Eligibility Requirements

Please note home-based applications for the 2026 school year will open on Monday, 20 October 2025.

Before applying to enrol with SIDE, students and families should review the WA Department of Education eligibility requirements.

A specific enrolment category must be identified, and supporting documentation should be provided during the Online Enrolment Application.

Eligibility Requirements for all students

Click on each requirements to read more:

1. Western Australia Residency

Enrolment at SIDE is subject to WA Department of Education guidelines and is only available to students who are entitled to reside permanently in Australia and are Western Australian residents.

A resident is defined as someone with a permanent residential address in Western Australia, and families must provide proof of residency when enrolling. Western Australian residents who are temporarily travelling interstate or overseas are still eligible to apply.

Evidence accepted: Current shire rates notice/Current rental agreement for a period of 12 months AND current utilities bill.
2. Proof of age

The student must be of compulsory school age. All students must submit their proof of age with their enrolment application.

Evidence accepted: Birth certificate or valid passport.
3. Minimum enrolment period

Enrolment is available to all eligible Western Australian residents who are unable to access mainstream schooling for a minimum of at least 20 school weeks or one Western Australian school semester.
4. SIDE Supervisor

All students must have a SIDE Supervisor who is responsible for overseeing their studies, providing duty of care, and supporting their learning each school day. The Supervisor maintains regular communication with SIDE teachers and may be a parent, carer, or another responsible adult who works closely with the student on a daily basis.
5. Digital and Hardware Requirements

Students must have a fast, reliable internet connection and a computer running Windows 10 or 11, or an Apple MacOS 10.15 or later. Devices such as iPads, Windows 10S, Android tablets, or Chromebooks are not fully compatible with our online platforms. Students should also have the necessary software installed, along with a USB headset with microphone, webcam, printer, scanner, and data storage.
6. Identify an enrolment Category

Full-time enrolment at SIDE is available to students who meet one of the following categories. The guidelines below outline how to determine enrolment eligibility for each category.

Dance/Ballet Schools (Secondary | Year 7-12 only)

High Performance Arts/Sports (Secondary | Year 9-12 only)

Geographical Isolation

Referral Program

Travelling Temporarily

All enrolments are subject to periodic review. As a condition of enrolment, all students enrolled with SIDE must meet standards of engagement and to satisfy the compulsory attendance requirements of the Education Act 1999. If a student is no longer eligible for distance education, the student’s enrolment will cease and the parent/carer will be required to enrol the child at an approved education provider to meet the requirements of the Education Act 1999.
All students must apply to enrol at SIDE each year, even if they have previously been enrolled. The yearly enrolment process is in place to ensure SIDE is an appropriate learning mode for students and families at the time of their enrolment.
Students, who do not fit any of the above categories, may still apply to enrol with SIDE. To do so, they need to gain approval from their relevant Regional Executive Director, who will then liaise with the Principal of SIDE.

The final decision regarding eligibility is made by the Principal of SIDE.

Start Enrolment Process

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements for all students

Enrolments