The Speakers

Key Note Speakers

Rebecca Devitt

Rebecca Devitt is a Christian homeschooling mum of three and the creator of the “How to Homeschool” YouTube channel, where she helps parents figure out what on earth to actually use for homeschool (without buying five curricula they regret later ). With over 10 years of researching programs—and having been homeschooled herself from age 8—Rebecca shares honest, practical advice that cuts through the noise. She’s passionate about helping Christian families homeschool with confidence, keep things simple, and actually enjoy the process.

Suzie Dick

Suzie is a mum of five children. She lives and works with her husband Rowan on their sixth generation family farm at Purga near Ipswich.

Suzie's home education journey began in 2009 after sending their oldest son to the local primary school for his prep year and finding that experience less than satisfying to say the least. She did not ever intend to homeschool... In fact, she had a strong opinion that homeschoolers were weird! But God changed her mind and she is now in her 18th year of homeschooling.

Together with her family, Suzie attends church at New Hope Lockyer in the Lockyer valley, where she enjoys leading worship as a family. Suzie values having a relationship with God above all else. She is committed to her family and community and believes parents raising and training their own children in the way they should go is the best way to ensure they grow to be faithful, contributing adults who love life and love God.

Suzie's journey has not been easy, but it's been worth it.

Journeys with a Homeschool Veteran

Belinda Gor & Matthew and Rachel Jones & Abigail

This year we are blessed to have not only two wonderful homeschooling mum's share their stories but they will also be joined by two of their now graduated children. Belinda and Rachel entered into their homeschooling journeys with the same basic goal in mind but they appraoched it in completely different ways.

Belinda is a wife and mother, devoted to serving the Lord through her family, her home church and children's ministries, and the wider community. Two of her three children are now graduated, her youngest is continuing to homeschool the last few years of highschool. She was a member of the Home Education Expert Group, involved in helping the Queensland Government formulate policies and procedures that best serve the growing number of homeschool families in Queensland. Belinda is an encouragement to so many that we know you will be blessed to hear her journey.

Matthew is the eldest in the family. He has succesfully completed homeschooling and further education and is now not only employed in a job he loves but has been given the blessing of work hours that allow him to commit to serving more fully in his home church. Like his parent's Matthew is dedicated to serving the Lord.

Rachel is a wife and mother, devoted to serving the Lord through her family, her passion for the performing arts, her home church and children's ministries, the overseas mission field, and the wider local community. Rachel is a mum of nine, three of which she is still homeschooling. Rachel is the head of Primary at the Hallelujah Academy of Performing Arts and a dedicated performing arts teacher. We know that you will be encouraged and released hearing Rachel's homeschooling journey.

Abigail is Rachel's fifth child. She has successfully completed homeschooling and following that took a gap year, in which she discovered her heart for overseas mission on an overseas mission trip. Abigail is now undertaking further education and like her mother continues to be dedicated to serving the Lord through all of her various connections and is an encouragement to many.

Spotlight Sessions

Spotlight Sessions are new for 2026. While some of the Spotlight Sessions might not apply to your family dynamic or this season of your family's life, we are certain that you will still get something out of all the sessions.

Navigating QHE (formerly HEU)

Samantha Bryan began formally home educating in the second half of 2003. All of her children are now grduated and all bar one homeschooled all the way through. Whilst she leans most to a literature-rich homeschool style, she also experimented with child-directed learning.

Since 2019, Samantha has been involved in home education advocacy and support as part of the Home Education Association. This has involved meeting quarterly with the HEU management, annually with the Education Minister and assisting home educators in a variety of ways. A particular passion has been to gain equity and clarity for home educated students in accessing TAFE and university studies whilst still in high school. With that mission nearly accomplished, she hopes to create clearer pathways to university for students who have finished home education.

Samantha and her husband have served with Power to Change, ministering to university students and those reaching and discipling them, for over 34 and 28 years respectively. She loves seeing God-pleasing change in her own life and the lives of others. In her non-homeschool, non-work/volunteer hours, she likes to walk, connect with friends and read. Two of her love languages are ice cream and any food she doesn't have to cook for herself.

Making Distance Education Work for You

Fiona Oakley - Wife, mother, Deputy Chair on the board of Faith Christian School of Distance Education. Fiona and her husband have five children together and has been homeschooling for over 14 years and still going. She has a background in education and is passionate about ensuring that Christian education maintains its distinct Christ-centered focus.
Since 2023 Fiona has been on the board of Faith Christian School and brings an extensive knowledge of the distance education system and how to use it as a tool in your homeschool toolbox. Fiona is dedicated to supporting and empowering homeschooling families to educate and disciple their children in Christ.

Q&A Panel

The Q&A with our Panel of Experience is back by popular demand. In this session attendees will have the opportunity to ask our panel of experienced homeschool mums their burning homeschool questions. You can ask anything from "how do I get through the day?" to "how can my homeschooler access higher education and training without a school certificate or ATAR?" and everything in between.

Bring your questions with you, or you're also welcome to send in your questions for the panel prior to the conference.

This year we are blessed to have the following wonderful women for our panel of experts:

Barb Somervaille - Wife, mother, grandmother, homeschool veteran, and founder of Mum Heart Australia
Encouragement for navigating homeschool life and committing to the long haul through the seasons of life

Samantha Bryan - Wife, mother, homeschool advocate, and homeschool veteran
Navigating Higher Education pathways available to homeschooled kids and navigating QHE (formerly HEU)

Suzie Dick - Wife, mother, farmer, worship leader, and homeschool veteran
Navagating homeschool life within a full life

Fiona Oakley - Wife, mother, member of the board for Faith Christian School
Navigating the Distance Education experience

Rachel Jones - Wife, mother, performing artist, creator, teacher, and homeschool veteran
Navigating homeschool life with high school and primary school aged kids and a full schedule of extra curriculars

Belinda Gor - Wife, mother, homeschool advocate, and homeschool veteran
Navigating special needs and learning differences experience and encouragement for committing to the long haul through the seasons of life

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