Direct enrolment

Students enrolling in the Medical: Physical Health category must have a specialist diagnosis of a physical disability that restricts their ability to attend a mainstream school for a period of six months or more.

Evidence required:

• • School Referral Form
    The student’s most recent school must complete the online School Referral Form which will be emailed directly to them after the online application form is submitted. The School Referral Form will outline the student’s prior schooling experience, the supports and interventions that have been put in place for the student, and a recommendation regarding the suitability of an enrolment with VSV.
  • If the student is enrolling as a shared enrolment with VSV and a mainstream school, the school will also need to complete the online Shared Enrolment form.
  • Practitioner/Agency Referral Form
    A medical practitioner in the relevant field or an agency working with the student must complete the online Practitioner/Agency Referral Form, which will be emailed directly to them after the online application form is submitted. The Practitioner/Agency Referral Form will outline how the student’s diagnosis and/or treatment prevents their attendance at a mainstream school, how this may impact their ability to engage with study, and what continuing treatment or support will be provided. In situations where an agency is also involved with a student, or when there are multiple allied health professionals supporting the student, applicants are asked to provide their details. We will collect additional copies of this form, completed by the agency or other allied health professionals.

Please note: both referral forms are required for new students.

Students enrolling in the Medical: Mental Health category must have a diagnosed mental health or social emotional difficulty, meaning it is not possible for them to attend mainstream school for an extended period of time.

VSV recognises that an important prerequisite for successful engagement with education is the establishment of effective ongoing treatment and support for mental health and social emotional difficulties. Students must demonstrate they are receiving ongoing professional treatment and/or support for their condition/s. The referring practitioner must commit to coordination of the care plan for this student. Please note that these supports must be in place prior to submitting an application to VSV

Evidence required:

• School Referral Form
  The student’s most recent school must complete the online School Referral Form which will be emailed directly to them after the online application form is submitted. The School Referral Form will outline the student’s prior schooling experience, the supports that have been put in place for the student, and a recommendation regarding the suitability of an enrolment with VSV.
• If the student is enrolling as a shared enrolment with VSV and a mainstream school, the school will also need to complete the online Shared Enrolment form.
• Practitioner /Agency Referral Form
  A specialist practitioner (psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker) or an agency working with the student must complete this online form, which will be emailed directly to them after the online application form is submitted. The form will outline how the student’s diagnosis and/or treatment prevents them from attending a mainstream school, how this condition and treatment may impact upon their ability to engage with study, what continuing treatment or support will be provided and which professional will be coordinating the care plan for this student. In situations where an agency is also involved with a student, applicants are asked to provide an additional copy of this form, completed by the agency.

Please note: both referral forms are required for new students.

Students enrolling in the Travel category must be Victorian residents who are unable to attend a mainstream school because they will soon commence travelling within Victoria, Australia or overseas for two consecutive terms or six consecutive months within the same school year. Travel may be required due to a parent’s/carer’s work commitments or an extended family holiday. The student must recommence enrolment at a mainstream school in Victoria after their period of travel.

Evidence required:

• The student’s most recent school is required to complete an online form confirming:
  a) that the student was/is enrolled at the school
  b) that the student has recently left or is soon leaving for the purpose of travel
  c) the expected date that the student will return from travel and re-commence enrolment at a mainstream school
  d) any supporting information if the student has learning difficulties or health conditions that may impact learning.
• If travelling for work purposes The parent’s/carer’s employer is required to complete an online form outlining the period of employment where the parent is expected to be out of Victoria and/or travelling. The online form will be sent directly to the employer after the online application form is submitted. or
• If travelling for other reasons, we require a certified Statutory Declaration
  This needs to be signed in front of an authorised witness, and must detail:
  a) the proposed itinerary of travel/work
  b) the nature of the travel (eg. work or family holiday)
  c) the expected date of departure and return
  d) the name of the student/s.

A statutory declaration is also required when travel is due to a parent’s/carer’s work and they are self-employed.

It is expected that students who have been, or expect to be, based in a location interstate or overseas for more than two years should enrol in a mainstream school in the location where they are based. Students must not be enrolled in another interstate or overseas school on a full-time basis.

Students who have been enrolled at VSV under the Travel category for two or more years are required to seek approval from VSV to continue their enrolment by resubmitting the supporting documentation. Approval is at the discretion of VSV’s Principal.

**Current criteria for 2025**
Students enrolling in this category must have elite sporting or performing arts commitments preventing them from attending mainstream school. These commitments may include performance or training commitments during regular school times, or extended interstate/ international travel for training, competition or performance.

Evidence required:
The student’s most recent school is required to complete an online form confirming:

• that the student was enrolled at the school;
• that the student left for sports/performing arts commitments;
• that, in their view, VSV is an appropriate alternative educational experience;
• any supporting information if the student has learning difficulties, disabilities or health conditions that may impact on learning.

The student’s sporting/performing arts organisation/agent is required to complete an online form confirming:

• the student is involved or competing in elite level sport or performing arts;
• the student’s performance/training schedule prevents them from attending mainstream school;
  that, in their view, VSV is an appropriate alternative educational experience;
• evidence that third party organisations are compliant with the Child Safe Standards and that agents/individuals hold a current Working With Children Check (copies of original documents);
• contact details of a sporting/performance supervisor that is authorised to liaise with VSV regarding student progress, including their name, organisation, contact phone number, email and address;
•  the sporting/performance supervisor will be available for regular check-ins with the student’s Learning Advisor to discuss the student’s health and welfare.

**New criteria from 2026**

Students enrolling in the Elite Sports/Performance category must be Victorian residents entering Years 9-12 and have exceptional sporting or performing arts commitments which prevent them from attending mainstream school.

Applications require support from a recognised sports/performing arts organisation. Recognised organisations are:

• national sporting organisations recognised by the Australian Sports Commission
• state sporting associations recognised by Sport and Recreation Victoria
• artistic companies of the highest standard recognised by Creative Australia
• Australian-based elite sport clubs or artistic companies that contract students in a professional capacity.

Evidence required:

The student’s current or most recent school is required to complete an online form which:

1. explains why the school is not able to accommodate the student’s elite sports/performing arts commitments, including why flexible arrangements (g., an individual education or absence learning plan) have not been effective, and
2. assesses the suitability of VSV as an appropriate alternative educational experience, considering potential impacts to the student’s education and wellbeing such as reduced social interaction, the need for greater self-discipline, and the level of family support required.

A recognised sports/performing arts organisation is required to complete an online form which:

1. confirms the student’s elite status and provides:
   a) achievement records such as rankings, awards, or certificates, or
   b) a contract of employment;
2. confirms the student’s exceptional commitments and provides a detailed schedule, including days and times, which demonstrates:
   a) sports/performing arts commitments that prevent regular school attendance, and
   b) how the student will participate in their education (noting that VSV as a Victorian government school must provide 25 hours of student instruction per week and students are expected to manage a full-time study load, which includes attending online classes when possible);
3. provides evidence that the organisation is compliant with the Child Safe Standards and that all individuals who will work directly with the student hold a current Working with Children Check;
4. includes contact details of a sporting/performing arts supervisor who is authorised to liaise with VSV for regular check-ins regarding the student’s progress and their wellbeing.

Note: VSV sports/performance students re-enrolling for Years 11 and 12 in 2026 can apply under the former requirements. This arrangement applies for these same students re-enrolling for Year 12 in 2027.

Reminder: The Child Safe Standards apply to most organisations that work or volunteer with children and young people, including schools.

Parents and carers are reminded to be vigilant to ensure that all organisations that work with their child are complying with the Child Safe Standards. This includes ensuring that any adults that work with your child hold a current Working with Children Check or equivalent.

You can do this by requesting written confirmation from the organisations or individuals involved. You can also check if someone’s Working with Children Check is current by using the Service Victoria app to scan the QR code on the digital Check. Go to Service Victoria for more information on digital Checks.

Further information about these requirements is available via the Commission for Children and Young People and Working with Children Check Victoria.

Students enrolling in the Distance category must be Victorian residents who live in a remote area, where it is not feasible to travel to a local mainstream government school. The requirements for enrolment in this category vary, depending on the age of the student. The following minimum distance requirements must be met:

Students over nine years of age who live more than 4.8 km from the nearest government school and the nearest bus route.

Students under nine years of age who live more than 3 km from the nearest government school and the nearest bus route.

Evidence required:

• Proof of Victorian address.
• The closest government school is required to fill in an online form confirming that the student’s current residential address meets the minimum distance requirements outlined above. Families or schools should provide supporting information if the student has learning difficulties, disabilities or health conditions that might affect study.

Students aged at least 17 years of age at the start of the semester in which they want to enrol, and under 21 years of age on 1 January 2025, may enrol in a VCE course of study with VSV in 2025.

Evidence required:

• Young Adult Referral Form
  This online form needs to be completed by either:
  a) the student’s previous school
  b) a treating general or specialist medical practitioner
  c) an agency working with the student or with their family

This form should outline the student’s prior schooling experience, the supports that have and will be put in place for the student, and a recommendation regarding the suitability of an enrolment with VSV.

Applicants/students with significant learning difficulties, disabilities or health conditions that might affect their study should enrol under Category 1: Medical: Mental Health to ensure the appropriate support systems are in place to assist them to achieve their best educational outcomes at VSV.

Students enrolling in this category must complete the Student Enrolment Information page in their online application, outlining why they feel that VSV and online learning is the most appropriate educational option for them, rather than studying at a mainstream school, TAFE or other educational provider.

Returning or continuing students who are above the post-compulsory age of 17 years, are required to demonstrate satisfactory levels of engagement and progress in the past to be considered for re-enrolment.

Students who are currently registered for home schooling with the VRQA for 12 months or more, and have made a decision to return to a government registered school for their senior years (Year 10, Year 11 or Year 12), can apply to enrol directly into a Year 10 or VCE program with VSV in 2025.

Students who are in a chronological year level lower than Year 10, or have less than 12 months of registered home schooling, will be required to meet one of our other eligibility criteria categories, as outlined, to be eligible to enrol at VSV.

Evidence required:

Confirmation of previous home schooling from the VRQA (or interstate equivalent)

A copy of the Confirmation of Registration letter from the VRQA or an equivalent authority in other states, for the previous consecutive period of 12 months or more.

Please note: It is not possible to be both registered for home schooling and enrolled as a VSV student at the same time.

Virtual School Victoria and Home Schooling – what is the difference?

Virtual School Victoria (VSV) is a Victorian Government school that provides flexible learning opportunities to Victorian students who are unable to attend mainstream schooling. In order to directly enrol with VSV, students must meet our eligibility criteria. VSV’s learning programs are in line with the Victorian Curriculum. In Years 11-12, VSV follows the curriculum set by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) in our wide range of VCE subjects.

Home schooling is where a family takes responsibility for teaching their children at home. Families who home school their children are registered to do this with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). Registered home schooling families select appropriate learning materials for their children’s learning program.

Please note, Virtual School Victoria will no longer be providing our current or previous printed learning materials for purchase by registered home schooling families.