limited in subject choices at high school being a person with multiple passionsThere are multiple ways to approach education and they have chosen an eclectic, project based home learning style How Jasmin and her husband have woven their children into their family sports coaching businessesWhy she decided to build her own homeschooling community from the ground up by starting not one, but two, co-ops in her area Living in the Hunter region is great for homeschooling where everything and anything is on offer to home educating familiesThe importance of involving grandparents, aunts and uncles in their homeschooling and sharing the load with them directly so they can see the benefits of this lifestyle firsthandHer passion for imparting lifelong skills and fostering lifelong learnersCelebrating the magical moments when our children's enthusiasm and passion align with our ownThe importance of relying on community through good and tough times, akin to how we once lived in villages and tribes, where everyone looks out for and supports one another to thriveINSPIRATIONHackschooling Makes Me Happy - TED TalkStark Raving Dad GuidesFree to Learn - Peter GrayCONNECT@jasminkable - Instragramkablesconnection@gmail.comHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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.SUMMARYAaron fondly recounts his own positive schooling experience in Devon, England attending an all boys Grammar school where he thrived in a competitive academic and sport centric settingAccidentally becoming a teacher and how his experiences of teaching in both Australia and the UK differHow his perspective has changed from climbing the career ladder to focusing on enjoyment as the benchmark of successWhat high school looks like today for teens and the rise in mental health challenges he has witnessed over his careerAnxiety, stress, competition, rankings - Aaron shares stories of the pressures his students apply to themselves that he believes they needn't be worrying aboutAll schools are judged by their results and until the end game changes you won't see whole scale changeWhat school would look like if Aaron were principal for the dayHe advocates for always choosing the path that you know will bring you joyKeep kids being kids for as long as possible. It's easy to grow up early, especially in schools now and they've got plenty of time to be oldMany of the issues he sees arising in kids at school are based around interactions and technology, and misguided use of technologyYou don't need a VCE certificate and if you do get a VCE certificate it doesn't mean you are going to do well at life. It doesn't matter. Find something you love doing and do more of that.INSPIRATIONDoughnut Economics - Kate RaworthPractising Simplicity - Jodi WilsonThis One Wild & Precious Life - Sarah WilsonStolen Focus - Johann HariConsider asking your local library to order in a copy of these books if they don't already have them in their collectionThe Imperfects PodcastFuturestead PodcastAustralian Homeschool Stories - Episode 3 - SarahCONNECTmraaronwilliams@hotmail.comHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYThe 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 involved in education, made for a childhood where learning and living were synonymousJo sees homeschooling as a choice to value education and to share what it can be to have that learning more naturally through lifeThe Charlotte Mason philosophy is best described as a generous feast. A broad, balanced approach to making sure that no matter what the skills, talents or interests of the child, they all have the capacity to learnHow Jo settled on Charlotte Mason home education for her family and how they have adopted this philosophy to a modern Australian perspectiveThe pillars of a CM education - living books, narration, nature study, art, music and handcraftsHow her homeschool has evolved from the early years of play to raising teenagers, what's changed and what's stayed consistentHer eldest's pathway to university and Jo's insightful advice to all parents when considering higher education for their kids, whether homeschooled or notJo's involvement in My Homeschool - Resources that parents can feel confident using to offer a Charlotte Mason homeschooling approach that still meets Australian curriculum standardsHoping to be great friends with her adult children and approaching this in terms of developing a life and an education that they share togetherSeek out the beauty - it's not just about ticking the boxes“I hope they can see a broader version of who they are and who they can be”INSPIRATIONCommonplace Quarterly magazine - The ABC's of a Charlotte Mason Education Modern Miss Mason - Leah BodenWhen Children Love to Learn - Elaine CooperIn Memoriam: A Tribute to Charlotte Mason - Brandy VencelConsider asking your local library to order in a copy of these books if they don't currently have them in their collectionCONNECT@grace_and_clarity Instagram@inspiremyhomeschool Instagrammyhomeschool.comHomeschooling Consultative Group through NESAHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYCarla'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 newborn shifted her worldview and made her realise she wanted to do things differentlyThe first time she came across the term unschooling she was studying for her masters of teaching and the connection she felt to this philosophy was instantaneousThe struggle of persisting with societal expectations, trying to find the right environment, the right place, the right people for her son after he was diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and PDA at two years oldShe'd been adamant that she wasn't going to homeschool up until COVID lockdowns began but saw first hand how content and happy her son was simply being at homeCo-parenting and co-homeschooling - How Carla and her ex juggle their livesThe story of how her eldest learnt to read of his own accord Celebrating what our kids can do instead of what they haven't mastered, yetHer experience of attending her first homeschool campValuing wellbeing over happiness“The school system is designed to suit the largest majority and you can't get around that, there's just no way of making it fit for everyone”INSPIRATIONThe Call of the Wild and Free - Ainsley ArmentHomegrown - Ben HewittThe Art of Self Directed Learning - Blake BolesA Different Way to Learn - Naomi FisherWhy Are You Still Sending Your Kids to School? - Blake BolesUnschooled - Kerry McDonaldFree to Learn - Peter GrayJohn Holt's booksJohn Taylor Gatto's booksConsider asking your local library to order in a copy of these books if they don't currently have them in their collectionHenry Giroux https://freyadawson.com.au/https://theeducatingparent.com/https://happinessishereblog.com/Homeschool Camps Victoria Facebook pageCONNECT@unschoolerlife InstagramHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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).SUMMARYHer career has been guided by understanding why we are the way we are - what we can do to support babies, children and adults to have a fulfilling, connected and powerful lifeAware Parenting is about how we can be with our children, our babies and their feelings and The Marion Method is about how we can reparent ourselves, shift our cultural conditioning and break free from the “disconnected domination culture”Being heavily influenced by Montessori in her children's early yearsWhy Marion prefers the term natural learning over unschooling or homeschoolingReconditioning and deschooling was a long process for her, it took time to build complete and utter trust and value all forms of learningThe beauty of watching the gradual and natural progression of independence instead of it being forced upon her children by premature separationHer struggles with finding and maintaining community Her kids differing experiences shifting from natural learning into TAFE Connection, compassion, choice, agency, trust and finding ways to get everyones needs met have been her guiding values How Marion juggled her career, becoming a single parent and home educating her children at the same timeThe joys of multigenerational living - we need elders and grandparents and community support so that everyone can flourish - we are supposed to be living like thisTrust your kids and enjoy your kids, do what you love and have funINSPIRATIONThe Aware Parenting PodcastThe Aware Parenting and Natural Learning PodcastThe Psychospiritual PodcastRaising Resilient and Compassionate Kids BookThe Emotional Life of Babies BookCONNECTMarionrose.net@_marion_rose_ Instagram@awareparenting InstagramHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYBeing 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 - also loves painting, drawing, working with clay and jewellery and this passion for art has now trickled down to her own childrenHer husband suggested homeschooling in relation to his own negative school experience and the more they looked into it, the more they likedMotherhood is the true beginning of homeschooling because it's just this natural flow on that doesn't stopIt's just as important for the parents as it is for the kids to have communityWanting their kids to feel supported in who they are and never experience bullying in a school setting that both she and her husband enduredGetting to experience four full seasons where they live and how they celebrate each one - poetry tea time, nature journalling, seasonal displays, nature crafts and wheel of the year“The joy is getting to witness all those little moments with my children that I would miss out on and also the moments they wouldn't get to experience if they weren't living this lifestyle.”Deschooling has been her greatest struggle and how she handles judgementA holistic education is hand in hand with interest based learning - mind, body and spirit, hands on sensory learning, handcrafts and nature craftsYou don't have to spend a lot of money to homeschool. Melinda advocates for making your own resources and gives examples of using natural materials that produce no wasteYou are learning with your child along the way so you don't need to know everythingINSPIRATIONJosie @onwillowsbend InstagramBrene BrownDr. Shefali TsabaryStark Raving Dad BlogCONNECT@deerandfawns InstagramDeer and Fawns WebsiteHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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.SUMMARYLaura recounts what life was like for her moving around and attending  a number of different schools (including a brief stint being homeschooled herself)Becoming a mum at the age of 23 opened up a whole new way of living and being for her that was extremely satisfying and fulfillingDeciding to commit to homeschooling when her eldest was two years old after feeling pressure to put her daughter in daycare and enrol in preschoolUnschooling for their family is very child led, they don't follow a curriculum, don't have a lot of structure that's imposed on the kids, it's flexible and flowingAfter her husband moved into full time remote work following the pandemic, they decided to begin planning their big adventurous life they now liveTravelling indefinitely without a home to go back to - “This is our life now. Here for the journey and here for the adventure and excited for where that continues to lead us”The challenges, rhythm and resources of road schooling for their familyConnection as their big why for choosing this lifestyleHow Laura is addressing the basics of health and self care whilst on the roadHer tips and advice for other families wanting to travel AustraliaPermission to be creative with your lifeINSPIRATIONThe Call of the Wild and Free - Ainsley ArmentThe Brave Learner - Julie BogartRaising Free People - Akilah S RichardsJohn Taylor Gatto's books(Consider asking your local library to order in a copy of these books if they don't already have them in their collection)Sage Family PodcastSara Happiness Is Here BlogStark Raving Dad BlogCONNECT@this.wild.mama - InstagramThis Wild Mama - SubstackHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comSign up to our substack to be notified of new episode releases:Australian Homeschool Stories Mailing ListThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYAfter growing up in country NSW she moved to Melbourne, where she met Michael and thus began their journey in search of the place they now call homeStarting a new veggie garden in her small rental backyard in Warragul combined with listening to the futuresteading podcast inspired Carolyn and her family to seek out a more sustainably focused community and a google search lead them to YackandandahHow becoming a mum changed her whole being, the lived experience being so different to what she had imaginedFinding what didn't work for her family lead them to homeschoolingCarolyn positively reflects upon her own education in which she felt free from pressure to perform academically. Not being tied to the outcome meant she could enjoy all aspects of her schooling experienceConnection - to each other, to ourselves, to our community - drives everythingAllowing her kids to create, be, rest and play - each week looks different depending on where they are at and what the weather is doingHolding back from jumping into community and outsourced activities so deeper connections can be found slowly and intentionally with likeminded familiesYou really don't need much at all to have an abundance of wealth. It's the simple pleasures of life that money can't buyContinuing to live bravely and try different ways of living that are aligned to the values that we hold so dearA garden and a library is all you needIt's not just not doing school. Choosing joy as the lense to approach homeschoolingINSPIRATIONHomegrown - Ben Hewitt (book)Consider asking your local library to purchase a copy if they don't currently have this book in their collectionFuturesteading PodcastLucy AitkenRead @lucy_aitkenreadCONNECTInstagram - @carolyn_doyneHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land. Original music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposer

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. SUMMARYDan 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 to university as a mature aged student later in lifeMusic is his greatest passion but he became burnt out by the industry in his twenties, only to rediscover his love for it after becoming a parent and seeing the joy music brought to our childrenReflecting back on how this podcast came about and how we have combined our talents to make it possibleDan's initial reaction to my want to homeschool, in contrast to having placed our daughter on two private high school waiting lists from birthHis de-schooling process was a long, slow journey which he believes largely stems from his own school baggageHow homeschool naturally aligned with our family values, and felt like the final piece of the puzzle in achieving the home based lifestyle we were seekingCreativity is what we want to instil in our children and carve out time forCuriosity is the foundation of all knowledge, the bedrock for a lifetime of learningDan is completely self taught as a musician and this gives him immense confidence that homeschooling is the right path to pursueRetrospectively imagining if you took school out of the picture for kids that it didn't serveDan's advice to skeptical parents - be open minded, take your time, everyone has the same concerns INSPIRATIONPeter Gray - Free to LearnJohn Taylor Gatto - Dumbing us DownStark Raving Dad CONNECTDaddy Dan The Music Man SpotifyDaddy Dan The Music Man YouTubeDaniel Garrood Spotify@garroodcomposer InstagramHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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.SUMMARYSuze reflects on the contradictions of her own schooling - uniform mandates, compulsory sport - and the hangovers of people pleasing and authority intimidationHow the introduction of the national curriculum shifted things for her professionally, witnessing the effects of the academic push down to do more youngerHer eldest daughter's apathetic experience of school and how Suze reacted to the commonly touted advice "She'll adapt" Her husbands (hilarious in hindsight) reaction to her suggestion of considering homeschool and how he came around to the idea“I actually can't reconcile what I know and believe about learning now with being a classroom teacher.”How Suze and her husband structure their week with support from her parents so they can both work and homeschoolTime, freedom, front row seats and watching her children choose to be friends are just some of her favourite things about this lifestyleThe challenges of homeschooling aren't that different from parenting and they are far outweighed by the benefitsNot every family is able or willing to homeschool and her aim is to make education and life more joyful for all childrenThe importance of defining what they value as a family and knowing if the decisions that they make pull them closer to or take them further away from those valuesThe joy of living intentional, purposeful and meaningful livesINSPIRATIONChanging our minds - Dr Naomi Fisher (book)CONNECT@wonder.and.flourish instagramHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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! SUMMARYHow 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 changed completely when she came to Australia to complete her tertiary educationLikewise, she always knew she wanted to homeschool - "If I was going to be teaching someone anyway, I might as well teach my own kids" - and Dan's complete trust and faith in Jules' visionFamily as their core value and being the biggest influence in their girls livesHow their extended family have embraced their lifestyle and the flexibility it allows for them to spend time with their relatives both here and overseasHow Jules & Dan juggle working from home and homeschooling togetherNo curriculum, just play. It's all about doing life together.There is so much more to life than studying and getting good gradesHow their business teaches parents to harness the power of play - curating & creating a play space that inspires children to imagine, discover, explore and createDan's brave decision to leave the corporate world to be more involved with the family and never looking backFridays are for family adventure days!CONNECT@storiesofplay instagramStories of Play websiteStories of Play facebookHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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 garden and the simple pleasure of getting to spend more time with his kids.SUMMARYRetrospectively appreciating the tight-knit community village he grew up in, which he hopes to replicate for his boysPaul's reflection on his journey of unremarkably coasting through school leading him in search of worldly life experiences before ending up in the high pressure environment of Melbourne's fine dining sceneThe juggle of balancing his career whilst raising their kids has been a continued imagination of how life looksHow they chose to intentionally transition their boys out of school so the whole family could be included in the incredible experiences his work presents togetherWhat a typical homeschooling week looks like for the West family in this season of lifeMaximising the enjoyment of the golden era of childhood his kids are inThe amazing outdoor classroom that is the home garden and the friendly dialogue it opens up with the natural worldThe future for our kids is digital and when used for creation instead of consumption, screens are an incredible tool for our kids to make use ofFeeling known and a part of their community is a huge priority in their lives, particularly building connections in the early years to be able to lean on their mentorship in the older yearsGrow it Local - imagining a world where everyone is gardenerThe parallels between gardening and homeschoolingWanting to be the one who shows his kids the way to be in the worldINSPIRATIONPip Magazine Podcast - Episode 26 with Paul WestFuturesteading Podcast - Season 3, Episode 25 with Paul WestAll the Dirt Podcast - Episode 196 with Paul WestCONNECT@_paul_west_ instagramGrow it Local website@growitlocal instagramHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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.SUMMARYThe 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 through school was lost completely at university and how she rediscovered this passion later in life but from the angle of pure creation and joy over perfectionismHer husband's brief experience of homeschooling during his own childhood made him adamant he would homeschool his own kids and Sheree's inital reaction to this was "No, homeschool kids are weird"Reflecting upon her own education with undiagnosed dyslexia and how this made her a self-learner The fears she faced adopting this lifestyle - socialisation, what will people think, how will I make it workAccepting that not everyone in your life will understand and support your choices and that is okayBusting the myth of the selfish only childWhat our homeschool community co-op looks like and how it operatesThe incredible resource that is your local toy libraryLess is more in homeschool and lifeINSPIRATIONThe Life Without School podcast Hi Fam podcastHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYComparing their son's catholic kinder to their daughter's Steiner playgroup led Christian to suggest they consider homeschool which Sam thought was a crazy idea initiallyNot wanting their kids to be stuck behind a desk all dayOnce you read all the books and know what you know, you can't go backTheir eldest child's pathway through mainstream schooling, the pressure of getting him into their private school of choice and the devastation Sam felt when he was rejected despite doing backflips to get him inDespite their son not wanting to be homeschooled, he has still got a lot of the benefits of the homeschooling lifestyleHow Christian's FIFO schedule works for their family and affords more quality time for him with their kidsSam & Christian's reflection on their own schooling - bullying, bad teachers and just wanting to hang out with their matesBeginning homeschool with a Waldorf curriculum which quickly evolved into natural learning and following the interests of their kidsFalling into a pot of goodness with their community after speed dating on Facebook homeschool groups to find their tribeSam & Christian want their kids to be life long learners, to respect Mother Earth, be free and active and not feel pressured to fit into boxesTheir advice to parents of teens struggling in the system and to Dads who may be reluctant to embrace this lifestyleRESOURCESThe Good & The Beautiful - curriculum Born WiseEducated by NatureWe Are Nature NetworkWild Movement PerthINSPIRATIONStark Raving Dad BlogBrave Writer Podcast - Julie BogartRobin Grille PsychologistBOOKSThe Wild + Free Family - Ainsley ArmentHomegrown - Ben Hewitt Weapons of Mass Instruction - John Taylor GattoRaising Free People - Akilah S RichardsLast Child in the Woods - Richard LouvHow to Raise a Wild Child - Scott D Sampson(Consider asking your local library to purchase a copy if they don't currently have these books in their collection)CONNECT@little.beach.farm Instagram@wearenaturenetwork InstagramHave you for a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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. SUMMARYGrowing up with a 'socially acceptable amount of school trauma'How her leap from high school to university was a huge shock to her system The honest reality of being a mother struggling at home with three kids under threeHow negative self talk and self criticism began to manifest in her eldest daughter from her experience at kinder in stark contrast to the positive mental health she and her husband had been consciously nurturing in their children from birthJumping head first into home education despite the hundreds of horrifying fears that she would stuff it up and how this is a completely natural process of deschooling your own brainThe first year of homeschooling is complete chaos and the biggest learning experience for the parentThe surprising love her children have for workbooks despite consciously not wanting to replicate school at homeThe support and dynamic her husband brings to their homeschooling lifeUsing 'nutritious' resources as a support network and safety net that allow for independent, self-directed learningThe code of silence we fail to inform our teenagers about - the myriad of ways other than VCE to get into higher educationHer hope for a joyful & positive childhood her grown adult children can reminisce about spent together as a familyYou don't have to be an avid reader or academic to homeschool!Motherhood is all consuming, but homeschool is not despite the reputationWhAt AbOuT sOcIaLiSaTiOn? The most ludicrous concern you'll encounterComparison is the thief of joy - don't compare your home to schoolRESOURCESMEL Science kitsCosmic Kids YogaProdigies MusicKiwiCo STEM boxesINSPIRATIONFree to Learn - Peter GrayThe Smartest Kids in the World - Amanda RipleyHomeschooling Bravely - Jamie EricksonRaising Critical Thinkers - Julie BogartHow Children Learn - John HoltConsider asking your local library to purchase a copy of these books if they don't already have them in their catalogueCONNECT@learninginourworld InstagramHave you got a story to tell? Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original MusicHazel - Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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.  SUMMARYPracticing aware parenting so her children don't have to grow up and heal from their childhoodBeing aware of everyday stresses and focusing on the emotional wellbeing of childrenHelping children build strong emotional foundations and self awareness through her Natural Learning HavenBeing labelled as "too quiet" and how this affected her experience at schoolRefusing to conform, feeling alienated and distrusting teachersHow the system does not support teachers and this in turn affects childrenHow the reading of Harry Potter cemented her confidence in homeschoolingLearning to read when the child is ready to readSteph's eldest son requested to go to school at age 6 and the dilemma of wanting to homeschool but also respect her child's autonomyFeeling like a failure as a homeschooling mum because they want to go to schoolHer son's experience of deschooling and finding his way back to thriving in a thematic learning style at home "We are lifelong learners. You don't have to learn everything in 18 years."Turning to books, nature and yoga as her way of rechargingThe needs of the parent are just as important as the childsINSPIRATIONFree to Learn - Peter GrayUnschooled - Kerry McDonaldThe Call of the Wild + Free - Ainsley ArmentThe Wild + Free Family - Ainsley ArmentRaising Critical Thinkers - Julie Bogart(Consider asking your local library to purchase a copy if they don't currently have these books in their collection)CONNECTSpirited Hearts website@spirited_hearts instagramSpirited Hearts podcastHave you for a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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 trusting in them and as much as herself with the support of community both online and in reality. SUMMARYBeing a defence family meant they moved often but after her husband left the army they chose Brisbane as their home base because of the lifestyle and communityEmma reflects on her own education in Melbourne and Sydney being an under the radar kind of studentFeeling drawn to teaching due to her love of children and mother duck natureAssuming she would return to the teaching profession until her eldest daughter was on the precipice of school but knowing her daughter, following her lead and development, knowing what awaited her, she had a gut feeling it wouldn't be rightBacking herself that she knew her child and would be able to homeschoolYou don't need to be a teacher to homeschool but it does help other people believe that you canThe long journey of de-schooling and how they started out in a school-at-home mindset which didn't work before evolving into unschoolingLetting go of control has been the hardest but best thing she's doneFollow the lead of the child - no set expectations, tune into what they needThe importance of putting yourself out there to find communityEmma's experience of starting her own in person homeschooling group that ran in her absence and that they were able to rejoin when they moved back to BrisbaneThe joy of inspiring others to play through social mediaThe benefits of a multi-age environmentIt all comes down to trustINSPIRATIONFree to Learn - Peter GraySocial media homeschooling groups - Facebook groups in particularSeek out real life support from a homeschooling community CONNECT@play_at_home_mummy InstagramPlay At Home Mummy FacebookHave you for a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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 friendshipGrowing up in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, attending a small community based kinder and primary school, walking to the local high schoolBecoming a registered nurse before jet setting to London and relishing this rite of passage for the freedom and independence that travel in your early 20s can bringMeeting her English husband overseas and deciding to put their roots down on the Mornington Peninsula, escaping the rate race for the slow life by the beachComing across homeschooling through the gentle/natural parenting pathWishing she had more education pre-motherhood on alternatives such as home birth and attachment parentingHow having her eldest daughter attend 3 year old kinder made her want to dive deeper into researching how homeschooling could look for their familyAdopting homeschooling organically and slowlyHow Sarah's husband who is a teacher grappled with the idea of homeschooling his own childrenThe rise in homeschooling in Australia as a response to the pandemic and lockdownsHow homeschooling has made them question how they live full stop.The value in sibling connections & shared experiencesBeing together, growing together - as the why that trumps everythingINSPIRATION:Happiness is Here blogFuturesteading podcastCONNECT:Mornington Peninsula Homeschool Facebook groupHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or send me an email australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land. Original music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerListen on Spotify here

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 13th year of school and how this immersive art experience ended up being her most formativeOberon's experience of imposter syndrome at universityCloth nappies as the catalyst for choosing to do things differentlyQuestioning the norm as big life decisions present themselves, eg. home birthParenting without extended family support and learning to be self reliant and going with the flowThe importance of being on the same page as a partnershipCelebrating music by women - how Lauren's idea in the shower one day led to the whole family collaborating to bring Suffragette Records to life. Embracing a permaculture lifestyle and its similarities to unschoolingHow a 2 week zero waste challenge changed their lives and led to the book A Family Guide to Waste-Free Living Collaborating with their eldest daughter to create 52 Climate Solutions How their garden evolved from one apricot tree into an abundant food forest and the joy in being able to produce a large amount of their own produceLauren & Oberon's favourite nature spots in Tasmania Care for the natural world underpinning all their choicesSimple solutions to complex problems"The majority of homeschooling is relationships"Their eldest two daughters differing experiences with college Flexibility and adaptability as the best way to approach home educationEmbracing analogue over digital in response to social media saturationCONNECT:Spiral Garden websiteSuffragette Records website@spiralgarden instragram@suffragetterecords instagramHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or send me an email - australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land. Original Music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposer Listen on Spotify here

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 expectationsBecoming a high schooler teacher and choosing not to return to the profession after having children Her gratitude towards her sister for introducing her to homeschooling and paving the way for herFreedom & possibility as the drivers for choosing this lifestyleWanting to raise children who know themselves deeply from a young ageHow she met her business partner Nicki at playgroupWhy Vicci & Nicki started Wildlings Forest School and how it's evolved overtime alongside their homeschool lifestylesThe importance of nature play for kidsWhat continual exposure to nature has meant for her own daughters Being drawn to rockpooling as a means of self careVicci's favourite nature spots on the Sunshine Coast to exploreHer advice to others considering this path or currently homeschoolingVicci recommends:BOOKSHow Children Fail - John HoltFree to Learn - Peter Gray(Consider asking your local library to purchase a copy if they don't currently have these books in their collection)ESSAYA thousand rivers - Carol Black What the modern world has forgotten about children and learningBLOG/PODCASTStark Raving DadSOCIALSWildlings Forest School - Facebook@wildlings_forestschool - Instagram@raising_wildlings_podcast - InstagramSunnyHomeschool/Unschool - Sunshine Coast Homeschool Community GroupIf you haven't already, be sure to check out Vicci & Nicki's podcast, Raising Wildlings - parenting, alternative education and stepping into the wilderness is what they are all about. It's one of my personal favourites. CONNECThello@wildlingsforestschool.comwildlingsforestschool.comraisingwildlings.com.auHave you got a story to tell?Connect with us on instagram @australianhomeschoolstories or send me an email - australianhomeschoolstories@gmail.comThis podcast is recorded on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land. Original Music - Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposer Listen on Spotify here

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@australianhomeschoolstoriesMusic:Hazel by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposerThis podcast is recorded on Bunurong country. Always was, always will be.