As the new school year approaches, many parents may be thinking about getting a tutor for their child.

Media reporting estimates one in six Australian students get tutoring at some point in their schooling, to help them catch up, qualify for specific schools or prepare for important exams.

But how should parents approach the task of finding a tutor? Our 2025 research highlighted the lack of national standards for tutor qualifications, safety practices and teaching quality. This means parents often have little guidance on choosing a provider they can trust. Unlike school teachers, anyone can call themselves a “tutor” in Australia.

Here are five considerations to help families make more informed, confident decisions about hiring a tutor.

Read more: Private tutoring for school kids is 'booming'. But this poses risks for students

Begin by talking to your child to get a shared understanding of what you and they hope tutoring will achieve. Also have a discussion with their classroom or subject teacher who can give advice on the focus, frequency and type of tutoring.

For some students, the goal may........

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