This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

Education in Australia

DEEWR
Federal Minister for Education	Julia Gillard
National education budget (2006)
Budget:	$40.44 Billion (5.8% of GDP)
General Details
Primary Languages:	English
System Type:	Federal
Established Compulsory Education	1895 1939
Literacy (2003)
Total:	99[1]
Male:	99[1]
Female:	99[1]
Enrollment
Total:	17% of population
Primary:	1.9 million
Secondary:	0.9 million
Post Secondary:	0.4 million
Attainment
Secondary diploma	< 69%
Post-secondary diploma	34%
This box: view • talk

Education in Australia is primarily the responsibility of states and territories.

Generally, education in Australia follows the three-tier model which includes primary education (primary schools), followed by secondary education (secondary schools/high schools) and tertiary education (universities and/or TAFE Colleges). The Programme for International Student Assessment for 2006 ranks the Australian education system as 6th on a worldwide scale for Reading, 8th for Science and 13th for Mathematics.^[2]

Education is compulsory up to an age specified by legislation; this age varies from state to state but is generally 15-17, that is prior to completing secondary education. Post-compulsory education is regulated within the Australian Qualifications Framework, a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training (TAFE) and the higher education sector (university).

The academic year in Australia varies between institutions, but generally runs from late January until mid-December for primary and secondary schools and TAFE colleges, and from late February until mid-November for universities with seasonal holidays and breaks for each educational institute.

Contents 1 Pre-school 2 School 2.1 Private schools 2.2 Normal Ages 2.2.1 Primary 2.2.2 Secondary 3 Comparison of ages and grading across States 4 Tertiary 5 Public and private education 6 Federal department 7 See also 7.1 Overview 7.2 Qualifications 7.3 Agencies 7.4 Lists of schools 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Pre-school

Pre-school in Australia is relatively unregulated, and is not compulsory. The first exposure many Australian children have to learn with others outside of traditional parenting is day care or a parent-run playgroup. This sort of activity is not generally considered schooling. Pre-school education is separate from primary school in all states and territories except Western Australia and Queensland, where pre-school education is taught as part of the primary school system.

Pre-schools are usually run by local councils, community groups or private organizations except in the Northern Territory and Queensland where they are run by the Territory and State Governments respectively. Pre-school is offered to three- to five-year-olds, although attendance numbers vary widely (from 50% in New South Wales to 93% in Victoria). The year before a child is due to attend primary school is the main year for pre-school education. This year is far more commonly attended, and usually takes the form of a few hours of activity five days a week.

[edit] School

Education is compulsory in Australia between the ages of six and fifteen, depending on the state and date of birth, with, in recent years, over three quarters of students staying on until they are seventeen. Government schools educate about two thirds of Australian students, with the other third in private schools, a proportion which is rising in many parts of Australia^{[citation needed]}. Furthermore an increasing proportion^{[weasel words]} of these privately educated children are now being home schooled.

Government schools are generally free, but may incur minor administrative costs, while private schools, both religious and secular, charge larger fees. Regardless of whether a school is government or private, they are required to adhere to the same curriculum frameworks. Most school students, be they in government or private school, usually wear uniforms, although there are varying expectations and some Australian schools do not require uniforms.

[edit] Private schools

The majority of private schools are religious, either catholic or anglican based organisations. Most Catholic schools are either run by their local parish and/or by each state's Catholic Education Department.

Non-Catholic non-government schools (often called "Independent" schools) enroll about 14% of students. These include schools operated by religious groups and secular educational philosophies such as Montessori.

Some independent schools charge high fees. Government funding for independent schools often comes under criticism from the Australian Education Union and the Australian Labor Party.

[edit] Normal Ages

Parts of this article (those related to WA's education system) may no longer be up to date. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished. Please see the talk page for more information. (December 2009)

[edit] Primary

• Pre-school/Kindergarten: 4-5 year olds
• Preparatory / Reception / Kindergarten (QLD, NSW,VIC and ACT): 5-6 year olds
• Year 1: 6-7 year olds
• Year 2: 7-8 year olds
• Year 3: 8-9 year olds
• Year 4: 9-10 year olds
• Year 5: 10-11 year olds
• Year 6: 11-12 year olds
• Year 7: 12-13 year olds (part of primary school in WA, SA, QLD only)

[edit] Secondary

• Year 7: 12-13 year olds (ACT, NSW, TAS, and VIC,) Middle School NT
• Year 8: 13-14 year olds
• Year 9: 14-15 year olds
• Year 10: 15-16 year olds (high school NT)
• Year 11: 16-17 year olds
• Year 12: 17-18 year olds

NB: In some states students may be slightly younger, it varies between states. Some private schools also vary in whether grade 7 is secondary or primary as well as the existence of middle school.

[edit] Comparison of ages and grading across States

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008)

Year(s) In School	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
Australian Capital Territory	Primary School							High School				College
	Kindergarten	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
New South Wales	Primary School							High School
	Kindergarten	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Northern Territory	Primary School							Middle School			High School
	Transition	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Queensland	Primary School								High School
	Preparatory	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
South Australia	Primary School								Secondary School/High School
	Reception	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Tasmania	Primary School							High School				College
	Preparatory	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Victoria	Primary School							Secondary School				VCE
	Preparatory	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
Western Australia	Primary School								High School
	Pre-Primary	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12

In the Northern Territory, primary schools often include a pre-school. In Western Australia, primary schools often include two pre-school years. Beginning in 2007, the Northern Territory introduced middle schools for Years 7-9 and High School for Years 10-12. Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Tasmania have a "Year 13" for students wishing to take extra time to develop their skills before tertiary education.

State or Territory	Minimum age	Age in the year before Year 1	Compulsory age	Nomenclature year before school	Nomenclature year before Year 1
ACT	4.8	Age 5 on 30 April	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Kindergarten
NT	4.6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Transition
NSW	4.5	Age 5 on 31 July	Year in which child turns 6	Pre-school	Kindergarten
QLD	4.6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6.64	Kindergarten / Preschool	Preparatory
SA[3]	5.0	In the term after 5th birthday	6 years of age	Preschool	Reception
TAS	5.0	Age 5 on 1 January	Year after turning 5	Kindergarten	Preparatory
VIC	4.8	Age 5 on 30 April	Year in which child turns 6	Kindergarten	Preparatory
WA	4.6	Age 5 on 30 June	Year in which child turns 6.6	Kindergarten	Pre-Primary

For a Cost/Benefit Analysis relating to the implementation of a common school starting age and associated nomenclature by 1 January 2010 see report by John Manefield and John Moore of March 2006. [1]

[edit] Tertiary

[edit] Public and private education

Search Australian Private and Government Education

[edit] Federal department

Education in Australia has been the responsibility of the following departments:

• Department of Education, Employment and Training (DEET) (1987)
• Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) (1996)
• Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) (1997)
• Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) (2001)
• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (2007)

[edit] See also

[edit] Overview

• Academic grading in Australia
• Education in the Australian Capital Territory
• Education in Victoria
• Education in Tasmania
• Australian universities
• Tertiary education fees in Australia
• Performing arts education in Australia
• Australian Qualifications Framework
• TAFE
• University admission

[edit] Qualifications

• Higher School Certificate - the credential awarded for completing years 11 and 12 in NSW
• School Certificate - the credential awarded for completing years 9 and 10 in NSW
• Victorian Certificate of Education
• South Australian Certificate of Education
• Tasmanian Certificate of Education
• Western Australian Certificate of Education
• Northern Territory Certificate of Education
• ACT Scaling Test
• Queensland Core Skills Test
• Overall Position (Queensland)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

[edit] Agencies

• New South Wales Department of Education and Training
  • Board of Studies - responsible for developing and maintaining curriculums and assessment credentials in NSW
• Department of Education (Victoria)
  • Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
• International Baccalaureate Organization

[edit] Lists of schools

• List of schools in Australia
• List of universities in Australia
• List of schools in the Australian Capital Territory

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Australian Education System
• Education and Training International. The international arm of the Western Australian (W.A.) Government's Department of Education and Training.
• The Official Government School Site
• edna.edu.au Education Network Australia website
• Curriculum Corporation website
• Australian Qualifications Framework website
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria website
• Glossary of Australian Education Terms
• Australian Bureau of Statistics 6278.0 - Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005
• The National Education Directory of Australia Pty Ltd
• List of Australian Universities

Links to related articles v • d • e Education in Oceania Sovereign states Australia · East Timor1 · Fiji · Indonesia1 · Kiribati · Papua New Guinea · Marshall Islands · Federated States of Micronesia · Nauru · New Zealand · Palau · Samoa · Solomon Islands · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu Dependencies and other territories American Samoa · Christmas Island · Cocos (Keeling) Islands · Cook Islands · French Polynesia · Guam · Hawaii · New Caledonia · Niue · Norfolk Island · Northern Mariana Islands · Pitcairn Islands · Rotuma · Tokelau · Wallis and Futuna 1 Transcontinental country. v • d • e  Australia topics History Timeline · Prehistory · Australian archaeology · Exploration · 1606–1787 · 1788–1850 · 1851–1900 · 1901–1945 · Since 1945 · Constitutional · Diplomatic · Economic · Federation · Immigration · Indigenous · Military · Monarchy · Railway Geography States and Territories · Capitals · Cities · Cities by population · Climate · Continent · Deserts · Environment · Flora · Fauna · Forests · Geology · Islands · Mountains · Regions · Protected areas · Rivers  · Waterfalls Government Constitution · Monarchy of Australia · Australian governments · Parliament · Foreign relations · Military · Law · Law Enforcement · Courts · Electoral system · Public Service · Federal Budget Politics Political parties (Labor · Liberal · National · Greens) · Elections · Republicanism Economy Agriculture · Companies · Telecommunications · Energy · Media · Mining · Taxation · Tourism · Transportation · Australian dollar · Reserve Bank · Stock Exchange · Household income · Gross state product Culture Architecture · Arts · Australian English · Cinema · Cuisine · Wine · Dance · Indigenous · Literature · Music · Public holidays · Religion · Sport · Television · Theatre · Visual arts Symbols Coat of arms · Flags · Honours · States and Territories Other topics Australian of the Year Award · Crime · Demographics · Education · Environmental issues · Gender inequality in Australia · Health care · Human rights · LGBT rights · Immigration · Passport Australia portal