Tutoring in Victoria

24 hours' notice with one free reschedule per month is standard. Be wary of tutors or agencies that charge full price for illness with notice, or demand a full term's fees up front with no refund clause.

Set a baseline in week one (a recent test or past paper score), ask the tutor for a short written note after each month, and re-test with a comparable paper every 6-8 weeks. Judge on evidence, not on whether your child says the sessions are fine.

No references, refusal of a trial lesson, guaranteed grade promises, demanding a full term's payment up front, doing the student's homework for them, and vagueness about their own results or qualifications. Any two of these together — keep looking.

Rates scale with three things: subject level (primary school cheapest, exam-year and university-level most expensive), tutor credentials (students charge least, certified teachers most), and format (online runs 20-40% below in-person). Get quotes from both an agency and an independent to see the spread.

One to two hours a week sustained over a term beats cramming before exams. Twice-weekly is worth the extra spend in the final run-up to major exams or when a student is significantly behind grade level.

Agencies vet tutors, handle replacements and mediate disputes, but add commission — often built into a higher hourly rate. Independents are cheaper and more flexible; you do the vetting. Many families start via an agency, then stay long-term with a tutor they trust.

The 2025 average sits around AUD 64/hr, with families typically paying $55-95 for online and $75-130 for in-person one-on-one. Year 11-12 exam-prep specialists charge the top of the range.

Ask for the tutor's WWCC/Blue Card number and verify it on your state's online register — most states offer free employer/parent verification. A tutor who can't produce a number shouldn't be teaching your child, full stop.