Post Home Schooling

AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY GRADUATE SURVEY - 2006

Terry Harding BA DipEd DipCDP MEd MACE

Many critics of home education assume that home educated students would never be admitted into universities and TAFE colleges. This assumption is, however, entirely wrong as demonstrated by this study. This is the largest survey of home educated graduates, in Australia, to date.

The total number of past students (alumni) surveyed is 438. The state breakdown is as follows: ACT – 5; NSW – 146; NT – 1; Qld – 186; SA – 22; Tas – 13; Vic – 41; WA – 24. Please note that our researchers have not been able to contact all ACA graduates. There are many more! This is just a survey of those whom we have contacted.

Qualifications

The qualifications system in Australia is as follows.

Apprenticeship – This is the pathway for students who wish to become professional tradespersons. There were 38 graduates who had gained apprenticeships. This was 9% of the total group who have been contacted.

Certificate – The hierarchy is: Certificate 1, Certificate 2, Certificate 3 and Certificate 4. Certificates 3 and 4 lead into professional occupations. There were 147 ACA graduates who entered certificate courses. This was 34% of the total group contacted.

Diploma – The hierarchy is: Associate Diploma, Diploma, Advanced Diploma. There were 7 Associate Diplomas, 74 Diplomas and 10 Advanced Diplomas. A total of 21% of ACA graduates contacted, had entered diploma courses of some kind.

Degree – The hierarchy is: Bachelor, Master, Doctor. There were 162 or 36% of ACA graduates who were contacted, who had entered into Bachelor Degree courses.

We only recorded the graduates’ first qualification after graduating from ACA. Many had entered and completed several qualifications. Below are graphs of the results.

These results indicate that home educated graduates are clearly able to enter tertiary courses of study. They also indicate that parent home educators are doing an outstanding job! 43% of surveyed graduates entered trades and training via apprenticeships and certificate courses. 21% entered professional diploma courses at TAFE and university and 36% entered bachelor degree courses at university.

It is clear from this data, that God is blessing and directing home educated graduates into productive outcomes after home education.

Honour God with your educational choices for your children. God says He will honour those who honour Him. The Bible says, “Those who honour Me, I will honour” 1 Samuel 2:30.