Appendix 1 - Further guidelines - distance education
Attendance between 31 January 2022 and ending on Census Day, of distance education students enrolled at a distance education school.
Overview
In respect of the Census, whether a student enrolled as a distance education student at a distance education school is taken to be attending the school depends generally on:
- 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
- if 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.
Only distance education students:
- resident in Queensland;
- enrolled full-time;
- undertaking a full service delivery course in distance education; and
- who enrolled at least 11 days before Census Day (or less if the delay was beyond the control of the parent or independent student)
should be included in the Census form. Part-time distance education students are ineligible to be included in the Census.
For 2022, the initial five days from 31 January 2022 to 4 February 2022 can be counted as attendance for all distance education students regardless of whether those students are:
- not attending the school due to the school not providing education; or
- attending the school via distance education.
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 follow:
- 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;
- regular contact with the student is made by the school's teachers;
- the school’s teachers regularly monitor the students' learning achievements; and
- 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.
Non-exhaustive list of examples of students travelling interstate or overseas
An enrolled student of distance education who continues to undertake a full service delivery course in distance education and fulfils all other required distance education criteria is to be included if the student is travelling interstate or overseas and the home address remains in Queensland during the time of travel. The arrangement needs to be of transient nature and not a relocation of the 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 months work contract in another country. Sam has been studying via distance education for two years. In order to maintain continuity of learning, Sam’s parents want him to continue 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 all other distance education requirements are met, as the overseas travel is temporary and there is no change in their 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 as 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 months 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 as the family is relocating to another State (even though temporarily). Martine qualifies to attend schooling 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 used in completing 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 24 January, 2022