Homeschooling in the Dry Season

Welcome to homeschooling in the Dry Season!

Something that was raised with us recently was the thought that we would be limiting our children’s opportunities in life by continuing homeschooling beyond primary school. What I have learnt since we began this lifestyle is that there are many ways to achieve what you want to achieve in life. You can still go to university, you can still pursue any career you like, and still learn at home before doing so.

There are Distance Education options once you reach year 10/11, which allow you to choose the subjects you need for whatever your career path preference is. You can do an entrance test for university. There are many VET and TAFE courses that offer very practical, hands-on experience to assist with career progression. Sometimes, just volunteering for a period of time and making yourself known to those in your chosen profession can lead you in the right direction. 

My daughter has expressed great interest in working with animals - she’d love to be a zookeeper. I think she’d be fantastic, and she would really enjoy her career in that field. At the end of the day isn’t that we want for our kids? To do something they love every day? I’ve learnt that she can get there even if she chooses to continue homeschooling. She can volunteer at a local zoo to get some experience and complete a TAFE course in caring for animals in captivity.

I also want to help my kids to understand that what you choose to do when you finish school does not have to be forever, it may end up being a lifelong career, however that isn’t the case for many people who have had multiple career changes. You always have opportunities to learn new things and upskill! University can happen later in life, a trade may become your passion, or maybe you can find lots of ways to work with animals forever. In our family, we don’t know what opportunities the future holds, but we do know that whatever our daughter chooses, she doesn’t have to go to school to get there.

Remember to get outdoors and enjoy the Dry Season – there are learning opportunities everywhere!

Written by Viv Kleemann

Community Contributor