Rules and requirements for HEN Event Attendees


The following rules and requirements are provided to help ensure a good time is had by all participants. They apply both to physical and online events, as relevant. In participating in a HEN event, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to abide by these requirements. 


Representing the community

Some organisations have a negative opinion of home education groups, which may be due to their past experience. At each HEN event, we aim to improve the public perception of home educating families in general, and HEN specifically. This improves our community’s access to educational opportunities.

  • Please follow all requirements set to you by your excursion organiser and any staff at a venue / organisation. 
  • Your excursion organiser is your first point of contact for any questions you have about: 
    • how the day will run;
    • if you are running late / unable to attend; or 
    • need to leave early. 
  • Please do not approach a venue or provider regarding the logistics of the day prior to speaking with your HEN volunteer. If you’re unsure who the correct volunteer is, email excursions@home-ed.vic.edu.au.
  • Please ensure you and your children are being respectful of the environment and people around you:
    • keep noise / engagement at a reasonable level;
    • give attention to the educator / host when required; 
    • treat the space with care; and 
    • do not use inappropriate language (e.g. swearing, mature content).
  • Please keep the venue tidy and make use of rubbish bins. Please assist in cleaning up communal areas and avoid causing damage of any kind.


All families are welcome

HEN welcomes all home educating families, and believes everyone in our community is worthy of respect and safety. This includes:

  • LGBTQIA+ families
  • Families with different cultures, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, or international, and including families with English as a second language
  • Families practicing different religions
  • Families with different abilities, including physical, cognitive, neurodivergent, deschooling and financial income
  • Families with different beliefs regarding politics, health and nutrition, parenting, and approach to home education

By attending a HEN event, you agree to act with respect and safety to all attendees.

Please be respectful of other participants – both with and apart from our group. In groups of people, it is inevitable that conflict will occasionally arise as different people have different needs and expectations. Learning to resolve conflict in larger groups is a valuable experience of home ed events. Please help children to learn positive conflict resolution skills. 


Prioritising safety

HEN events require all children of all ages to have an adult they know and trust attending. This can be their parent / guardian, or any adult that their parent / guardian has nominated in writing to HEN, prior to the event. A HEN volunteer cannot supervise children other than their own, even for short periods of time, unless there is an established pre-existing relationship between them.

Adults must directly supervise children in their care at all times during a HEN event,  including for toilet trips and online events.

At online events, children may not private message each other through the chat / comment function. All comments should be made public. Children must be supervised by an appropriate adult during online events to provide guidance and support throughout the event. This includes managing video, microphone and chat functions.

All HEN events are drug free, including alcohol, cigarettes and vapes. Participation in any of these activities cannot occur within line-of-sight of any attending children.

No adult may make physical contact with a child outside of their care without both the child and their guardian’s consent, except in emergency situations. No adult should ever be alone with children outside of their care, at any time, including during online activities.

Bullying behaviour is not acceptable at any HEN event, including physical or verbal behaviours, and perpetrated by or to children or adults. Bullying behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

  • Physical Aggression: Pushing, shoving, hitting, or any intentional physical contact designed to intimidate or cause discomfort.
  • Verbal Harassment: Name-calling, insults, teasing, or using offensive language directed at an individual.
  • Social Exclusion: Deliberately ignoring, isolating, or spreading rumours about someone to damage their reputation or standing within the group.
  • Cyber-bullying: Using digital platforms, messaging apps, or social media to harass, threaten, or post harmful content about participants.
  • Intimidation: Using gestures, height, or tone of voice to make another person feel unsafe or powerless.
  • Property Misuse: Damaging, hiding, or taking someone else’s belongings without permission.
  • Discriminatory Harassment: Targeting individuals based on their race, religion, gender, disability, or personal circumstances.

Steps for dealing with negative behaviour:

  1. Request the attendee to stop the behaviour. If the behaviour is causing clear and present danger take immediate and respectful action to ensure the safety of all.
  2. If a child continues to be involved in a disagreement, disrupt the group, or affect others with their actions, their supervising adult/s are expected to intervene and support the children to reach a resolution, help with regulation, or withdraw to a quiet space until the child feels ready to rejoin the group. The HEN volunteer may also assist if they feel it is necessary.
  3. When supporting children through difficulties, adults must treat every child with kindness and respect. This approach ensures that interactions remain constructive and that children feel safe and heard, even during moments of conflict. By prioritising empathy and calm guidance, adults can model the positive social behaviours they wish to encourage within the community.

It is essential to maintain a supportive environment where boundaries are clear but implemented with patience. Whether the situation requires a simple redirection or a more focused period of co-regulation, the goal is always to uphold the dignity of the child while ensuring the wellbeing of the collective group.

  1. In the case of adults, ask the organiser for assistance with unresolved conflicts. Avoid troubling them with vexatious complaints.
  2. In the case of unresolved behaviour which affects the enjoyment of fellow participants, the organiser or their delegate reserves the right to ask participants to leave and/or to decline their booking for future events.


Reporting incidents

All incidents should be reported to HEN, to help us improve the safety of our events. Incidents include:

  • a lost or damaged item;
  • an accidental or intentional injury;inappropriate behaviour or words; or
  • a “near miss” / potentially risky situation.

If an incident should arise, as well as taking appropriate action to ensure the safety of all involved, please notify the HEN organiser, or if they’re unavailable contact excursions@home-ed.vic.edu.au, or 0431 901 076 if it’s urgent. Witnesses should assist the organiser to complete a HEN Incident Report, which may be required for insurance/legal purposes.

Any damage that occurs is to be reported as soon as practicable to the organiser. You may be held liable for the cost of any repairs.


Refund Policy

Refunds are generally processed after an event has been held, and may be delayed until invoices from event providers have been received.

A cancellation may not be refunded if the cancellation:

  • Is received less than 24h before an event
  • Is received at any time after HEN has pre-paid for an event
  • Will drop the event below required minimum numbers, as set by event providers, where we cannot fill the spot in time

Where none of the above apply, a cancellation:

  • Less than 7 days before an event requires a medical certificate to be guaranteed a refund 
  • More than 7 days before an event will be refunded in full

In the event of a family being absent from an event without notifying the event organiser of their absence, a refund cannot be provided.

Failure to abide by these conditions may result in a family being removed from an event, or being prevented from attending HEN events in future.