The Commissioner for Children and Young People WA is inviting home-educated students in WA to participate in the Speaking Out Survey 2021. Through the survey, the Commissioner is asking students from Year 4 to Year 12 across WA for their views on matters that affect their wellbeing.

This is the FIRST TIME home education students in WA have been included in this type of work. Previous studies have focused only on students within school. It is important that our State gets a picture of the health and well being of home educated young people.

The Speaking Out Survey is the most comprehensive survey of children and young people’s views to be undertaken in Western Australia (WA) and has provided “valuable insight on the experiences and perceptions of Western Australian children and young people” (Premier Mark McGowan, personal correspondence to Commissioner Pettit regarding the Speaking Out Survey 2019).

If your child chooses to take part, they will be asked to complete a 30 minute survey on a tablet. The survey will be completed during a session at the WA CCYP Offices in the City. These are located across from the Perth Station in Albert Facey House, 469 Wellington Street. Staff from the Commissioner’s office will provide assistance to your child to complete the survey if required. All of the Commissioners staff have Working with Children Checks.

Your child/ren will be asked a range of questions about their wellbeing. All questions will be voluntary and children can choose how many they wish to answer. Your child/ren will not be asked to provide their name or any other identifying information so that it will not be possible to identify any individual child from their survey responses.

When you register you child, you will be send an email with consent forms from a Home Education WA (HEWA) representative. You'll need to return this ahead of the session. On the day, CCYP staff will also provide a full introduction to participants about the survey.

Andrew Dawson from the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA can help answer any questions you have about the survey, or how the survey responses will be used. You can phone her on 6213 2211, or email andrew.dawson@ccyp.wa.gov.au. You can also contact HEWA on
comm02@hbln.org.au for more information.

If you would like to read more about the Speaking Out Survey or the Commissioner’s work visit the website at ccyp.wa.gov.au