Education

Australians see education as the cornerstone of a child’s development. As such education is a priority and all States and Territories provide children with access to high quality education. Schooling is compulsory for primary and secondary school age children (i.e. from roughly 6--15 years of age).

Schools are divided into two broad categories---public (government) and private (non-government). The majority of private schools are Catholic and the balance are made up of other faiths as well as independent (non-religious) schools. Some of these schools offer boarding facilities. The School Education Authorities can provide more information about these two sectors.

Children who live in remote or isolated areas commonly gain their primary and secondary education at home through distance education providers such as ‘schools of the air’ or correspondence schools.

Home schooling is also a legal option in Australia. The legal requirements for educating your children at home vary between the States and Territories. The Home Education Association can assist you with identifying these requirements.

A listing of all Australian education providers by State and Territory, including distance education, can be obtained from the Education portal. In addition, the Internet Schools Directory allows you to search for all Australian non-government schools by location, year of schooling, gender and religion.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has a comprehensive overview of education in Australia. The information covers the various levels of schooling, including adult education, and also has links to the State and Territory education departments.