Karen Chegwidden | President
Home Education Association

Karen Chegwidden is a mother of three; her two adult children both gained admission to university without ever having been to high school, and without a HSC. Her youngest child was home educated until 10th grade, and then successfully transitioned to the local high school. Karen is the President of the Home Education Association (HEA), Australia's peak body for home educators. The HEA is a member funded, volunteer run registered charity dedicated to supporting home educators across Australia and promoting educational equity for home educated students. As President of the HEA, Karen meets with policy makers and regulators in several states, gives media interviews and serves her community in a myriad of ways. She is passionate about empowering parents and dispelling myths about home education.

Appearances:

Day 2 @ 13:30

Home Schooling Forum

In conjunction with the Home Education Association (HEA) -

Welcoming Address by HEA President Karen Chegwidden

The last couple of years have brought education into sharp focus, and especially home education as parents have become necessarily more involved in their children’s education. Home education now is the fastest growing sector in education. Join the Home Education Forum to find the answers to all your home education questions.

Home Schooling: Will the Real Home Education Please Stand Up?

Dr Terry Harding - 45 min presentation, 15 min Q&A

Home schooling, AKA home education has experienced vibrant growth across Australia and the Western World over the last few years. Given the many variants of school-based, mandated learning-at-home and remote and distance learning, understanding what is true home education can be confusing.

This session defines and clarifies true home education and the many home-based learning variants. It looks at why parents have chosen home education pre and post-COVID conditions. The author's recent research provides school leaders with vital information about what matters to parents who are considering exiting from the school system and entering home education. Similarly, it clarifies what is most important to home educators.

You must be very patient and other myths about home education.

Karen Chegwidden

Although becoming a more mainstream choice, home education continues to be perceived through a lens of assumptions not based in reality. When telling people that you home educate, common responses include -"You must be very patient", "I could never do that", "but what about socialisation?" and "can they go to university?" Karen Chegwidden, President of the Home Education Association, will share the lived experience of home education and unpack some of the myths surrounding home education.

Grad video

Young people share their experiences of transitioning from home education to tertiary education.

Panel Discussion - Home Education

Have you been considering home educating but not sure where to start? Perhaps you have educational FOMO? Our Expert panel has over three decades of combined home education experience answer your questions and put your minds at ease. Join us as we discuss:

● Where to start when you begin home education

● how home educators can access the same sorts of resources as schools

● Educational opportunities that are almost impossible to replicate in a classroom environment

● The advantages of young people being able to explore their own interests

● Things we wish teachers knew about home education

This is an interactive panel, so bring all your home ed questions and join in the conversation.

Panellists

● Karen Chegwidden

● Tere Latimer

● Janelle Barnes

Panel Discussion - Teaching STEM at home

This panel brings together experts in the field of STEM education to discuss the challenges and rewards of teaching STEM at home. Join our panel for inspiration and resources on how you can successfully teach these specialist subjects without access to a school lab or a science degree yourself. Bring your questions to this interactive session and leave inspired and equipped for your home education journey.

Panellists

● Education Perfect - Kelly Hollis kelly.hollis@educationperfect.com

● Grok (awaiting confirmation)

● Brainary - Sam Kinsley sam@thebrainary.com

● Shape Robotics - Robert Widger rob@shaperobotics.com

Closing Address by HEA President Karen Chegwidden

Home Education is legal, achievable and it works. You can successfully home educate your children. The HEA is there to assist and support you every step of the way. Find out how to connect with the HEA and get support to take the next step.

Kelly Hollis, Australian Curriculum Specialist, Education Perfect