Appendix 1 - Further guidelines - distance education
Attendance between the start of the school year and ending on Census Day, of distance education students enrolled at a distance education school.
Overview
In respect of the Census, a student is taken to be enrolled as a distance education student at a distance education school if:
- the student is complying with the school's requirements about communicating with or contacting the school for the purpose of participating in the program, and
- the student is completing and returning the assigned work for the program.
This is generally referred to as a full service being delivered by the distance education school to its enrolled distance education students.
Distance education students are those who:
- are living in Queensland
- are enrolled full time
- are undertaking a full-service delivery course in distance education, and
- were enrolled at least 11 days before Census Day (or less if the delay was beyond the control of the parent or independent student).
Only these students should be included in this part of the Census form. Part-time distance education students are not eligible to be included in the Census.
Elaborative comments
An enrolled student must reside in Queensland. Refer to the Non-exhaustive list of examples of students travelling interstate or overseas.
Other indicators of a full service being delivered by the distance education school to an enrolled distance education student include the following:
- the student is receiving lessons and educational support by the school's teachers.
- the student has commenced, is working on, or has completed lessons and educational activities.
- the student’s work is regularly tracked and assessed by the school's teachers.
- the student has access to a help facility provided by the school's teachers.
- the school’s teachers make regular contact with the students.
- the school’s teachers regularly monitor the students' learning achievements.
- the school keeps a record of any days on which a student is unable to undertake the educational program because of illness, or other reasonable cause.
Refer to Appendix 2 Non-exhaustive list of examples regarding attendance to identify whether a student may be included in the Census for reasons beyond the control of the student’s parent / guardian, or the student (if they are living independently).
Non-exhaustive list of examples of students travelling interstate or overseas
If a student is travelling interstate or overseas and their home address remains in Queensland during the time of travel, schools should still include them as an enrolled student of distance education if they continue to undertake a full-service delivery course in distance education and fulfil all other required distance education criteria. However, the arrangement must be temporary, and the student must not have relocated their main residential address to another state or country.
Example: Traveling overseas - eligible
- Sam is travelling overseas with his parents who have been offered a three-month work contract in another country. Sam has been studying via distance education for two years. To maintain his continuity of learning, Sam’s parents want him to keep studying via distance education while they are temporarily working overseas. Their usual place of residence remains in Queensland and they are intending to return to their home as soon as the contract has finished.
Decision: Sam is eligible to be included in the Census as long as his enrolment meets all other distance education requirements. The overseas travel is temporary and there is no change in the family’s usual residential address in Queensland.
Example: Travelling interstate in a caravan – eligible
- Jameson’s parents have decided to travel around Australia for 12 months. They have enrolled him in a distance education school, so that they can continue to provide Jameson with an education while traveling.
Decision: Jameson is eligible to be included in the Census as long as all other distance education requirements are met because the family has not taken up residence in another State and their living arrangements are transient in nature.
Example: Relocating to another State – not eligible
- Martine’s parents have taken up an eight-month work contract in New South Wales. They have rented a house in Sydney and are renting out their family home in Queensland for the duration of the contract. The parents would like Martine to continue her education via a distance education school in Queensland.
Decision: Martine is not eligible to be included in the Census because the family is relocating to another state (even though temporarily). Martine qualifies to attend school in New South Wales and the family is considered to have relocated to another state for the duration of the contract.
Retention of documentation
All enrolment, attendance and related documentation a school uses to complete the Census form is to be retained by the school/governing body for a period of five years from Census Day, and in a way that ensures the integrity and security of the data and documents.
>> Appendix 2
Last updated 10 December, 2024