Editing Education in Australia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox education in country 
| country name          = Australia
| agency image          = File:Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
| agency                = [[Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)|Australian Government]]
| leader titles         = [[Minister for Education (Australia)|Minister for Education]]
| leader names          = [[Jason Clare]]
| budget                = {{AUD}}53&nbsp;billion<ref name="fedbudget">{{Cite journal|url=https://budget.gov.au/content/bp1/download/bp1_bs-6.pdf#page16|title=Statement 6: Expenses and Net Capital Investment|journal=Budget Paper No. 1|publisher=[[Treasurer of Australia]]|access-date=25 January 2025}}</ref>{{rp|205}}<br />{{nowrap|7.2% of [[2024 Australian federal budget|federal budget]]}}
| budget year           = 2024–25
| funding per student   = 
| primary languages     = [[Australian English|English]]
| system type           = [[States and territories of Australia|State]]<ref name="ACARA2017">{{cite web|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/reporting/national-report-on-schooling-in-australia/national-report-on-schooling-in-australia-2017#Link1|title=Overview of Part 1|work=National Report on Schooling in Australia 2017|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|date=2018|access-date=9 September 2019|archive-date=27 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127221219/https://www.acara.edu.au/reporting/national-report-on-schooling-in-australia/national-report-on-schooling-in-australia-2017#Link1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| established events    = Established compulsory education
| established dates     = 1830s<ref name="ifhaa">{{cite web|url=http://www.historyaustralia.org.au/ifhaa/schools/evelutio.htm|title=The Evolution of Education in Australia|access-date=16 February 2010|author=McCreadie, Marion|publisher=Internet Family History Association of Australia|website=historyaustralia.org.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014230625/http://www.historyaustralia.org.au/ifhaa/schools/evelutio.htm|archive-date=14 October 2009}}</ref><br />1870s<ref name="ifhaa" />
| literacy year         = 2003
| literacy total        = 99%<ref name="ciaFactBook">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/australia/|title=Australia|access-date=29 June 2010|date=27 May 2010|work=The World Factbook|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]}}</ref>
| literacy men          = 99%<ref name="ciaFactBook"/> 
| literacy women        = 99%<ref name="ciaFactBook"/> 
| enrollment year       = 2021
| enroll total          = 20.4% of population<ref name="absyear">{{citation|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/0/93EB4563583425CCCA25773700169C91?opendocument|title=Primary and Secondary Education|year=2008|work=Year Book Australia|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606034747/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs%40.nsf/0/93EB4563583425CCCA25773700169C91?opendocument|archive-date=6 June 2011|access-date=2 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/3101.0?OpenDocument|title=December Key Figures|date=December 2009|work=Australian Demographic Statistics|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618212829/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/mf/3101.0?opendocument|archive-date=18 June 2010|access-date=2 July 2010}}</ref><!-- total enrolled (4,523,000) divided by end 2009 population 22,155,400-->
| enroll primary        = 2.0&nbsp;million<ref name="abs2021edu">{{Cite web|date=12 September 2022|title=Education and training: Census, 2021|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/education/education-and-training-census/2021|access-date=8 October 2024|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|language=en}}</ref>
| enroll secondary      = 1.6&nbsp;million<ref name="abs2021edu"/> <!--1,629,624 -->
| enroll post-secondary = 1.1&nbsp;million<ref name="abs2021edu"/> <!-- 1,185,450 -->
| attainment year       = 2023
| attain secondary      = 79.1%<ref name="abs2023edu"/>
| attain post-secondary = 
| footnotes             = 
}}
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'''Education in Australia''' encompasses the sectors of [[early childhood education]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://annualreport2015.education.gov.au/programme-13-early-learning-and-schools-support|title=Early learning and schools support|date=29 October 2015|website=Annual Report 2015|publisher=Australian Government. Department of Education|language=en|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20160303210743/https://annualreport2015.education.gov.au/programme-13-early-learning-and-schools-support|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=4 June 2017}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019}}</ref> (preschool) and [[primary education]] (primary schools), followed by [[secondary education]] (high schools), and finally [[tertiary education]], which includes higher education ([[University|universities]] and other higher education providers) and vocational education ([[registered training organisation]]s).<ref name="About the skills sector">{{citation|url=https://www.employment.gov.au/about-skills-sector|title=About the skills sector|work=[[Department of Education, Skills and Employment]]|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=7 December 2020}}</ref> Regulation and funding of education is primarily the responsibility of the [[States and territories of Australia|States and territories]];<ref name="ACARA2017"/> however, the [[Australian Government]] also contributes to funding.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rice|first1=James|last2=Edwards|first2=Daniel|last3=McMillan|first3=Julie|date=24 July 2019|title=Education Expenditure in Australia|url=https://research.acer.edu.au/policy_analysis_misc/29|journal=Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Beazley|first1=Jordyn|last2=Cassidy|first2=Caitlin|date=2023-07-17|title=The parents fleeing Australia's public school system – and those choosing to stay|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jul/18/the-parents-fleeing-australias-public-school-system-and-those-choosing-to-stay|access-date=2024-04-12|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Education in Australia is compulsory between the ages of four, five, or six<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/education-and-training/school-education|title=School education – australia.gov.au|first=Digital Transformation|last=Agency|website=australia.gov.au|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003003630/http://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/education-and-training/school-education|archive-date=3 October 2017}}</ref> and fifteen, sixteen or seventeen, depending on the state or territory and the date of birth.<ref name="ied">{{citation|url=http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everyday-life/education/|title=Education|work=[[Department of Immigration and Citizenship]]|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=14 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218220904/http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everyday-life/education|archive-date=18 February 2014}}</ref>

For primary and secondary education, government schools educate approximately 64 per cent of Australian students, with approximately 36 per cent in non-government schools.<ref name="abs2023edu">{{Cite web|date=14 February 2024|title=Schools, 2023|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/education/schools/latest-release#methodology|access-date=8 October 2024|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|language=en}}</ref> At the tertiary level, the majority of [[List of universities in Australia|Australia's universities]] are public,<ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Australian Universities {{!}} Study Australia|url=https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-studies/list-of-australian-universities|access-date=2024-09-09|website=studyaustralia.gov.au}}</ref> and student fees are subsidised through a [[Tertiary education fees in Australia|student loan program]] where payment becomes due when debtors reach a certain income level, known as HECS.<ref>{{Cite web|author-link=Australian Government|date=7 August 2024|title=HECS-HELP|url=https://www.studyassist.gov.au/financial-and-study-support/hecs-help#|access-date=9 September 2024|website=Study Assist}}</ref> Underpinned by the [[Australian Qualifications Framework]], implemented in 1995, Australia has adopted a national system of qualifications, encompassing higher education, [[Vocational education|vocational education and training]] (VET), and school-based education.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aqf.edu.au/what-is-the-aqf|title=What is the AQF|work=Australian Qualifications Framework|publisher=[[Australian Government]]|date=n.d.|access-date=3 September 2019|archive-date=3 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903120012/https://www.aqf.edu.au/what-is-the-aqf|url-status=dead}}</ref> For primary and secondary schools, a national [[Australian Curriculum]] has been progressively developed and implemented since 2010.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/curriculumhistory|title=Curriculum version history|date=n.d.|work=The Australian Curriculum|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704204435/http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/curriculumhistory|archive-date=4 July 2017|access-date=4 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-02-05|title=Australian school year begins amid unprecedented crisis of public education system|url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/02/05/axgq-f05.html|access-date=2024-04-12|website=World Socialist Web Site|language=en}}</ref>

In 2012 Australia was ranked as the third-largest provider of international education after the United States and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/education/EAG2012%20-%20Country%20note%20-%20Australia.pdf|title=Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators 2012|website=oecd.org|publisher=OECD|date=2012|access-date=10 September 2019}}</ref>

In the 2018 [[Programme for International Student Assessment|PISA]] study by the [[OECD|OCED]] Australian students placed 16th in the world in reading, 29th in maths and 17th in science. This continues a sharp decline in educational standards.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Gullaci|first=Danielle|date=2019-12-07|title=Australia drops in PISA rankings: Should we be worried? – Education Matters|url=https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/australia-drop-in-pisa-rankings-should-we-worried/|access-date=2023-11-24|website=Education Matters Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Baker|first=Jordan|date=2019-12-03|title='Alarm bells': Australian students record worst result in global tests|url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/alarm-bells-australian-students-record-worst-result-in-global-tests-20191203-p53gie.html|access-date=2023-11-24|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-07-14|title=Schools crisis: why a revolution might be under way|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/crisis-in-our-schools-why-an-education-revolution-might-be-underway-20230712-p5dnn2|access-date=2023-11-24|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cassidy|first=Caitlin|date=2023-11-26|title=Australian education in long-term decline due to poor curriculum, report says|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/27/australian-education-in-long-term-decline-due-to-poor-curriculum-report-says|access-date=2023-11-26|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

However, the [[Education Index]], published with the [[United Nations|UN]]'s [[Human Development Index]] in 2018, based on data from 2017, listed Australia as 0.929, the second-highest in the world.<ref name=":0">{{citation|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/data|title=Human Development Data (1990–2017)|date=14 September 2018|work=Human Development Reports|publisher=United National Development Program|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331022700/http://hdr.undp.org/en/data|archive-date=2019-03-31|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

== Regulation, operation, and funding ==
{{also|#School funding}}
The regulation, operation, and funding of education is the responsibility of the [[States and territories of Australia|states and territories]],<ref name="ACARA2017"/> because the Australian Government does not have a specific [[Section 51 of the Constitution of Australia|constitutional power]] to pass laws with concerning education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/s51.html|title=COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA CONSTITUTION ACT – SECT 51 Legislative powers of the Parliament [see Notes 10 and 11]|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411044012/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/s51.html|archive-date=11 April 2009}}</ref> However, the federal government helps to fund non-government schools,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/aea2013210/s21.html|title=AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION ACT 2013 – SECT 21 Financial assistance for schools|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131190538/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/aea2013210/s21.html|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref> helps to fund public universities, and subsidises tertiary education through [[Tertiary education fees in Australia|a national student loan scheme]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/hefa1988221/|title=HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING ACT 1988|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324005521/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/hefa1988221/|archive-date=24 March 2017}}</ref> and regulates vocational education providers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/nveatra2011492/|title=NATIONAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGULATOR ACT 2011|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319235130/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/nveatra2011492/|archive-date=19 March 2017}}</ref> 

Post-compulsory education is regulated within the [[Australian Qualifications Framework]], a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training, and the tertiary education sector.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.aqf.edu.au/|access-date=9 September 2024|website=Australian Qualifications Framework}}</ref>

The Australian Government's involvement in education has been the responsibility of several departments over the years,{{ref|a|[note a]}} with the [[Department of Education, Skills and Employment]] being formed in 2020.

The academic year in Australia varies among states and institutions; however, it generally runs from late January/early February until early/mid-December for primary and secondary schools and TAFE colleges,<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au/Default.aspx?tabid=1316|title=Term Dates|work=[[TAFE SA]]|publisher=Government of South Australia|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001071549/http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au/Default.aspx?tabid=1316|archive-date=1 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.swin.edu.au/studentoperations/calendar/useful-information.html#tafe|title=TAFE Term Dates|publisher=[[Swinburne University of Technology]]|access-date=16 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.tafensw.edu.au/students/calendar.htm|title=Student calendar|work=[[TAFE NSW]]|publisher=Government of New South Wales|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516072536/http://www.tafensw.edu.au/students/calendar.htm|archive-date=16 May 2008}}</ref> with slight variations in the inter-term holidays,<ref name=":2">For Western Australia, see:{{citation|url=http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/termdates/|title=School Term Dates|work=[[Department of Education (Western Australia)]]|publisher=Government of Western Australia|access-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414193850/http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/termDATES/|archive-date=14 April 2012}}
*For New South Wales:{{citation|url=http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/calendar/?do=setViewPeriod&categoryid=21&viewType=yearView|title=School Calendar|work=[[Department of Education and Training (New South Wales)]]|publisher=Government of New South Wales|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011041034/http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/calendar/?do=setViewPeriod&categoryid=21&viewType=yearView|archive-date=11 October 2009}}
*For South Australia:{{citation|url=http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/custserve/|title=South Australian State Schools Term Dates|work=[[Department of Education and Children's Services]]|publisher=Government of South Australia|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214133409/http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/custserve/|archive-date=14 February 2010}}
*For the Northern Territory:{{citation|url=http://www.det.nt.gov.au/students/at-school/term-dates|title=Term Dates|work=[[Minister for Education (Northern Territory)|Department of Education (Northern Territory)]]|publisher=Government of the Northern Territory|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730080814/http://www.det.nt.gov.au/students/at-school/term-dates|archive-date=30 July 2012}}
*For Victoria {{citation|url=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/keydates/termdates.htm|title=Term Dates – Key Dates|work=[[Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Victoria)]]|publisher=Victorian Government|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209113302/http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/keydates/termdates.htm|archive-date=9 February 2010}}
*For the ACT:{{citation|url=http://www.det.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/108521/Term_Dates_and_Public_Holidays_2010.pdf|title=Term Dates and Public Holidays|work=ACT Educational Directorate|publisher=[[Government of the Australian Capital Territory]]|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331033242/http://www.det.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/108521/Term_Dates_and_Public_Holidays_2010.pdf|archive-date=31 March 2010}}
*For Queensland:{{citation|url=http://education.qld.gov.au/public_media/calendar/holidays.html|title=State Schools Holidays and Qld Public Holidays|work=[[Department of Education, Training and Employment (Queensland)|Department of Education and Training (Queensland)]]|publisher=State of Queensland|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207231458/http://education.qld.gov.au/public_media/calendar/holidays.html|archive-date=7 February 2010}}
*For Tasmania{{citation|url=http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/termdates|title=Term dates for Tasmanian Government school students|work=[[Department of Education (Tasmania)]]|publisher=Government of Tasmania|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221230445/http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/termdates|archive-date=21 February 2010}}</ref> and from late February until mid-November for universities, with seasonal holidays and breaks for each educational institute.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/documents/universities/semester_dates/UA-Semester-Dates-2010.pdf|title=Summary of 2010 Principal Academic Dates for Australian Universities|publisher=Universities Australia|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001090804/http://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/documents/universities/semester_dates/UA-Semester-Dates-2010.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2009}}</ref>

==Preschool==
Government provision in Australia during the years before children start school is a relatively recent innovation. Historically, preschool and pre-prep programs in Australia were relatively unregulated, and children were cared for in informal ways by baby-sitters and by members of their families and close associates.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Raban|first1=Bridie|last2=Kilderry|first2=Anna|url=https://hkier.cuhk.edu.hk/en/publications/ej-v47n2-23-40|title=The Development of Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia|journal=Education Journal|year=2019|volume=47|issue=2|publisher=[[The Chinese University of Hong Kong]]|access-date=22 January 2025|pages=25–26}}</ref>  While still not mandatory for children to attend, the Federal Government has had a focus since 2009 on encouraging families to enrol their children (from around 4 years of age) in a preschool or kindergarten that delivers quality early childhood education and care.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Australia's children, Early childhood education and care|url=https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/education/early-childhood-education-and-care|access-date=2022-12-02|website=Australian Institute of Health and Welfare|date=25 February 2022|language=en-AU}}</ref> Federal and state legislation requires preschool services to implement and deliver programming based on the nationally approved [[Early Years Learning Framework]], implemented from 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-22|title=Approved learning frameworks|url=https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/national-law-regulations/approved-learning-frameworks|access-date=2022-12-02|website=ACECQA|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Belonging, being & becoming : the early years learning framework for Australia – Catalogue {{!}} National Library of Australia|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/4968651|access-date=2025-02-18|website=catalogue.nla.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>  The first exposure many Australian children have to learn with others outside of traditional parenting is [[day care|daycare]] or a parent-run [[Pre-school playgroup#Playgroups in Australia|playgroup]].<ref>{{citation|title=History|url=http://www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/files/pdf/playgroupAU_page_History.pdf|publisher=Playgroup Australia|access-date=29 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808164309/http://www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/files/pdf/playgroupAU_page_History.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> This sort of activity is not generally considered schooling, as preschool education is separate from primary school in all states and territories except Western Australia—where pre-school education is taught as part of the primary school system<ref name="resp">{{citation|url=http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/PreschoolEducationSheetNo2.pdf|title=The Structures of Preschool Education in Australia|access-date=18 February 2010|date=October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928134647/http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/PreschoolEducationSheetNo2.pdf|archive-date=28 September 2010}}</ref>—and Victoria, where the state framework, the [[Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework]] (VEYLDF) covers children from birth to eight years old, is used by some schools over the national framework.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/providers/edcare/veyldframework.pdf|title=Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework|work=Department of Education and Training|publisher=State of Victoria|location=Melbourne|isbn=978-0-7594-0800-5|date=2016|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref> In Queensland, preschool programs are often called [[Kindergarten]] or Pre-Prep and are usually privately run but attract state government funding if run for at least 600 hours a year and delivered by a registered teacher.<ref>{{citation|author=Office for Early Childhood Education and Care|title=Kindergarten programs|url=http://deta.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/families/kindy-programs.html|access-date=22 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514104023/http://deta.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/families/kindy-programs.html|archive-date=14 May 2013}}</ref>

Preschools are usually run by the state and territory governments, except in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[South Australia]] and [[New South Wales]] where they are more often run by local councils, community groups or private organisations.<ref name="resp"/> [[Preschool]] is offered for children ages three to five; attendance numbers vary widely between the states, but 85.7% of children attended preschool the year before school,<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/FS4.pdf|title=The Structures of Preschool Education in Australia|publisher=Australian Education Union|date=June 2007|access-date=18 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216125646/http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/FS4.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> the main year of preschool attendance. This year is far more commonly attended and may take the form of a few hours of activity during weekdays.<ref>{{citation|last=Harrington|first=Marilyn|title=Enrolments, attendance and providers|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bn/2007-08/PreschoolEdAustralia.htm#_Toc198010807|work=Preschool education in Australia|publisher=Australian Parliament House|access-date=1 July 2010|date=9 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230210643/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bn/2007-08/PreschoolEdAustralia.htm|archive-date=30 December 2011}}</ref>  Most states of Australia now fund government preschools to offer 15 hours per week (600 hours over a year) for each enrolled child in the year before they commence formal schooling<ref>{{Cite web|last=lisa.morrison|date=2021-08-02|title=Government investment in preschool funding|url=https://www.esb.sa.gov.au/news/government-investment-preschool-funding|access-date=2022-12-02|website=esb.sa.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=2 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202073225/https://www.esb.sa.gov.au/news/government-investment-preschool-funding|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Primary and secondary education ==
[[File:Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Australia by SLA - BCP field 2817 Infants Primary Total Persons.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|People attending a primary school as a percentage of the local population at the 2011 census, geographically subdivided by statistical local area]]
[[File:Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Australia by SLA - BCP field 2829 Secondary Total Persons.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|People attending secondary school as a percentage of the local population at the 2011 census, geographically subdivided by statistical local area]]

In 2023, 4,086,998 students were enrolled in 9,629 primary, secondary and special schools in Australia.<ref name="abs2023edu"/> As of 2023, [[State school#Australia|government schools]] educated 64% of all students, while Catholic schools (19.7%) and independent schools (16.3%) educated the rest.<ref name="abs2023edu"/><ref name="DoE funding 2019">{{cite web|title=How Are Schools Funded in Australia?|url=https://www.education.gov.au/how-are-schools-funded-australia|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|work=[[Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)|Department of Education]]|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> In 2023, there were just under 311,655 full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching staff in Australian primary and secondary schools.<ref name="abs2023edu"/> The major part of government-run schools' costs is met by the relevant state or territory government.<ref name="immedu">{{citation|url=http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everyday-life/education/whatis.htm|title=What is the Australian education system?|work=[[Department of Immigration and Citizenship]]|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|access-date=2010-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816081219/http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everyday-life/education/whatis.htm|archive-date=16 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The Australian Government provides the majority of public funding for non-government schools, which is supplemented by states and territories.<ref>{{citation|title=School Funding|url=https://www.education.gov.au/funding-schools|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|work=[[Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)|Department of Education]]|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref>

Non-government schools, both religious or secular typically charge compulsory tuition and other fees. Government schools provide education without compulsory tuition fees, although many government schools ask for payment of 'voluntary' fees to defray particular expenses.<ref name=aph>{{citation|title=Private Funding of Schools|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/library/pubs/bn/sp/schoolsfunding.pdf|pages=22–24|publisher=[[Parliament of Australia]]|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref>

Regardless of whether a school is government or non-government, it is regulated by the same curriculum standards framework. The framework is administered by the [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]].<ref>{{citation|title=Australian Curriculum|url=https://www.education.gov.au/australian-curriculum-0|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|work=[[Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)|Department of Education]]|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> Most schools require students to wear prescribed [[school uniform]]s.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everyday-life/education/whatforme.htm|title=What schooling and training is there for my family and me?|work=[[Department of Immigration and Citizenship]]|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|access-date=16 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415213947/http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everyday-life/education/whatforme.htm|archive-date=15 April 2013}}</ref> A school year in Australia typically starts in January/February and finishes in December.<ref name=":2" />

=== Compulsory attendance requirements ===
School education in Australia is compulsory between certain ages as specified by state or territory legislation. Depending on the state or territory, and date of birth of the child, school is compulsory from the age of five to six to the age of fifteen to seventeen.<ref name="ied" />

In the ACT,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/act/consol_act/ea2004104/s10.html|title=EDUCATION ACT 2004 – SECT 10 Child of compulsory education age—enrolment and registration|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131190501/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/act/consol_act/ea2004104/s10.html|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref> NSW,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ea1990104/s21b.html|title=EDUCATION ACT 1990 – SECT 21B Compulsory school-age|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114053718/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ea1990104/s21b.html|archive-date=14 January 2017}}</ref> the Northern Territory,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/ea104/s38.html|title=EDUCATION ACT – SECT 38 Compulsory school age|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131185845/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/ea104/s38.html|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref> Queensland,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/epa2006305/s176.html|title=EDUCATION (GENERAL PROVISIONS) ACT 2006 – SECT 176 176 Obligation of each parent|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131190449/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/epa2006305/s176.html|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/epa2006305/s9.html|title=EDUCATION (GENERAL PROVISIONS) ACT 2006 – SECT 9 9 Meaning of compulsory school age|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131190818/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/epa2006305/s9.html|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref> South Australia,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_act/ea1972104/s5.html#child_of_compulsory_school_age|title=EDUCATION ACT 1972 – SECT 5|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131185834/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_act/ea1972104/s5.html#child_of_compulsory_school_age|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_act/ea1972104/s75.html|title=EDUCATION ACT 1972 – SECT 75|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131190808/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_act/ea1972104/s75.html|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref> Victoria,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/eatra2006273/s2.1.1.html|title=EDUCATION AND TRAINING REFORM ACT 2006 – SECT 2.1.1 Attendance at school|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408182359/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/eatra2006273/s2.1.1.html|archive-date=8 April 2016}}</ref> and Western Australia,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/sea1999170/s9.html|title=SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT 1999 – SECT 9|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131190527/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/sea1999170/s9.html|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/sea1999170/s6.html|title=SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT 1999 – SECT 6|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110075754/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/sea1999170/s6.html|archive-date=10 January 2017}}</ref> children are legally required to attend school from the age of six years old, until the minimum leaving age. In Tasmania, the compulsory school starting age is 5 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/tas/consol_act/ea1994104/s4.html|title=EDUCATION ACT 1994 – SECT 4 4. Enrolment|website=austlii.edu.au|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131190516/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/tas/consol_act/ea1994104/s4.html|archive-date=31 January 2017}}</ref> However, most children commence the preliminary year of formal schooling, in [[Kindergarten|Pre-Year 1]], between four and a half and five and a half years of age,<ref name="absyear2012"/> variously called kindergarten (sometimes called Year K),<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/enrolling-in-a-public-school/enrolling-in-kindergarten-to-year-12|title=Enrolling in Kindergarten To Year 12|work=Education Directorate|publisher=Government of the Australian Capital Territory|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/primary-schools/starting-school|title=Starting school|work=[[Department of Education (New South Wales)|NSW Department of Education]]|publisher=Government of New South Wales|date=14 August 2019|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.education.wa.edu.au/enrolling-in-school|title=Enrolling in school|work=[[Department of Education (Western Australia)|WA Department of Education]]|publisher=Government of Western Australia|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> reception,<ref>{{cite web|date=27 Jan 2021|title=Starting preschool or school|url=https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/enrol-school-or-preschool/school-enrolment/starting-preschool-or-school|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207014622/https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/enrol-school-or-preschool/school-enrolment/starting-preschool-or-school|archive-date=7 February 2021|access-date=7 February 2021|work=SA Department of Education|publisher=[[Government of South Australia]]}}</ref> preparation (also abbreviated as "prep"),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qld.gov.au/education/schools/find/enrolment/age|title=Enrolment age requirements|work=[[Department of Education (Queensland)|QLD Department of Education]]|publisher=Queensland Government|date=26 September 2017|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Jarvis, Caitlin|url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/4745082/how-does-tasmanias-school-starting-age-compare/|title=School starting age changes in Tasmania versus Australia|work=The Examiner|location=Tasmania|date=21 June 2017|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="VIC types"/> transition,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nt.gov.au/learning/primary-and-secondary-students/stages-of-schooling|title=Stages of schooling|work=Education and learning|publisher=[[Northern Territory Government]] of Australia|date=4 February 2019|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> or foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-03-18|title=Enrolling in Foundation (Prep)|url=https://www.vic.gov.au/enrolling-foundation-prep|access-date=2024-11-05|website=vic.gov.au|language=en-AU}}</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, the national year 10 to year 12 apparent retention rate (ARR), a measure of student engagement that provides an indicator of the success of education systems in keeping students in school beyond the minimum leaving age, was 79.9 per cent for all full-time students in [[Year Twelve|Year 12]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-02-17|title=Schools, 2024 {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/education/schools/latest-release#retention-rates|access-date=2025-02-18|website=abs.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>

=== Australian Curriculum ===
{{main|Australian Curriculum|Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority}}
While state and territory governments are responsible for the regulation and delivery of school-based education within their jurisdiction, through the [[Council of Australian Governments]], the Commonwealth Government has, since 2014, played an increasing role in the establishment of the [[Australian Curriculum]] that sets the expectations for what all young Australians should be taught, regardless of where they live in Australia or their background. The development of the Australian Curriculum is based on the principles of improving the quality, equity and transparency of Australia's education system.<ref name="Australian Curriculum">{{citation|url=https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/about-the-australian-curriculum/|title=About the Australian Curriculum|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|date=n.d.|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> The Australian Curriculum, for [[Kindergarten|pre-Year 1]] to [[Year Nine|Year 9]], is made up of the following eight learning areas: English; Mathematics; Science; Humanities and Social Sciences; The Arts; Technologies; Health and Physical Education as well as Languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/learning-areas/|title=Learning areas|work=F-10 curriculum|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|date=n.d.|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> In the senior secondary Australian Curriculum, for [[Year Ten|Year 10]], [[Year Eleven|Year 11]] and [[Year Twelve|Year 12]], fifteen senior secondary subjects across English, Mathematics, Science, History and Geography were endorsed between 2012 and 2013. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has mandated the achievement standards that describe the quality of learning (including the depth of understanding, the extent of knowledge, and the sophistication of skill) expected of students who have studied the content for each subject.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/senior-secondary-curriculum/|title=Senior secondary curriculum|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|date=n.d.|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>

=== Types of schools ===
The types of schools in Australia fall broadly into two categories: [[State school#Australia|government schools]], being those schools operated by state or territory [[Government department|department]]s or [[Government agency|agencies]]; and non-government schools, being those schools that are not operated by government departments or agencies.<ref name="absyear2012"/> Non-government schools can be further classified, based on self-identification of the school's affiliation. Non-government schools are grouped for reporting as [[Roman Catholic Church in Australia|Catholic]] schools (including Catholic-affiliated private schools)<ref name="NCEC facts">{{citation|url=https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/resources/facts-about-catholic-education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227011729/https://ncec.catholic.edu.au/resources/facts-about-catholic-education|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-02-27|title=The facts about Catholic education|publisher=National Catholic Education Commission|date=2018|access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="NCEC-schools-review-2011">{{citation|url=https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/resources/publications/70-ncec-submission-to-the-review-of-funding-for-schooling-31-march-2011/file|title=Submission to the Review of Funding for Schooling|publisher=National Catholic Education Commission|date=31 March 2011|access-date=12 August 2019|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306040314/https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/resources/publications/70-ncec-submission-to-the-review-of-funding-for-schooling-31-march-2011/file|archive-date=6 March 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> or private (other non-government schools).<ref name="absyear2012"/><ref name="VIC types">{{citation|url=https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/school-types.aspx|title=Types of school|work=[[Department of Education and Training (Victoria)|Education and Training]]|publisher=[[State Government of Victoria]]|date=2019|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-date=19 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319140032/https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/school-types.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Government schools receive funding from the relevant state or territory government. Non-government schools receive funding from the Australian Government and relevant state or territory government;<ref name="absyear2012"/> and in most cases, parents are required to make a co-payment for their child's education.<ref name=aph/>

{{As of|2019}} across primary and secondary education, approximately two-thirds of all school students attended government schools; with the remaining one-third of students educated in non-government schools.<ref name="DoE funding 2019"/><ref name="absyear2012">{{citation|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1301.0~2012~Main%20Features~Primary%20and%20secondary%20education~105|title=Schooling structures|work=1301.0 – Year Book Australia, 2012|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]. Commonwealth of Australia|date=24 May 2012|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

A small portion of students are legally [[home-school]]ed, particularly in rural areas.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.hea.edu.au/faqs.asp#23|title=How many home educators are there in Australia?|work=FAQs|publisher=Home Education Association Inc (Australia)|access-date=9 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502134742/http://www.hea.edu.au/get-started/faqs.html#23|archive-date=2 May 2013}}</ref> Part of these students supplement their education with the [[School of the Air]], an Australian government education programme to provide access to primary and secondary education for children in remote areas. Beginning in 1951 this programme initially operated through radio broadcasts, however telephone classes teaching replaced these broadcasts in 2005. From 2007 to 2009, online classes and resources were rolled out and became the primary method of learning<ref>{{citation|url=http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/school-of-the-air|title=The School of the Air and remote learning|website=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809132551/http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/school-of-the-air|archive-date=9 August 2011|access-date=8 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-06|title=Distance education history|url=https://education.qld.gov.au/schools-educators/distance-education/history|access-date=2025-02-18|website=Education|language=en}}</ref>

=== Scholar performance ===
According to the 2022 PISA evaluations, Australian 15-year-olds ranked ninth in the OECD for reading and science and tenth for maths. However, less than 60% of Australian students achieved the National Proficiency Standard – 51% in maths, 58% in science and 57% in reading.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 December 2023|title=PISA 2022 Results (Volume I and II) – Country Notes: Australia|url=https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2023/11/pisa-2022-results-volume-i-and-ii-country-notes_2fca04b9/australia_aa76963a.html|access-date=31 July 2024|publisher=OECD|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Long|first=Claudia|date=6 December 2023|title=Australia is now in the world's top 10 academic performers – but the data paints a complex picture|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-05/pisa-international-school-rankings-in-maths-science-reading/103185468|access-date=31 July 2024|work=ABC News Australia}}</ref>

== School years ==
=== Primary schools ===
{{See also|Primary school}}
[[File:Saint Patrick's Primary school.jpg|thumb|St Patricks Primary in Murrumbeena is one of many Catholic primary schools in Australia]]

Also sometimes called infants schools, Australia adopts the [[UNESCO]] term of [[primary school#Australia|primary school]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/primary-school|title=Primary school|encyclopaedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|date=n.d.|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|location=Chicago, IL|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref> that generally covers a child's education from pre–[[Year One (education)|Year 1]] and finishes with [[Year Six|Year 6]]. The duration of primary school years varies across each Australian state and territory, with most adopting seven years- except in South Australia, where, until 2022,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 Feb 2021|title=Year 7 to high school information for parents|url=https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/year-7-high-school/year-7-high-school-information-parents|website=Department for Education South Australia|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207014954/https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/year-7-high-school/year-7-high-school-information-parents|url-status=dead}}</ref> students finished with [[Year Seven|Year 7]], making the duration of primary school eight years-<ref name="MySchoolsDefinitions">{{cite web|date=n.d.|title=Glossary|url=https://eskilledrtosoftware.com.au/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328061929/https://myschool.edu.au/glossary/|archive-date=28 March 2019|access-date=18 August 2019|work=My Schools|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]}}</ref>{{rp|[see "Primary"]}} until they are 11, 12 or 13 years of age. Primary schools focus on developing essential literacy, numeracy and social skills, and provide foundational knowledge to children about the world around them.<ref name="DFAT Foundation Level">{{cite web|url=https://dfat.gov.au/aid/topics/investment-priorities/education-health/education/Documents/australian-education-system-foundation.pdf|title=The Australian Education System: Foundation Level|work=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Academy|publisher=Australian Government|date=2018|access-date=9 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619095910/http://dfat.gov.au/aid/topics/investment-priorities/education-health/education/Documents/australian-education-system-foundation.pdf|archive-date=19 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Secondary schools ===
{{See also|Secondary school#Australia}}
[[Secondary school#Australia|Secondary schools]] in Australia are also called high schools{{ref|b|[note b]}} and colleges (or junior, intermediate, or senior colleges). Secondary schools vary across each Australian state and territory, but they generally cover [[Year Seven|Year 7]] to [[Year Nine|Year 9]] (compulsory period of education) and senior secondary schools continue to [[Year Twelve|Year 12]].<ref>{{cite web|date=27 January 2023|url=https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/english/study/education-system|title=Australian education system|access-date=27 January 2023|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127092635/https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/english/study/education-system|url-status=dead}}</ref> Progressively, as students move from primary into secondary schools, subject matter becomes increasingly specialised,<ref name="DFAT Foundation Level" /> offering opportunities to students that show preferences in [[STEM]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=School and Early Learning STEM initiatives|url=https://www.education.gov.au/australian-curriculum/support-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem/school-and-early-learning-stem-initiatives#toc-stem-professionals-in-schools|access-date=8 October 2024|website=education.gov.au}}</ref> or in Humanities and Social Sciences,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Support for Humanities and Social Sciences|url=https://www.education.gov.au/australian-curriculum/support-humanities-and-social-sciences|access-date=8 October 2024|website=education.gov.au}}</ref> among other interests.

=== Middle schools ===
{{See also|Middle school#Australia}}
In the majority of Australian states and territories, [[middle school]]s are relatively uncommon. Students progress from primary school to secondary school.<ref>{{cite web|date=8 December 2011|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/shake-up-puts-year-7s-in-high-school-20111208-1oknc.html|title=Shake-up puts Year 7s in high school|work=WA Today|location=Western Australia}}</ref> As an alternative to the middle school model, some secondary schools divided their grades into "junior high school" (Years 7, 8 and 9) and "senior high school" (Years 10, 11 and 12). Some have three levels, "junior" (Years 7 and 8), "intermediate" (Years 9 and 10), and "senior" (Years 11 and 12).

In June 2006 the [[Northern Territory Government]] introduced a [[three-tier education|three-tier system]] featuring middle schools for Year 7 to Year 9 (approximate age 12–15) and high school for Year 10 to Year 12 (approximate age 15–18).<ref name="NT">{{cite web|url=http://www.middleyears.nt.gov.au/about/|title=About Middle Years|date=15 January 2008|access-date=1 February 2008|publisher=Northern Territory Government|work=NT Department of Employment, Education and Training|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223120910/http://www.middleyears.nt.gov.au/about/|archive-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>

=== Combined and central schools ===
{{See also|Combined school|Central school}}
In Australia, [[combined school]]s, also known as K-12 schools,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-10-23|title=K-12 Schools|url=https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/efsg/design-components/k12-school-builds|access-date=2025-02-18|website=education.nsw.gov.au|language=en}}</ref> are schools that have classes from both primary and secondary year levels.<ref name="MySchoolsDefinitions"/>{{rp|[see "Combined school"]}} These schools may be located in an urban, regional or rural area and can be government or non-government schools. {{As of|2019}} there were approximately 500 Australian combined government schools<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myschool.edu.au/school-search?FormPosted=True&SchoolSearchQuery=&SchoolSector=G&SchoolType=C&State=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604154712/https://www.myschool.edu.au/school-search?FormPosted=True&SchoolSearchQuery=&SchoolSector=G&SchoolType=C&State=|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2024|title=Search: combined schools (filter government schools)|work=My Schools|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>{{rp|[search "Combined school"]}} and approximately 850 Australian combined non-government schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myschool.edu.au/school-search?FormPosted=True&SchoolSearchQuery=&SchoolSector=C%2CI&SchoolType=C&State=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606121005/https://www.myschool.edu.au/school-search?FormPosted=True&SchoolSearchQuery=&SchoolSector=C%2CI&SchoolType=C&State=|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2024|title=Search: combined schools (filter non-government schools)|work=My Schools|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>{{rp|[search "Combined school"]}}

In Western Australia, the term ''district high school'' is used to describe a school that educates students from pre-prep to year 12.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Primary and secondary schools|url=https://www.education.wa.edu.au/primary-and-secondary-schools|access-date=2025-02-18|website=Department of Education|language=en-AU}}</ref>

In New South Wales, [[Central school]]s are predominantly, government schools located in a rural area that provides both primary and lower secondary education to students, usually concluding at [[Year Ten|Year 10]]. These provide secondary education to students from multiple primary schools, in rural areas with too low of a population to support a secondary school. As of 2024 there were 58 central schools.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evaluation|first=Centre for Education Statistics and|date=2024-03-06|title=Glossary of school types|url=https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/history-of-nsw-government-schools/school-database-search/glossary#letterC|access-date=2025-02-18|website=education.nsw.gov.au|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myschool.edu.au/school-search?FormPosted=True&SchoolSearchQuery=central+school&SchoolSector=&SchoolType=&State=&pagenumber=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606054912/https://www.myschool.edu.au/school-search?FormPosted=True&SchoolSearchQuery=central+school&SchoolSector=&SchoolType=&State=&pagenumber=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2024|title=Search: central schools|work=My Schools|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>{{rp|[search "Central school"]}}

== Organisational structures ==
Schools are broadly categorised into government and non-government schools. The non-government schools are further categorised into Catholic schools and private schools. {{as of|2018}}, 65.7% of students were enrolled in government schools, 19.7% in catholic schools and 14.6% in private schools.<ref name="ABS2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4221.0|title=4221.0 – Schools, Australia, 2018|work=Australian Bureau of Statistics|publisher=Australian Government|date=8 March 2019|access-date=9 September 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Student enrolments by school affiliation, Australia, 2014–2018<ref name="ABS2018"/>
|-
! colspan=2| !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018
|-
| colspan=2| [[State school#Australia|Government]]  ||align=right| 2,406,495 ||align=right| 2,445,130 ||align=right| 2,483,802 ||align=right| 2,524,865 ||align=right| 2,558,169
|-
| rowspan=2| Non-government || [[Catholic education in Australia|Catholic]] ||align=right| 765,539 ||align=right| 757,749 ||align=right| 767,050 ||align=right| 766,870 ||align=right| 765,735
|-
| [[Private schools]] ||align=right| 529,857 ||align=right| 540,304 ||align=right| 547,374 ||align=right| 557,490 ||align=right| 569,930
|-
! colspan=2| Totals ||align=right| 3,694,101 ||align=right| 3,750,973 ||align=right| 3,798,226 ||align=right| 3,849,225 ||align=right| 3,893,834
|}

=== Government schools ===
{{See also|State school#Australia}}
[[File:Mac.Robertson Girls High School.jpg|thumb|The [[Mac.Robertson Girls' High School]], a government school in [[Melbourne City Centre|Melbourne CBD]], 2007]]
[[File:Warwick High School, 2017.jpg|thumb|Warwick High School, a government school in {{QLDcity|Warwick}}, [[Queensland]], 2007]]
[[File:Quairading District High School, 2018 (01).jpg|thumb|Quairading District High School, a government school in {{WAcity|Quairading}}, [[Western Australia]], 2018]]

Also called state schools or public schools, government schools educate approximately two-thirds of all school students in Australia.<ref name="DoE funding 2019"/> If a student elects to attend a government school, they are required to attend a school within their local [[school district]] unless the student has dispensation to attend another school, usually approved based on academic merit, specialisation, or other reasons, such as a student disability.

Government schools are run by the respective state government agency.<ref name=immedu /> They offer free education; however, many government schools ask parents to pay a contribution fee and a materials and services charge<ref name= aph /><ref>{{cite news|author=Ker, Peter|title=Voluntary school fees under the gun|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/voluntary-school-fees-under-the-gun-20080103-ge6kh0.html|website=[[The Age]]|date=3 January 2008|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Singhal, Palavi|url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/public-schools-should-be-free-parent-outrage-at-invoices-for-voluntary-fees-20190218-p50yig.html|title='Public schools should be free': parent outrage at invoices for voluntary fees|website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=18 February 2019|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Robinson, Natasha|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-24/school-fees-at-australian-public-schools-concern-parents/11201804|title='Public schooling in Australia attracts $1 billion bill in fees for parents despite 'voluntary' status|website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|location=Australia|date=24 June 2019|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> for stationery, textbooks, sports, uniforms, school camps and other schooling costs that are not covered under government funding. In 2010 the additional cost for schooling was estimated to be on average $316 per year per child.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lam|first=Miawling|title=Public school costs soar to $90k|newspaper=The Sunday Telegraph|publisher=News Limited|date=17 January 2010|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/public-school-costs-soar-to-90k/story-e6frewt0-1225820387407|access-date=9 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922131557/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/public-school-costs-soar-to-90k/story-e6frewt0-1225820387407|archive-date=22 September 2012}}
</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ker|first=Peter|title=Voluntary school fees under the gun|newspaper=[[The Age]]|location=Victoria|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=3 January 2008|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/voluntary-school-fees-under-the-gun/2008/01/02/1198949899860.html|access-date=9 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105062900/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/voluntary-school-fees-under-the-gun/2008/01/02/1198949899860.html|archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref>

Government schools may be further categorised into [[comprehensive schools|open or comprehensive]] schools, [[selective school|selective]], [[special school|special]], and [[specialist school|specialist]] schools; all defined below. In 2009 the Western Australia government introduced [[Independent Public Schools]] to describe a government school that, while a part of the state education system, was granted a higher degree of decision-making authority than a regular government school.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gobby|first=Brad|title=Enacting the Independent Public Schools program in Western Australia|journal=Issues in Educational Research|date=14 May 2013|volume=23|issue=1|pages=19–34|url=http://www.iier.org.au/iier23/gobby.html}}</ref> A similar reform was introduced in Queensland and, as of December 2018, 250 government schools commenced as independent public schools in Queensland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://education.qld.gov.au/schools-educators/independent-public-schools|title=Independent public schools|work=[[Department of Education (Queensland)|QLD Department of Education]]|publisher=The State of Queensland|date=12 December 2018|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> In February 2014 the then [[Minister for Education and Training|Federal Education Minister]], [[Christopher Pyne]], announced a $70&nbsp;million Independent Public Schools Initiative to support 1,500 Australian government schools to become more [[autonomous]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Griffiths|first=Emma|title=Christopher Pyne announces $70 million fund to help public schools go it alone|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-03/pyne-plan-for-independent-schools-under-fire/5234536|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|location=Australia|date=3 February 2014|access-date=3 February 2014}}</ref>

Government [[hospital school]]s are located at some major hospitals and provide access to tuition for students who have extended stays in hospitals.<ref>{{cite web|author=Facchinetti, Annie|url=http://www.educationtoday.com.au/_images/articles/pdf/article-pdf-1198.pdf|title=Getting personal with hospital schools|work=Education Today|date=June 2016|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.education.sa.gov.au/supporting-students/health-e-safety-and-wellbeing/health-support-planning/managing-health-education-and-care/health-support-services-and-programs/hospital-school-south-australia-hssa|title=Hospital School South Australia (HSSA)|work=[[Department for Education (South Australia)|SA Department for Education]]|publisher=Government of South Australia|date=6 December 2018|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528171436/https://www.education.sa.gov.au/supporting-students/health-e-safety-and-wellbeing/health-support-planning/managing-health-education-and-care/health-support-services-and-programs/hospital-school-south-australia-hssa|archive-date=28 May 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Facchinetti, Annie|url=https://monashchildrenshospital.org/school/|title=Monash Children's Hospital School|work=Monash Children's Hospital|publisher=Monash Health|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Carmody, Rebecca|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-08/perth-childrens-hospital-school-keeps-students-on-track-smiling/10470914|title=Perth Children's Hospital school helping students stay on track and smiling|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|location=Australia|date=8 November 2018|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

Across Australia, the [[Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)|Federal Department of Education]] sets the overall national policy and direction for education in Australia. The following [[States and territories of Australia|state and territory]] [[government department]]s are responsible for the administration of education within their respective jurisdictions:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Government educational authority by state/territory
|-
! State/territory !! Government educational agency !! Other relevant authorities 
|-
| [[Australian Capital Territory]] || [[ACT Government#ACT Government Directorates|ACT Education Directorate]] || ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies<ref>{{Cite web|title=ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies|url=https://www.bsss.act.edu.au/|access-date=2022-11-18|website=bsss.act.edu.au}}</ref>
|-
| [[New South Wales]] || [[Department of Education (New South Wales)|NSW Department of Education]]|| [[New South Wales Education Standards Authority|NSW Education Standards Authority]] 
|-
| [[Northern Territory]] || [[Minister for Education (Northern Territory)|NT Department of Education]] ||
|-
| [[Queensland]] || [[Department of Education and Training (Queensland)|QLD Department of Education]] || [[Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority]]
|-
| [[South Australia]] || [[Department for Education (South Australia)|SA Department for Education]] || [[South Australian Certificate of Education|SACE Board of South Australia]]
|-
| [[Tasmania]] || [[Department of Education (Tasmania)|Department for Education, Children and Young People]]  || Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification 
|-
| [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] || [[Department of Education (Victoria)|VIC Department of Education]] || [[Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority]] 
|-
| [[Western Australia]] || [[Department of Education (Western Australia)|WA Department of Education]] || School Curriculum and Standards Authority
|}

=== Non-government schools ===
Schools from the non-government sector operate under the authority of state or territory governments but are not operated by government education departments. Schools from the non-government sector may operate as individual schools, in small groups or as a system such as those coordinated by the Catholic Education Commission in each state and territory.<ref name="MySchoolsDefinitions"/>{{rp|[see "non-government sector"]}}  All non-government schools in Australia receive funding from the Commonwealth government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iheu.org/the-purple-economy-supernatural-charities-tax-and-the-state|title=The Purple Economy: Supernatural Charities, Tax and the State|work=Book review|publisher=[[International Humanist and Ethical Union]]|date=7 January 2008|access-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117202810/http://iheu.org/the-purple-economy-supernatural-charities-tax-and-the-state|archive-date=17 January 2013}}</ref>

==== Catholic schools ====
{{Main|Catholic education in Australia}}
[[File:St Mary's College, Hobart.jpg|thumb|[[St Mary's College, Hobart]], 2014. The college is affiliated with the [[Presentation Sisters]], a religious institute of the [[Roman Catholic Church in Australia|Catholic Church]].]]

The education system delivered by the [[Roman Catholic Church in Australia]] began in 1820 and has grown to be the second-biggest provider of school-based education in Australia.<ref name="NCEC facts"/> {{As of|2018}}, one in five Australian students attended Catholic schools.<ref name="NCEC facts"/><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/9FA90AEC587590EDCA2571B00014B9B3?opendocument|title=4102.0 – Australian Social Trends, 2006|work=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|publisher=Australian Government|date=2006|access-date=1 April 2014}}</ref> There are over 1,700 Catholic schools in Australia with more than 750,000 students enrolled, employing almost 60,000 teachers.<ref name="NCEC facts"/><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.ag.gov.au/Consultations/Documents/modern-slavery-in-supply-chains-reporting-requirement/Australian-catholic-bishops-conference.docx|title=Modern Slavery in Supply Chains Reporting Requirement|author=Australian Catholic Bishops Conference|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321100052/https://www.ag.gov.au/Consultations/Documents/modern-slavery-in-supply-chains-reporting-requirement/Australian-catholic-bishops-conference.docx|archive-date=21 March 2018}}</ref>

Administrative oversight of Catholic education providers varies depending on the origins, ethos, and purpose of each education provider. Oversight of Catholic ''systemic'' schools may rest with a Catholic [[parish]], [[Diocese#Catholic Church|diocese, or archdiocese]];<ref name="NCEC facts"/> while [[religious institute]]s have oversight of Catholic ''independent'' schools.<ref name="NCEC-schools-review-2011"/>

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), established by the [[Australian Catholic Bishops Conference]] through the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education, is tasked with maintaining liaison with the federal government and other key national education bodies and complements and supports the work of the state and territory Catholic education commissions.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/|title=Australia's Peak Catholic Education Body|publisher=National Catholic Education Commission|date=n.d.|access-date=1 April 2014}}</ref> While some Catholic schools operate independently via religious institutes,<ref name="NCEC-schools-review-2011"/> the majority of Catholic schools, called ''systemic schools'',<ref name="NCEC facts"/> operate under the [[Canon Law]] jurisdiction of an ecclesiastical public juridic person, such as a [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]].<ref name="NCEC-governance">{{citation|url=https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/resources/publications/8-catholic-school-governance-may-2002/file|title=Catholic School Governance|publisher=National Catholic Education Commission|date=May 2002|access-date=12 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811141754/https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/resources/publications/8-catholic-school-governance-may-2002/file|archive-date=11 August 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|7}} In practice, the bishop assigns a Catholic Education Office (CEO), Catholic Education Commission, Catholic Schools Offices, or a similar body<ref name="NCEC-governance"/>{{rp|4}} with daily operational responsibility for the leadership, efficient operation, and management of the Catholic systemic schools which educate in parish primary and regional secondary schools in Australia. These diocesan bodies are charged with the implementation and management of the policies of the diocese and the allocation and administration of the funds provided by the government and private sources to Catholic systemic schools, as well as the financial responsibilities for the administration of salaries for staff members.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.ceosyd.catholic.edu.au/About/Pages/Home.aspx|title=About Us|work=Catholic Education Office Sydney|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney]]|date=n.d.|access-date=1 April 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074231/http://www.ceosyd.catholic.edu.au/About/Pages/Home.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Most Catholic schools (96 per cent) are ''systemically'' funded, meaning that the government funding they nominally attract is provided to the relevant state Catholic Education Commission for needs-based distribution. Sixty-one Australian Catholic schools are non-systemically funded (''independent'' schools) and receive government grants directly.<ref name="NCEC-schools-review-2011"/>

==== Private schools ====
{{Distinguish|Independent Public Schools}}
[[File:Scotch College Melbourne chapel 2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The chapel at [[Scotch College, Melbourne]], a well-known Australian private school, that enrols students from [[pre-school education|early learning]] to [[Year Twelve|Year 12]]]]

[[Private schools]] are non-government schools that are not operated by government authority and have a system of governance that ensures their independent operation. Such schools are typically operated by an independently elected school council or board of governors and range broadly in the type of school education provided and the [[socioeconomics|socio-economics]] of the school community served. Some private schools are run by [[religious institute]]s; others have no religious affiliation and are driven by a national philosophy (such as [[international school]]s), [[pedagogy|pedagogical]] philosophy (such as [[Waldorf education|Waldorf-Steiner schools]]), or specific needs (such as [[special school]]s).<ref name="Study in Australia home">{{citation|url=https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/english/australian-education/schools|title=Schools in Australia|work=Study in Australia|publisher=Australian Government|date=n.d.|access-date=5 September 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426063841/https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/english/australian-education/schools|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{as of|2018}}, including private schools run by Catholic religious institutes, of the 9,477 schools in Australia 1,140 schools (12 per cent) are in the private sector. In the same year, private schools enrolled over 617,000 students or 16 per cent of the Australian student population.<ref name="isca-about">{{citation|url=https://isca.edu.au/about-independent-schools/about-independent-schools/independent-schools-overview/|title=Independent Schools Overview|publisher=Independent Schools Council of Australia|date=2019|access-date=27 August 2019|archive-date=11 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811141752/https://isca.edu.au/about-independent-schools/about-independent-schools/independent-schools-overview/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Private school fees can vary from under $100 per month<ref>{{citation|title=School Fees|url=https://www.goodschools.com.au/start-here/financing-your-childs-education/school-fees|website=Good Schools Guide|publisher=Good Education Group|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> to $3,200,<ref>{{cite news|author=Speranza, Laura|url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/revealed-500000-to-educate-your-child-figures-from-australian-scholarships-group-say/news-story/70899e765a169cce6210fa5ad447d276#ixzz1qAx7iMoz|title=$500,000 a child: How much private schooling costs parents|work=[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Sunday Telegraph]]|location=Australia|date=29 May 2011|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref><ref name =exfin>{{citation|url=http://www.exfin.com/private-school-costs|title=Private School Fees and Costs|publisher=Exfin International Pty LTD.|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref> depending on the student's year level, the school's size, and the socioeconomics of the school community. In late 2018 it was reported that the most expensive private schools (such as the [[Associated Public Schools of Victoria|APS Schools]], the [[Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria|AGSV Schools]] in [[Melbourne]], the [[Great Public Schools Association of Queensland|GPS Schools]], [[Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association|QGSSSA Schools]] in [[Brisbane]] and the [[Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales|NSW GPS Schools]], [[Combined Associated Schools]] and the [[Independent Sporting Association (Australia)|ISA Schools]] in [[Sydney]] and New South Wales) charge fees of up to $500,000 for the thirteen years of private school education.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Singhal, Pallavi|author2=Keoghan, Sarah|url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/sydney-private-school-fees-hit-38-000-for-the-first-time-20181221-p50nqw.html|title=Sydney private school fees hit $38,000 for the first time|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=26 December 2018|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Kinniburgh, Chanel|url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/estimated-total-cost-of-a-government-catholic-and-independent-education-revealed/news-story/d6b75abed1328a206deaddaf70f07a9a|title=Estimated total cost of a government, Catholic and independent education revealed|work=news.com.au|date=30 January 2019|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Bolton, Robert|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/mind-blowing-top-private-school-education-nears-500000-20190129-h1alsk|title='Mind blowing': Top private school education nears $500,000|work=[[Financial Review]]|location=Australia|date=29 January 2019|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref>

Australian private schools broadly fall into the following categories:<ref name="isca-about"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Types of Australian private schools
|-
! colspan=2 rowspan=2| Broad description !! colspan=2| Examples of schools
|-
! Example school(s) name !! Examples of [[religious institute]](s) or religious affiliation(s)
|-
| rowspan=8| Schools affiliated with<br />{{nowrap|Christian denominations}} || [[Anglican education in Australia|Anglican]] || [[Canberra Grammar School]] (ACT), [[The King's School, Parramatta]] (NSW), [[The Southport School]] (QLD), [[St Peter's College, Adelaide]] (SA), [[The Hutchins School]] (TAS), [[Geelong Grammar]] (VIC), and [[St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls]] (WA) ||
|- 
| [[Catholic education in Australia|Catholic]]{{ref|c|[note c]}} || [[St Edmund's College, Canberra]] (ACT), [[St John's College, Darwin]] (NT), [[St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill]] (NSW), [[Loreto College Coorparoo]] (QLD), [[Sacred Heart College (Adelaide)|Sacred Heart College, Adelaide]] (SA), [[St Mary's College, Hobart]] (TAS), [[Xavier College]] (VIC), and [[Trinity College, Perth]] (WA) || [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|Christian Brothers]], [[Missionaries of the Sacred Heart]], [[Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart]], [[Marist Brothers]], [[Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary]], [[Presentation Sisters]], [[Jesuits]], and [[Opus Dei]]
|-
| [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia|Greek Orthodox]] || [[St Spyridon College]] (NSW) and [[St George College, South Australia]] (SA) ||
|-
| [[Lutheran Church of Australia#Education|Lutheran]] || [[St Paul's College, Walla Walla]] (NSW), Good Shepherd Lutheran School (NT), [[Trinity Lutheran College (Queensland)]] (QLD), [[Concordia College, Adelaide]] (SA), [[Eastside Lutheran College]] (TAS), [[Lakeside College]] (VIC), [[Living Waters Lutheran College]] (WA) ||
|-
| [[Uniting Church of Australia#Education|Uniting Church]] || [[Newington College]] (NSW), [[St Philip's College (Australia)]] (NT), [[Moreton Bay College]] (QLD), [[Scotch College, Adelaide]] (SA), [[Scotch Oakburn College]] (TAS), [[Haileybury, Melbourne]] (VIC), and [[Wesley College, Perth]] (WA) || 
|-
| [[Seventh-day Adventist Church#Australia|Seventh-day Adventist]] || [[Central Coast Adventist School]] (NSW), [[Brisbane Adventist College]] (QLD), [[Prescott Schools]] (SA), [[Hilliard Christian School]] (TAS), and [[Nunawading Christian College]] (VIC)  || 
|-
| [[Presbyterian Church of Australia#Education|Presbyterian]] || [[Covenant College, Canberra]] (ACT), [[Scots College (Sydney)|The Scots College]] (NSW), [[Brisbane Boys' College]] (QLD), [[Scotch College, Adelaide]] (SA), [[Scotch College, Melbourne]] (VIC), and [[Presbyterian Ladies' College, Perth]] (WA) || 
|-
| [[Baptists]] || [[Redeemer Baptist School]] (NSW), [[Glasshouse Christian College]] (QLD), [[King's Baptist Grammar School]] (SA), [[Carey Baptist Grammar School]] (VIC), and [[Kennedy Baptist College]] (WA) ||
|-
| colspan=2| {{nowrap|[[Non-denominational Christian]] schools}} || [[Covenant Christian School (Canberra)|Covenant Christian School, Canberra]] (ACT), [[The Pittwater House School]] (NSW), [[Brisbane Christian College]] (QLD), [[Wilderness School]] (SA), [[Calvin Christian School (Kingston, Tasmania)|Calvin Christian School]] (TAS), [[Ruyton Girls' School]] (VIC), [[Australian Christian College – Darling Downs]] (WA)  || [[Westminster Confession of Faith]], ''unaligned'', [[Australian Christian Churches]],  Life Church Brisbane, and Christian Education Ministries via the [[Australian Christian College]]s 
|-
| colspan=2| [[Islam in Australia#Education|Islamic]] schools || [[Malek Fahd Islamic School]] (NSW), [[Islamic College of Brisbane]] (QLD), [[Islamic College of South Australia]] (SA), [[The Islamic Schools of Victoria]] (VIC), and [[Australian Islamic College]] (WA) ||
|-
| colspan=2| [[Judaism in Australia#Education|Jewish]] schools || [[Emanuel School, Australia]] (NSW), [[Beth Rivkah Ladies College]] (VIC), and [[Carmel School, Perth]] (WA) || [[Reform Judaism]], [[Chabad]] [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodoxy]], and [[Modern Orthodox Judaism|Modern Orthodoxy]]
|-
| colspan=2| [[Montessori education|Montessori]] schools || [[Sydney Montessori School]] (NSW), [[Queensland Independent College]] (QLD), Melbourne Montessori School (VIC), [[Perth Montessori School]] (WA) ||
|-
| colspan=2| [[Waldorf education|Steiner]] schools || [[Orana Steiner School]] (ACT), [[Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School]] (NSW), [[Mount Barker Waldorf School]] (SA), [[Tarremah Steiner School]] (TAS), [[Sophia Mundi Steiner School]] (VIC) ||
|-
| colspan=2| Schools constituted under specific<br />Acts of Parliament<br />{{small|(such as grammar schools in some states)}} || [[Sydney Grammar School]] (NSW) and [[Brisbane Grammar School]] (QLD) ||
|-
| colspan=2| Indigenous community schools || [[Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School]] and [[Karalundi Aboriginal Education Community]] (WA)   ||
|-
| colspan=2| Schools that specialise in meeting the needs of students with disabilities || [[Mater Dei Special School]] (NSW) and [[Western Autistic School]] (VIC) ||
|-
| colspan=2| Schools that cater for students at severe educational risk due to a range of {{nowrap|social/emotional/behavioural and other risk factors}} ||    ||
|}

== Specialist organisational structures ==
=== Special schools ===
{{See also|Special education#Special schools}}
A [[Special education#Special schools|special school]] is a school catering for students who have special educational needs due to [[learning disabilities|learning difficulties]], physical [[disabilities]], developmental disabilities or social/emotional disturbance, or who are in custody, on remand or in hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://myschool.edu.au/glossary/#s|title=Search: School type|work=My Schools|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|date=n.d.|access-date=5 September 2019|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328061929/https://myschool.edu.au/glossary/#s|url-status=dead}}</ref> Special schools may be specifically designed, staffed and resourced to provide appropriate special education for children with additional needs. Students attending special schools generally do not attend any classes in mainstream schools. The schools cater for students with mild, moderate and profound intellectual disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing students, students with Autism and students with a physical disability.<ref name=ACD>{{citation|url=https://www.acd.org.au/government-specialist-schools-units/|title=Government specialist schools and units|publisher=Association of Children with a Disability|date=n.d.|access-date=30 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830140723/https://www.acd.org.au/government-specialist-schools-units/|archive-date=30 August 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Class sizes at specialist schools are smaller than at mainstream schools, and there is a much lower ratio of teaching and support staff to students. Some specialist schools also have therapists on staff. Specialist schools generally already have an accessible environment and curriculum for their student population; this may mean that there are limited subjects on offer.<ref name=ACD/>

=== Selective schools ===
{{See also|Selective school}}
A [[selective school]] is a government school that enrols students based on some sort of selection criteria, usually academic. The term may have different connotations in different systems and is the opposite of an [[comprehensive school|open or comprehensive]] school, which accepts all students, regardless of aptitude.

In New South Wales, student placement in fully and partially [[Selective school (New South Wales)|selective high schools]] is highly competitive, with approximately 3,600 places offered to the 15,000 students who sit the Selective High School Test. {{As of|2019}} there were 47 fully or partially selective government high schools, including 17 fully selective high schools (some of which are co-educational and others provide a single-sex educational environment); 25 partially selective high schools (high schools with both selective and comprehensive classes); four selective [[agricultural school|agricultural high schools]]; and one [[virtual school|virtual]] selective high school.<ref name=list>{{cite web|url=https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-7/what-are-selective-high-schools/list-of-selective-high-schools|title=List of Selective high schools|work=[[Department of Education (New South Wales)|New South Wales Department of Education]]|publisher=Government of New South Wales|date=2019|access-date=8 August 2019}}</ref> Of the 47 schools, 34 are located in greater metropolitan [[Sydney]]. Of the [[List of selective high schools in New South Wales|government selective high school]]s in New South Wales, [[James Ruse Agricultural High School]] is renowned for its academic achievements and competitiveness, as well as a near-perfect record of all students gaining university admission, especially in medicine, law and science. The school has outperformed every high school in New South Wales in the past 20 years in public university entrance examinations.<ref>{{cite news|author=Bolton, Robert|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/is-james-ruse-the-best-school-in-australia-20181217-h197fx|title=Is James Ruse the best school in Australia?|work=[[Australian Financial Review]]|date=27 December 2018|access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="SMH261120052">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/only-race-that-matters-is-the-rush-to-the-top/2005/11/25/1132703380790.html|title=Only race that matters is the rush to the top|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=26 November 2005|access-date=26 August 2006}}</ref><ref name="SMH">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/top-marks-again-but-class-is-over-for-highachieving-principal/2006/12/07/1165081092042.html|title=Top marks again, but class is over for high-achieving principal|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=8 December 2006|access-date=7 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jrunion.mooh.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=200&Itemid=31|title=Principal's Notes|work=James Ruse Union|date=11 December 2007}}</ref>

In Victoria, selective government high schools select all of their students based on an entrance examination. As of 2011, there were four selective schools: [[Melbourne High School (Victoria)|Melbourne High School]], [[Mac.Robertson Girls' High School]], [[Nossal High School]] and [[Suzanne Cory High School]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/parents/secondary/pages/selective.aspx?Redirect=1|title=Selective Entry High Schools|work=[[Department of Education (Victoria)|Department of Education]]|publisher=Victorian Government|access-date=26 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202043105/http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/parents/secondary/pages/selective.aspx?Redirect=1|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition, there are three special schools namely [[Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School]], [[John Monash Science School]] and [[Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences]] which cater to students opting for focused education in arts and science respectively.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}

In Queensland, there are four selective entry high schools. [[Brisbane State High School]]- established in 1921<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-21|title=History|url=https://brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au/our-school/history|access-date=2025-02-18|website=Brisbane State High School|language=en}}</ref>- which is partially selective, and the three Queensland Academies<!-- Shouldn't this be linked? There isn't a combined QA page though. -->, which are fully selective- formed during 2007 and 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=Our schools|url=https://qa.eq.edu.au/about-us/our-schools|access-date=2025-02-18|website=Queensland Academies|language=en}}</ref> All require entry based on academic entry tests, [[NAPLAN]] results, primary school grades, interviews and other considerations.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/history/index.html|title=Queensland Academies history|work=Queensland Academies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904071928/http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/history/index.html|archive-date=2012-09-04}}</ref>

In Western Australia, selective secondary education (officially named Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)<ref>{{citation|url=http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/giftedandtalented/detcms/portal/|title=Gifted and Talented Education|work=Department of Education and Training|publisher=Government of Western Australia}}</ref>) is operated by the Western Australian Department of Education through the Gifted and Talented Selective Entrance Programs for Year 7, and subject to limited placement availability for year-levels upward to Year 12.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/giftedandtalented/detcms/navigation/parents/places-for-years-8--9--10-and-11/|title=Placement Availability – GATE|work=Gifted and Talented Selection Unit|publisher=Department of Education, Western Australia|access-date=23 November 2016}}</ref> All applicants are required to sit the Academic Selective Entrance Test and possibly complete combined interviews, auditions and/or workshops depending on the program(s) applied for.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/giftedandtalented/detcms/navigation/parents/gifted-and-talented-programs/|title=Programs Information|work=Gifted and Talented Selection Unit|publisher=Department of Education, Western Australia|access-date=23 November 2016}}</ref> The programs are categorised into three strands: academic, language, and arts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/giftedandtalented/detcms/navigation/parents/how-to-apply-for-gifted-and-talented-programs/|title=Program Strands|work=Gifted and Talented Selection Unit|publisher=Department of Education, Western Australia|access-date=23 November 2016}}</ref> Eighteen government schools participate in the Gifted and Talented Programs, each specialising in one of the strands.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/giftedandtalented/detcms/navigation/parents/participating-schools/|title=Participating Schools|website=Gifted and Talented Selection Unit|publisher=Department of Education, Western Australia|access-date=23 November 2016}}</ref> All participating schools are partially selective and partially local intake, except for [[Perth Modern School]] which is fully selective.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/giftedandtalented/detcms/portal/|title=Information|website=Gifted and Talented Selection Unit|publisher=Department of Education, Western Australia|access-date=23 November 2016}}</ref>

=== Specialist schools ===
{{distinguish|Special education#Special schools}}{{See also|Specialist school}}
Schools that operate specialist education programs exist in all Australian states and territories. These schools are typically associated with the arts or elite sports programs. In South Australia, specialist schools cover the arts, gifted and talented programs, [[Languages other than English|languages]], [[agricultural school]]s, [[science, technology, engineering and mathematics]], advanced technology project schools, [[sports school]]s, and trade training centres.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites-and-facilities/education-and-care-locations/special-interest-schools-or-programs/list-secondary-schools-special-interest-or-specialist-programs|title=List of secondary schools with special interest or specialist programs|work=Department of Education|publisher=Government of South Australia|date=n.d.|access-date=5 September 2019}}</ref> In Victoria, examples of specialist government schools include those focused on science and maths ([[John Monash Science School]]), performing arts ([[Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School]]), sports ([[Maribyrnong Secondary College]]), and leadership and enterprise (The Alpine School).<ref name="VIC-types">{{cite web|url=https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/school-types.aspx|title=Types of school|work=Department of Education and Training|publisher=Victorian Government|date=11 June 2019|access-date=5 September 2019|archive-date=19 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319140032/https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/school-types.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> An alternative model is those sporting organisations that deliver specialist programs to a narrow selection of schools, such as [[Cricket Australia]]'s Specialist School Program to three Western Australian schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waca.com.au/get-involved/kids-and-schools/specialist-school-programs|title=Specialist School Programs|publisher=WACA Western Australia Cricket Association|date=2019|access-date=5 September 2019|archive-date=5 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905113925/https://www.waca.com.au/get-involved/kids-and-schools/specialist-school-programs|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== International schools ===
{{See also|International school}}
In Australia, [[international school]]s promote [[international education]] and may be operated by the government of the country of origin, the government of the state or territory in which the school is located, or be operated as a private school. International schools include those schools that have received international accreditation such as from the [[Council of International Schools]], the [[International Baccalaureate Organization]], or the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]], or other similar organisations.<ref name="IASL school criteria">{{citation|publisher=International Association of School Librarianship (IASL)|url=http://www.tieonline.com/view_article.cfm?ArticleID=87|title=How to Define an International School|access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> {{as of|2019}}, approximately 80 Australian schools meet that definition, with the vast majority being schools that offered one or more of the International Baccalaureate programs. Other schools are affiliated with specific cultures or languages, most notably [[French language|French]] (e.g. [[Telopea Park School]] (ACT), [[Lycée Condorcet (Sydney)|Lycée Condorcet]] (NSW), [[Auburn High School (Victoria)|Auburn High School]] (VIC)), [[German language|German]] (e.g. [[German International School Sydney]] (NSW) and [[Deutsche Schule Melbourne]] (VIC)), or [[Japanese language|Japanese]] (e.g. [[Sydney Japanese International School]] (NSW), [[The Japanese School of Melbourne]] (VIC) and [[The Japanese School in Perth]] (WA)) schools, including [[Supplementary Japanese Schools in Australia|Japanese supplementary weekend schools]]; or may generally be international in their outlook, including the [[International Grammar School]] (NSW) or the [[International School of Western Australia]] (WA).

== Mixed-sex and single-sex education ==
In Australia, both government and non-government schools operate [[Mixed-sex education|co-educational]] and [[Single-sex education|single-sex]] educational environments for students. The overwhelming number of schools are co-educational, with a small proportion of government schools operating single-sex schools, sometimes with a separate boys' and girls' school in the same suburb. All government single-sex schools are secondary schools. Examples of adjacent single-sex government secondary schools include [[Asquith Boys High School|Asquith Boys']] and [[Asquith Girls High School|Asquith Girls']], [[Canterbury Boys' High School|Canterbury Boys']] and [[Canterbury Girls' Secondary College|Canterbury Girls']], [[North Sydney Boys High School|North Sydney Boys']] and [[North Sydney Girls High School|North Sydney Girls']], [[Randwick Boys High School|Randwick Boys']] and [[Randwick Girls' High School|Randwick Girls']], and [[Sydney Boys High School|Sydney Boys']] and [[Sydney Girls High School|Sydney Girls']] (all in Sydney);  and [[Melbourne High School|Melbourne High]], and [[Mac.Robertson Girls' High School|Mac.Robertson Girls']] (in Melbourne).

The majority of single-sex schools in Australia are non-government schools, heavily weighted towards private schools, some of which are Catholic private schools. Some Catholic systemic schools are also single-sex schools; however, like government schools, the overwhelming majority are co-educational schools.

== Day and boarding schools ==
{{See also|List of boarding schools in Australia}}
In Australia, both government and non-government schools operate [[Day school|day]] and [[Boarding school|boarding]] schools. {{as of|2019}}, of the 10,584 registered schools operating in Australia, approximately 250 schools (or less than 2.5 per cent) were boarding schools.<ref name=ABSA/> Some Australian schools offer [[single-sex education|gender-specific]] (boys' [approximately 21 per cent] or girls' [approximately 28 per cent]) and [[mixed-sex education|co-educational]] boarding schools (51 per cent);<ref name=ABSA/> with multi-modal options, such as full-time boarding and part-time boarding (for example, going home on the weekends) offered by some schools.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.boardingschools.com.au|title=Australian Boarding Schools|publisher=Australian Education Network|date=2019|access-date=5 September 2019|archive-date=5 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905110122/http://www.boardingschools.com.au/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some specialist education schools, such as [[Australian Ballet|The Australian Ballet School]], offer boarding facilities.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.australianballetschool.com.au/pages/boarding-programme|title=Boarding Programme|work=The Australian Ballet School|publisher=[[Australian Ballet]]|date=n.d.|access-date=5 September 2019|archive-date=5 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905110121/https://www.australianballetschool.com.au/pages/boarding-programme|url-status=dead}}</ref> The largest peak body for boarding schools in Australia, the Australian Boarding Schools Association, claimed that, in 2017, there were 22,815 students in boarding schools covered by the association, an increase from 19,870 in 2014.<ref name=ABSA>{{cite news|author=Abernethy, Mark|title=Australia's boarding schools reflecting the values of the community|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/reflecting-the-values-of-the-community-20180611-h117y6|work=[[Financial Review]]|date=28 June 2019|access-date=5 September 2019}}</ref>

== Qualifications==
Within the context of the [[Australian Qualifications Framework]], each state and territory is responsible for issuing certificates and/or qualifications to secondary students, collectively referred to as the [[Senior Secondary Certificate of Education]]. The following table serves as a summary of the qualifications issued by each state or territory:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Qualifications by state/territory
|-
! State/territory !! Did not graduate [[Year Twelve|Year 12]] !! Graduated from [[Year Twelve|Year 12]] !! Trade-based secondary qualifications<ref name="Executive summary">[https://www.lsay.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/181510/Executive-summary.pdf Executive summary – The vocational equivalent to Year 12] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/au/ Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Australia] licence.</ref>!! Notes
|-
| [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]] || Statement of Achievement || ACT Senior Secondary Certificate and Record of Achievement (ACT SSC) || VET Certificates and Statements of Attainment || <ref>{{cite web|title=ACT Qualifications|url=http://www.bsss.act.edu.au/information_for_students/act_qualifications|work=ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies|publisher=ACT Government|date=18 January 2016|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-date=10 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810000451/http://www.bsss.act.edu.au/information_for_students/act_qualifications|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[New South Wales|NSW]] || [[Record of School Achievement]] || [[Higher School Certificate (New South Wales)|NSW Higher School Certificate]] (HSC) ||   || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/about-HSC|title=About the HSC|work=[[New South Wales Education Standards Authority|NSW Education Standards Authority]]|publisher=Government of New South Wales|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Northern Territory|NT]] ||   || colspan=2| [[Northern Territory Certificate of Education|NT Certificate of Education and Training]] (NTCET){{ref|d|[note d]}} || <ref>{{cite web|title=About NT Certificate of Education and Training|url=https://nt.gov.au/learning/primary-and-secondary-students/about-nt-certificate-of-education-and-training|work=NT Department of Education and Training|publisher=Northern Territory Government|date=4 February 2019|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Queensland|QLD]] || Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA) || [[Queensland Certificate of Education]] (QCE) ||  || <ref>{{cite web|title=Queensland school system|url=https://www.qld.gov.au/education/international/qualifications/school/system|work=QLD Department of Education|publisher=The State of Queensland|date=13 April 2016|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[South Australia|SA]] ||   || colspan=2| [[South Australian Certificate of Education]] (SACE){{ref|d|[note d]}} || <ref name=SACE>{{cite web|url=https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/studying/your-sace/what-is-the-sace|title=What is the SACE?|work=SACE Board of South Australia|publisher=Government of South Australia|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/web/vet/what-is-vet/vet-in-sace|title=VET in SACE|work=SACE Board of South Australia|publisher=Government of South Australia|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tasmania|TAS]] || Tasmanian Qualifications Certificate (TQC) || [[Tasmanian Certificate of Education]] (TCE) ||     || <ref>{{cite web|title=Tasmanian Qualifications Certificate|url=https://www.tasc.tas.gov.au/students/qualifications/qualifications-certificate-qc/|work=Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification|publisher=Government of Tasmania|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tasmanian Certificate of Education|url=https://www.tasc.tas.gov.au/students/qualifications/tasmanian-certificate-of-education-tce/|work=Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification|publisher=Government of Tasmania|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Victoria (Australia)|VIC]] ||    || [[Victorian Certificate of Education]] (VCE) || [[Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning]] (VCAL) 2002–2023
VCE Vocational Major 2023–
| <ref>{{cite web|title=VCE Curriculum|url=https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vce/Pages/Index.aspx|work=[[Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority]]|publisher=The Government of Victoria|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About VCAL|url=https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vcal/Pages/AboutVCAL.aspx|work=[[Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority]]|publisher=The Government of Victoria|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-date=4 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904071013/https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vcal/Pages/AboutVCAL.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Western Australia|WA]] || Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement (WASSA)  || [[Western Australian Certificate of Education]] (WACE) ||   || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/certification/wassa|title=WASSA|work=School Curriculum and Standards Authority|publisher=Government of Western Australia|date=n.d.|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.education.wa.edu.au/wace|title=WACE|work=WA Department of Education|publisher=Government of Western Australia|date=n.d.|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407130508/https://www.education.wa.edu.au/wace|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

As an alternative form (or as an addition to) the government-endorsed certification path, students, by approval, may elect to receive certification under the [[International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme]].

== Basic skills tests (NAPLAN) ==
{{main|National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy}}
Australia's system of national assessments, the National Assessment Program, established by the [[Australian Education Research Organization]], uses four main standardised assessments to measure literacy and numeracy achievement of schoolar students over time: the [[National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy]] (abbreviated as NAPLAN), the [[Programme for International Student Assessment]] (PISA), the [[Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study]] (TIMSS) and the [[Progress in International Reading Literacy Study]] (PIRLS).<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 2023|title=Benchmarking performance: Future directions for Australia's National Assessment Program|url=https://www.edresearch.edu.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/aero-benchmarking-report-aa.pdf|access-date=9 October 2024|pages=6–7|publisher=Australian Education Research Organization}}</ref>

The NAPLAN is a series of tests focused on basic skills that are administered annually to Australian students. These standardised tests assess students' reading, writing, language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. Introduced in 2008, NAPLAN is administered by the [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]] (ACARA) and is overseen by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Education Council.<ref name="NAP">{{citation|url=http://www.nap.edu.au/|title=National Assessment Program|publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]]|access-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220517/http://www.nap.edu.au/|archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> The tests are designed to determine if Australian students are achieving [[Outcome-based education|outcomes]].<ref name="ciia">{{cite book|author1=Johnston, Jennifer (Jenny)|title=Contemporary issues in Australian literacy teaching|date=2012|publisher=Primrose Hall Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-4716-4755-0}}</ref> and to be carried out on the same days across Australia in any given year. Parents can decide whether their children take the test or not.<ref name="sfn">{{Cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/school-flouts-naplan-principal-doesnt-believe-in-the-tests/news-story/fd91f1b88479fdc3b1d2b1a88d0d81c9?nk=8a29ffc6a7c0a4fccb3181c8924221c2-1456229885|title=School flouts NAPLAN; Principal 'doesn't believe in' the tests|author=Vonow, Brittany|access-date=23 February 2016|date=22 February 2016|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]]|location=Brisbane}}</ref> The vast majority of Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students participate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NAPLAN National Results|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/reporting/national-report-on-schooling-in-australia/naplan-national-results|access-date=2025-02-18|website=acara.edu.au}}</ref> One of the aims of NAPLAN is to prepare young children for competitive examinations.<ref name="dafql">{{cite book|title=Designing Assessment for Quality Learning Volume 1 of The Enabling Power of Assessment|last=Care|first=Esther|author2=Griffin, Patrick|author3=Zhang, Zonghua|author4=Hutchinson, Danielle|chapter=Large scale learning and its contribution to learning|editor1-first=Claire|editor1-last=Wyatt-Smith|editor2-first=Valentina|editor2-last=Klenowski|editor3-first=Peta|editor3-last=Colbertb|year=2014|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-9400759022|page=56|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LAXGBAAAQBAJ|access-date=28 February 2016}}</ref>

Unlike NAPLAN, PISA; TIMSS; and PIRLS are international assessments that target small samples of students to compare their results with those of samples of students around the world. While PISA is not necessarily intended to assess their understanding of the Australian Curriculum, TIMSS and PIRLS are designed to address the degree to which students retain and understand the Curriculum contents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acer.org/files/TIMSSandPISA-backgrounder.pdf|title=PISA and TIMSS|website=[[Australian Council for Educational Research]]|access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.acer.org/au/pirls|title=PIRLS 2021|website=[[Australian Council for Educational Research]]|access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref>

== School education to international students ==
{{main|International students in Australia}}
{{distinguish|International school}}
In Australia, a student is considered as an ''international student'' if he/she studies at an approved educational institution and he/she is not an [[Australian citizen]], [[Australian permanent resident]], [[New Zealander|New Zealand citizen]], or a holder of an Australian permanent resident [[humanitarian visa]].<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/Dictionary.aspx?FirstLetter=o|title=Dictionary|website=studyinaustralia.gov.au|publisher=Australian Government|date=n.d.|access-date=2019-05-12|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928181701/https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/Dictionary.aspx?FirstLetter=o|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under the {{Cite Legislation AU |Cth|act|esfosa2000442|Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000}}, the Australian Government regulates the delivery of school and tertiary education to international students who are granted a [[Travel visa|student visa]] to study in Australia. The government maintains the [[Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students]] (CRICOS) and, as of 2018, there were 396 school providers with an overall approved capacity of 88,285 students.<ref name="ESOS AR2018">{{citation|url=https://internationaleducation.gov.au/Regulatory-Information/Documents/ESOS%20Agency%20for%20Schools%20RPF%20Report%202017-18.pdf|title=ESOS Agency for Schools Regulator Performance Framework; Annual Report 2017-18|work=Department of Education and Training|publisher=Australian Government|date=December 2018|access-date=5 September 2019}}</ref>{{rp|6}} While Australia as an education destination showed strong and sustained growth over many years, as of June 2019, school-based education fell by three per cent for the year, and represented approximately three per cent of all international student enrolments, with tertiary education, vocational education and training, and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS)<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.asqa.gov.au/cricos-registration/english-language-intensive-courses-overseas-students-elicos|title=English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS)|work=Austrtalian Skills Quality Authority|publisher=Australian Government|date=n.d.|access-date=5 September 2019|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210052539/https://www.asqa.gov.au/cricos-registration/english-language-intensive-courses-overseas-students-elicos|url-status=dead}}</ref> accounting for 93 per cent of all enrolments and recording 21 per cent annual growth.<ref name="monthly summary 2019-06">{{citation|url=https://internationaleducation.gov.au/research/International-Student-Data/Documents/MONTHLY%20SUMMARIES/2019/Jun%202019%20MonthlyInfographic.pdf|title=International student data: monthly summary|work=Department of Education and Training|publisher=Australian Government|date=June 2019|access-date=5 September 2019}}</ref>

== Issues in Australian school education ==
===School funding===
In 2010 the [[Gillard government]] commissioned [[David Gonski]] to the chair a committee to review funding of Australian schools. Entitled the [[Gillard government#Gonski Report|Gonski Report]], through the [[Council of Australian Governments]] the Gillard government sought to implement the National Education Reform Agreement that would deliver an {{AUD}}9.4&nbsp;billion school funding plan. Despite some states and territories becoming parties to the Agreement,<ref>{{cite web|title=NSW backs Gillard's Gonski schools plan|url=http://theconversation.com/nsw-backs-gillards-gonski-schools-plan-13692|work=The Conversation|publisher=The Conversation Media Group|access-date=16 May 2013|author=Counihan, Bella|author2=Gallardo, Francisca|author3=Creagh, Sunanda|date=23 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SA close to signing up to Gonski: Premier|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/sa-close-to-signing-up-to-gonski-premier-20130521-2jxmt.html|access-date=21 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=21 May 2013|agency=AAP}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Julia Gillard counts on Gonski momentum|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/julia-gillard-counts-on-gonski-momentum/story-fn59nlz9-1226650957769|access-date=27 May 2013|newspaper=The Australian|date=27 May 2013|author=Maher, Sid|author2=Kelly, Joe}}</ref> the plan was shelved following the [[2013 Australian federal election|2013 federal election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.arc-132421|work=Pandora|title=Review of funding for schooling|publisher=[[National Library of Australia]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/132421/20131129-1201/Review-of-Funding-for-Schooling-Final-Report.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20131129010100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/132421/20131129-1201/Review-of-Funding-for-Schooling-Final-Report.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-11-29|title=Gonski Review of Funding for Schooling Final Report|date=December 2011|work=Pandora|publisher=[[National Library of Australia]]}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The [[Turnbull government]] commissioned Gonski in 2017 to chair the independent Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools, commonly called Gonski 2.0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isca.edu.au/blog/gonski-2-0/|title=What is Gonski 2.0?|website=isca.edu.au|publisher=Independent Schools Council of Australia|access-date=2018-04-30|language=en|archive-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824220721/http://isca.edu.au/blog/gonski-2-0/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The government published the report on 30 April 2018.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/662684_tgta_accessible_final.pdf|title=Through Growth to Achievement: Report of the Review to Achieve Education Excellence in Australian Schools|date=2018-04-30|publisher=Australian Government|work=Department of Education and Training|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430004956/https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/662684_tgta_accessible_final.pdf|archive-date=2018-04-30|access-date=2018-04-30}}</ref> Following negotiation, [[bilateral agreement]]s between the Commonwealth of Australia with each state and territory commenced on 1 January 2019, with the exception of Victoria, whose bilateral agreement commenced on 1 February 2019. The funding agreements provide states with funding for government schools (20 percent) and non-government schools (80 percent) taking into consideration annual changes in enrolment numbers, indexation and student or school characteristics. A National School Resourcing Board was charged with the responsibility of independently reviewing each state's compliance with the funding agreement(s).<ref name="DoE funding 2019"/>

The tenth anniversary of the Gonski report in May 2022 led to criticism of successive state governments failure to implement its recommendations.<ref name=10years>{{cite web | last=Ore | first=Adeshola | title=The Gonski ‘failure’: why did it happen and who is to blame for the ‘defrauding’ of public schools? | website=The Guardian | date=12 March 2022 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/13/the-gonski-failure-why-did-it-happen-and-who-is-to-blame-for-the-defrauding-of-public-schools | access-date=26 March 2025}}</ref> In 2024–25, the Australian Government invested 	A$53 billion (7.2% of its [[2024 Australian federal budget|federal budget]]) in education.<ref name="fedbudget"/>{{rp|189}} 96.3% of gross income for government schools was government funds in 2022, as was 76.4% for Catholic schools and 48.7% for independent schools.<ref>{{Cite web|title=School income|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/reporting/national-report-on-schooling-in-australia/school-income#:~:text=Key%20Facts,gross%20income%20for%20Independent%20schools.|access-date=2024-09-09|website=acara.edu.au}}</ref> In January 2025 South Australia and Victoria signed on to the new school funding agreement with the [[Albanese government]] (after the previous agreement had expired in 2024<ref name=wilson2025/>), which lifts federal funding of public schools to 25 per cent from 20 per cent, under the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (BFSA).<ref name=duffy2025>{{cite web | last=Duffy | first=Conor | title=Significant progress made to end school funding wars as two more states sign on for public school funding deal | website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] | date=24 January 2025 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-24/albanese-school-funding-announcement-gonski-review/104855794 | access-date=26 March 2025}}</ref> NSW signed up in early March, and Queensland was the last state to make the commitment, on 24 March 2025. Under the BFSA, states are required to increase their funding of public schools to 75 per cent of the minimum amount recommended by the 2012 Gonski Review and Gonski 2.0 per the SRS.<ref>{{cite web | last=Black | first=Jessica | title=Queensland signs the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement for an extra $2.8b education funding | website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] | date=24 March 2025 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-24/education-queensland-funding-better-fairer-schools-agreement/105087440 | access-date=26 March 2025}}</ref><ref name=duffy2025/> This means that they will be "fully funded" according to the Gonski model.<ref name=wilson2025>{{cite web | last=Wilson | first=Rachel | last2=Kesidou | first2=Sofia | title=4 key changes you may have missed in the new school funding agreement | website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] | date=24 March 2025 | url=https://theconversation.com/4-key-changes-you-may-have-missed-in-the-new-school-funding-agreement-252291 | access-date=26 March 2025}}</ref>

=== Indigenous primary and secondary education ===
[[Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander]] children are at a significant disadvantage when compared to non-Indigenous Australians across a number of key school educational measures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.education.gov.au/indigenous-schooling|title=Indigenous Education: Closing the gap|work=[[Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)|Department of Education]]|publisher=Government of Australia|date=n.d.|access-date=19 August 2019}}</ref>  In 2008, the [[Council of Australian Governments]] announced seven<ref>{{cite book|author=Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision|url=https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/national-agreements/indigenous-reform/indigenous-reform-agreement-2017-18.pdf|title=National Agreement Performance Information 2017–18: National Indigenous Reform Agreement|chapter=National Indigenous Reform Agreement (Closing the Gap) performance reporting|publisher=[[Productivity Commission]]|location=Canberra|isbn=978-1-74037-669-3|date=December 2018|access-date=19 August 2019|page=2}}</ref>{{ref|e|[note e]}} "[[Closing the Gap|closing the gap]]" targets, of which four related to education, namely:<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/overcoming-indigenous-disadvantage/2016/report-documents/oid-2016-chapter2-the-framework.pdf|title=Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2016|chapter=Chapter 2: The framework|publisher=[[Productivity Commission]]|date=17 November 2016|access-date=19 August 2019|page=2.3}}</ref>
# participation in early childhood education: with the goal of 95 per cent of all Indigenous four-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education by 2025;{{ref|f|[note f]}}
# reading, writing and numeracy levels: with the goal to halve the gap for Indigenous students in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018);
# Year 12 attainment: with the goal to halve the gap for Indigenous 20–24 year olds in year 12 or equivalent attainment rates (by 2020); and
# school attendance: with the aim to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous school attendance within five years (by 2018).{{ref|c|[note c]}}
{{As of|2018}}, the target results were:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pc.gov.au/research/supporting/national-agreements/indigenous-reform/indigenous-reform-agreement-2017-18-attachment-tables.xlsx|title=Performance Indicators: 2017–18|format=[[MS Excel]] requires download [954KB]|work=National Indigenous Reform Agreement|publisher=[[Productivity Commission]]|date=December 2018|access-date=19 August 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+National Indigenous Reform Agreement:<br />Performance data (''Closing the gap'')
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Measure !! colspan=2|2017–18 results
|-
! Indigenous !! Non-<br />Indigenous
|-
|colspan=2| The proportion of children who are enrolled in<br />(and attending, where possible to measure) a pre-school<br />program in state-specific year before formal schooling ||align=center | 95.0% ||align=center| 89.9%
|-
|colspan=2| Percentage of students at or above the minimum standard<br />in reading, writing and numeracy for Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 ||align=center colspan=2 | ''unavailable''{{ref|g|[note g]}}
|-
| rowspan=5| Attainment of Year 12 or equivalent || Major cities ||align=center| 73.8% ||align=center| 90.9%
|-
| Inner regional ||align=center| 65.1% ||align=center| 83.0%
|-
| Outer regional ||align=center| 64.5% ||align=center| 82.1%
|-
| Remote ||align=center| 51.0% ||align=center| 82.2%
|-
| Very remote ||align=center| 42.6% ||align=center| 84.2%
|-
| colspan=2 | Attendance rates: Year 1 to Year 12 ||align=center| 82.3% ||align=center| 92.5%
|}

===Bilingual education in schools===
[[Bilingual education]] in Australia may be divided into three different types, or target audiences, each having somewhat different purposes: [[Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander]] peoples; immigrant ([[culturally and linguistically diverse|CALD]]) groups; and English speakers looking to add another language to their education. The first two are interested in language maintenance and [[language revitalisation]] for ensuing generations.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lo Bianco|first1=Joseph|last2=Slaughter|first2=Yvette|title=Bilingual and Multilingual Education|chapter=Bilingual Education in Australia|publisher=Springer International Publishing|year=2017|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-02258-1_22|pages=347–360|hdl=11343/247789|isbn=978-3-319-02257-4}}</ref>

The first recorded government support for bilingual education came under the [[Menzies government]] in 1950, when the first government schools for Aboriginal students were opened at four sites in the [[Northern Territory]] (NT), where instruction "should include English Language, Native Language (where appropriate)". Policies and practices varied in the following years, with the first five pilot programs introduced in 1973 after the [[Whitlam government]] came to power and brought in new federal policies.<ref name="Devlin 2020"/>

In the [[Northern Territory]] (the jurisdiction with the greatest proportion of Indigenous people, and many remote communities), bilingual programs for Indigenous students begun with [[Australian Government|Federal Government]] support in the early 1970s. [[Yirrkala School|Yirrkala Community School]] was identified as the first to undergo bilingual accreditation in 1980, and bilingual students outperformed the non-bilingual students. However, by December 1998 the [[Northern Territory Government]] had announced its decision to shift {{AUD|3 million}} away from the 29 bilingual programs to a Territory-wide program teaching English as a second language. Within 12 months though the government had softened its position, after people took to the streets in protest.<ref name="Devlin 2020"/><ref name=areyonga/>

From around 2000, most bilingual programs were allowed to continue under the names "two-way education",<ref>{{cite book|author1=Purdie, N.|author2=Milgate, G.|author3=Bell, H. R.|date=2011|title=Two Way Teaching and Learning: Toward Culturally Reflective and Relevant Education [abstract]|publisher=ACER Press|url=https://research.acer.edu.au/indigenous_education/38|via=ACER Research Repository|isbn=9781742860183|access-date=31 August 2023}}</ref> or "both-ways" learning.<ref>{{cite web|title=Incorporating Indigenous knowledge into your teaching|website=Living Knowledge|url=https://livingknowledge.anu.edu.au/html/educators/07_bothways.htm|access-date=31 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.batchelor.edu.au/about/both-ways-learning/|website=Batchelor Institute|title=Both-ways learning}}</ref> Other programs included language maintenance and language revitalisation in remote schools across the NT.

Then on 24 August 2005, the Minister for Employment, Education and Training announced that the government would be "revitalising bi-lingual education" at 15 Community Education Centres: [[Alekarenge, Northern Territory|Alekarenge]], [[Angurugu, Northern Territory|Angurugu]], [[Borroloola, Northern Territory|Borroloola]], [[Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory|Gapuwiyak]], [[Gunbalanya, Northern Territory|Gunbalanya]], [[Kalkaringi, Northern Territory|Kalkaringi]], [[Lajamanu, Northern Territory|Lajamanu]], [[Maningrida, Northern Territory|Maningrida]], [[Milingimbi Island|Milingimbi]], [[Ramingining, Northern Territory|Ramingining]], [[Ngukurr, Northern Territory|Ngukurr]], Shepherdson College, [[Numbulwar, Northern Territory|Numbulwar]], [[Yirrkala, Northern Territory|Yirrkala]], and [[Yuendumu, Northern Territory|Yuendumu]]. This revitalisation is conceived as part of an effort aimed at "providing effective education from pre-school through to senior secondary at each of the Territory's 15 Community Education Centres".<ref name="Devlin 2020">{{cite web|last=Devlin|first=Brian|title=Government Support for NT Bilingual Education after 1950: A Longer Timeline|website=Friends of Bilingual Learning|date=12 November 2020|url=https://fobl.net.au/index.php/au-KR/history/71-government-support-for-nt-bilingual-education-after-1950-a-longer-timeline|access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref>

However, in October 2008, the first year of [[NAPLAN]] testing,<ref name=areyonga/> despite the NT Indigenous Education Strategic Plan 2006–2009 supporting bilingual instruction, it was mandated by the NT Government that English should be the language of instruction in all NT schools for the first four hours of the school day. After legal challenges, an [[AIATSIS]] Symposium on Bilingual Education in 2009, media coverage and much debate, the policy was replaced by a new policy: "Literacy for Both Worlds", but that was soon withdrawn again. There was intervention by the [[Australian Human Rights Commission]], and in 2012 the [[Australian House of Representatives committees|House of Representatives Standing Committee]] on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs issued a report which included the recommendation that: "Indigenous language education should be introduced to all schools with Aboriginal students, and indigenous languages included as an official [[Closing the Gap]] measure".<ref name="Devlin 2020"/>

Prominent schools involved in bilingual education programs in the NT include [[Yirrkala Community Education Centre]] (CEC) and [[Shepherdson College]] on [[Galiwin'ku]].<ref name="Devlin 2020"/> [[Yirrkala#Education|Yirrkala School]] and its sister school ignored the government directive, and has continued to teach its "both ways" methodology. The students' first language, [[Yolngu Matha]], is taught alongside English. The method has proven effective against reducing the drop-out rate, and in 2020 eight students were the first in their community to graduate year 12 with scores enabling them to attend university. Yirrkala School and its sister school, Laynhapuy Homelands School, are now being looked to as models for learning in remote traditional communities.<ref name=masters>{{cite web|last=Masters|first=Emma|title=At Yirrkala School, bilingual education has become a model for remote Aboriginal learning|website=ABC News|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=11 July 2021|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-11/nt-bilingual-school-arhem-land-aboriginal-learning/100272960|access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref> Areyonga School, in [[Areyonga, Northern Territory|Areyonga]], was still using both-ways education in August 2023, 50 years since it had begun there, teaching in [[Pitjantjatjara language]] and culture.<ref name=areyonga>{{cite web|last=Spina-Matthews|first=Sarah|title=Fifty years after starting a bilingual education program, Areyonga School looks to the future of 'both-ways' learning|website=ABC News|date=26 August 2023|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-26/nt-bilingual-education-features/102749508|access-date=31 August 2023}}</ref>

In March 2025, Yuendemu School celebrated 50 years of bilingual education. The [[Warlpiri language]] has been taught alongside English first by Tess Napurrurla Ross and then her daughter Theresa Napurrurla Ross over these years.<ref name=fitz2025>{{cite web|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Chris|title=Indigenous trailblazers celebrate 50 years of historic bilingual education program|website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|date=13 March 2025|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-13/yuendumu-50-year-anniversary-bilingual-indigenous-program/105032194?fbclid=IwY2xjawJAUSdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHeX5pYH_U-YD1MMoXvtGE-z06RcG6lG4I1fM6-1tbp5Spl5gmQzlkruABg_aem_NhKzAx-dkXUrqRSu39oFog|access-date=14 March 2025}}</ref>

{{as of|2025}}, bilingual education funding in the Northern Territory has been merged into general school budgets, meaning that each school makes decisions about funding such programmes.<ref name=fitz2025/>

=== Religious education in government schools ===
{{See also|Freedom of religion in Australia|Separation of church and state in Australia|Council for Christian Education in Schools|National School Chaplaincy Program}}

Constitutionally, Australia is a [[Secularity|secular]] country.<ref name="conversation-Rowe"/> [[Section 116 of the Constitution of Australia|Section 116]] of ''Chapter V. The States'' in the [[Australian Constitution]] reads:

<blockquote>The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Constitution/chapter5|title=Chapter V. The States.|website=aph.gov.au|publisher=[[Parliament of Australia]]|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-06-22}}</ref></blockquote>

Nevertheless, Australia maintains one of the highest concentrations of religious schools, when compared with other OECD countries. Historically, the teaching of religion in Australian government schools has been a contentious issue<ref name="conversation-Rowe">{{cite news|author=Rowe, Emma|title=Religion in Australian schools: an historical and contemporary debate|url=http://theconversation.com/religion-in-australian-schools-an-historical-and-contemporary-debate-82439|work=The Conversation|publisher=The Conversation Media Group Ltd|date=24 August 2017|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref> and was a motivator for the foundation of the government schooling system.

While the [[National School Chaplaincy Program]] provides an overarching framework based on [[pastoral care]], not [[religious instruction]],<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.education.gov.au/national-school-chaplaincy-programme|title=National School Chaplaincy Programme|work=Department of Education|publisher=Australian Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711090325/https://www.education.gov.au/national-school-chaplaincy-programme|archive-date=11 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Karp|first1=Paul|title=School chaplains agency faces tax challenge over $33m in donations|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/23/school-chaplains-agency-faces-tax-challenge-over-33m-in-donations|work=[[Guardian Australia]]|date=22 September 2018|language=en}}</ref> the practices and policies of religious instruction in Australian schools vary significantly from state to state. In New South Wales, the [[Special Religious Education in Australia|Special Religious Education]] classes are held in the government school sector that enable students to learn about the [[belief]]s, [[Practices of the Religion|practices]], [[Values education|values]] and [[Morality|morals]] of a chosen religion.<ref>{{cite news|author=Knaus, Christopher|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/12/nsw-rejects-some-religious-education-review-findings-but-will-scrutinise-material|title=Religious education in NSW schools 'inappropriate' but government vows support|work=[[Guardian Australia]]|date=12 April 2017|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oursre.org.au/|title=Home – ourSRE|website=oursre.org.au|access-date=16 May 2019|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504055030/http://oursre.org.au/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Queensland, religious organisations may apply to [[Principal (school)|school principals]] and, if approved, deliver approved religious instruction programs in government schools.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://education.qld.gov.au/parents-and-carers/school-information/school-operations/policy-statement|title=Religious instruction policy statement|work=Department of Education|publisher=[[The State of Queensland]]|date=28 November 2018|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref> In Victoria, legislation prescribes that government schools must not promote any particular religious practice, denomination or sect, and must be open to adherents of any philosophy, religion or faith. However, individual school principals may permit approved organisations to deliver non-compulsory ''special religious instruction'' classes of no more than 30 minutes per week per student, during lunchtime or in the hour before or after usual school hours.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/curriculum/Pages/sri.aspx|title=Special Religious Instruction|work=Education and Training|publisher=Victorian Government|date=7 March 2019|access-date=4 September 2019|archive-date=4 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904101935/https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/curriculum/Pages/sri.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Western Australia, both special religious education (not part of the general curriculum)<ref>{{Citation|url=http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/religiouseducation/detcms/navigation/special-religious-education/|title=Special religious education|work=Department of Education|publisher=Government of Western Australia|date=22 September 2015|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref> and general religious education (as part of the general curriculum)<ref>{{Citation|url=http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/religiouseducation/detcms/navigation/general-religious-education/|title=General religious education|work=Department of Education|publisher=Government of Western Australia|date=21 August 2015|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref> are offered in government schools.

===School violence===
In July 2009, the Queensland Minister for Education said that the rising levels of [[school violence|violence in schools]] in the state were "totally unacceptable" and that not enough had been done to combat violent behaviour. In Queensland, 55,000 school students were suspended in 2008, nearly a third of which were for "physical misconduct".<ref>{{cite news|author1=Chilcott, T.|author2=Odgers, R.|date=9 July 2009|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,25753048-3102,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906114934/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,25753048-3102,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2012|title=Government can do more on school violence|work=[[The Courier-Mail]]|location=Brisbane}}</ref>

In South Australia, 175 violent attacks against students or staff were recorded in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/26/2609043.htm|title=School violence 'dealt with'|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|location=Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210154740/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/26/2609043.htm|archive-date=10 February 2010|date=26 June 2009}}</ref> Students were responsible for deliberately causing 3,000 injuries reported by teachers over two years from 2008 to 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/hatred-violence-in-our-schools-classrooms/story-e6frea83-1225834928483|title=Hatred, violence in our schools' classrooms|date=27 February 2010|author=Hood, Lucy|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|location=Adelaide|access-date=24 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301075403/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/hatred-violence-in-our-schools-classrooms/story-e6frea83-1225834928483|archive-date=1 March 2010}}</ref>

As of 2024, school violence is still prevalent. In an annual survey by the Australian Catholic University (ACU) 48 per cent of school principals reported having seen or experienced an event of physical violence.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2024-03-21|title=Disturbing increase in violence at school as principals say both parents and students are making threats|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-22/school-principals-face-violence-from-children-parents-students/103615570|access-date=2025-02-18|work=ABC News|language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Tertiary education ==
{{Main|Tertiary education in Australia}}
{{Further|List of universities in Australia}}
[[File:Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Australia by SLA - BCP field 2865 University or other Tertiary Institution Total Persons.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|People attending a tertiary institution as a percentage of the local population at the 2011 census, geographically subdivided by statistical local area]]

Tertiary education (or higher education) in Australia is primarily study at [[university]] or at a [[registered training organisation]] provider (known as [[technical and further education]], TAFE) leading to a [[Australian_Qualifications_Framework#Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education sectors|degree, diploma, certificate or other qualification]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/CoursesAndProviders/ProvidersAndCourses/HigherEducationInAustralia/Default.htm|title=Higher education in Australia|work=[[Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations]]|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=13 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228182641/http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/CoursesAndProviders/ProvidersAndCourses/HigherEducationInAustralia/Default.htm|archive-date=28 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="TAFE">{{cite web|url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/launchpad/future-study/difference-between-higher-education-vet|title=The difference between higher education and VET|website=cdu.edu.au|access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref> A higher education provider is a body that is established or recognised by or under the law of the Australian Government, a state, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory.<ref name="deewroverview">{{citation|url=http://www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Pages/Overview.aspx|title=Overview|work=[[Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations]]|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=13 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906093838/http://www.deewr.gov.au/highereducation/pages/overview.aspx|archive-date=6 September 2010}}</ref> VET providers, both public and private are registered by state and territory governments.

<!-- 42 universities in total actually because they listed Federation University Australia twice.-->
In 2021, 1,185,450 students were attending university or other higher education.<ref name="abs2021edu"/> There are 42 universities in Australia: 37 [[public universities]], 3 [[private universities]] and 2 international private universities,<ref>{{citation|title=Universities and Higher Education|work=Study In Australia|url=http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/global/australian-education/universities-and-higher-education|publisher=Australian Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317154018/http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/global/australian-education/universities-and-higher-education|archive-date=17 March 2015}}</ref> {{as of|2015}}, the largest university in Australia was [[Monash University]] in Melbourne: with five campuses and 75,000 students.<ref>{{cite news|title=Monash revisits its inclusive roots|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/monash-returns-to-its-inclusive-roots-20150315-13xaau.html|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=7 March 2015|last=Maslen|first=Geoff}}</ref> The [[Group of Eight (Australian universities)|Group of Eight]] (Go8) is a coalition of eight prestigious Australian universities established in 1999 which comprise more than two-thirds of the country's university research.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anu.edu.au/group-of-eight|title=Grou of Eight|website=[[Australian National University]]|access-date=2 February 2025}}</ref>

There are non-self-accrediting higher education providers accredited by state and territory authorities, numbering more than 132 as listed on state and territory registers. These include several that are registered in more than one state and territory.

All students doing nationally recognised training need to have a [[Unique Student Identifier]] (USI).<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.usi.gov.au/about|title=About|first=Chris|last=Cook|date=12 October 2015|website=usi.gov.au|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228101214/https://www.usi.gov.au/about|archive-date=28 February 2018}}</ref>

=== International tertiary students ===
Australia has the highest ratio of international students per head of population in the world by a large margin, with 812,000 international students enrolled in the nation's universities and vocational institutions in 2019.<ref name="macrobusiness.com.au">{{cite web|url=https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2019/11/australian-universities-double-down-on-international-students/|title=Australian universities double down on international students – MacroBusiness|date=31 October 2019}}</ref> Accordingly, in 2019, international students represented on average 26.7% of the student bodies of Australian universities. International education, therefore, represents one of the country's largest exports and has a pronounced influence on the country's demographics, with a significant proportion of international students remaining in Australia after graduation on various skill and employment visas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-27/temporary-graduate-visa-485-boom/10035390|title=Record number of international students sticking around on visas with full work rights| website= [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]| date= 27 July 2018}}</ref> The Australian onshore international education sector is predicted to rise to 940,000 by 2025. The biggest source markets for onshore international learner enrolments in 2025 were expected to be China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, Malaysia, Brazil and South Korea. According to a 2016 report by [[Deloitte|Deloitte Access Economics]] for the [[Austrade|Australian Trade and Investment Commission]], higher education and Vocational Education and Training (VET) were projected to be the fastest-growing sectors in onshore international education by 2025.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Education/Services/australian-international-education-2025/growth-and-opportunity|title=Growth and opportunity in Australian international education|author=[[Deloitte|Deloitte Access Economics Pty Ltd]]|date=2016|work=[[Austrade|Australian Trade and Investment Commission]]|location=Australia|access-date=3 September 2019|archive-date=12 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412212616/https://www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Education/Services/Australian-International-Education-2025/growth-and-opportunity|url-status=dead}}</ref> Australian Government is also planning to add another 1.46 billion AUD according to [https://cdrforaustralia.com/strategy-to-attract-fresher-engineer/ Modern Manufacturing Strategy], which predicts a high jump in job growth and [[Australian migration zone|migration]] of people.

=== Rankings ===
The [[Education Index]], published with the [[United Nations|UN]]'s [[Human Development Index]] in 2018, based on data from 2017, listed Australia as 0.929, the second-highest in the world.<ref name=":0" /> Australian school students placed 16th in the world in reading, 29th in maths, and 17th in science in the 2018 [[Program for International Student Assessment|PISA]] study by the [[OECD|OCED]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-12-03|title=Australian students slip in global maths, reading and science rankings|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-03/australia-education-results-maths-reading-science-getting-worse/11760880|access-date=2023-11-24}}</ref> The [[Australian Education Union]] accredits decreases in government funding for declining student outcomes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=OECD data shows impact of school funding cuts {{!}} Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian Branch|url=https://www.aeuvic.asn.au/oecd-data-shows-impact-school-funding-cuts|access-date=2025-02-18|website=aeuvic.asn.au}}</ref>

Thirty-six Australian tertiary educational institutions were listed in the [[QS World University Rankings]] for 2021;<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2021|title=QS World University Rankings 2021|date=11 September 2015|work=Quacquarelli Symonds|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref> and 37 institutions were listed in the [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]] in the same year.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2021/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats|title=THE World University Rankings 2021|date=30 September 2015|work=Times Higher Education|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref> As of 2020, 34 Australian universities were listed in China's [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]] ranking, with [[The University of Melbourne]] achieving the highest global ranking, at 35th.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2020.html|title=Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020: Australia|work=shanghairanking.com|date=15 August 2019|access-date=3 September 2019|publisher=ShanghaiRanking|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816224432/http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2020.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the same year, according to the ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' Best Global Universities Rankings, 38 Australian universities were ranked, ranging from the University of Melbourne, at 25th place, to [[Bond University]], at 1133th place.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings|title=Best Universities in the World|date=2019|access-date=3 September 2019|work=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>

==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|Education|Australia}}}}
{{div col}}
* [[Australian Flexible Learning Framework]]
* [[Education in the Australian Capital Territory]]
* {{section link|New South Wales|Education}}
* [[Education in South Australia]]
* [[Education in Tasmania]]
* [[Education in Victoria]]
* [[Education in Western Australia]]
* [[Gwyneth Dow]]
* [[History of state education in Queensland]]
* [[Homeschooling and distance education in Australia]]
* [[Lists of schools in Australia]]
* [[Music education in Australia]]
* [[Reconciliation education]]
* [[Safe Schools Coalition Australia]]
* [[Tertiary education in Australia]]
* [[Tertiary education fees in Australia]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
* {{Note|a|[note a]}} These include: Department of Education, Employment and Training (DEET) (1988), [[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 (Australia)|Department of Education, Science and Training]] (DEST) (2001), [[Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations]] (DEEWR) (2007), [[Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)]] (2013), [[Department of Education and Training (Australia)]] (2014).
* {{Note|b|[note b]}}: In Western Australia, the term ''district high school'' refers to schools that enrol students from [[Kindergarten|Year K]] to [[Year Ten|Year 10]].
* {{Note|c|[note c]}}: The schools listed here are Catholic schools that are [[private schools]] and administered by a [[religious institute]]. It does not include Catholic schools that are [[Catholic education in Australia#Systemic|systemically]] administered by a diocese, Catholic Education Office, or Catholic Education Commission.
* {{Note|d|[note d]}}: The South Australian Certificate of Education is also taught in Northern Territory secondary schools, where it is known as the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training.<ref name=SACE/>
* {{Note|e|[note e]}}: Initially six targets were set; with the school attendance target set at a subsequent COAG meeting.<ref name="NIRA-p4.18">{{cite book|url=https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/overcoming-indigenous-disadvantage/2016/report-documents/oid-2016-chapter4-coag-targets-and-headline-indicators.pdf|title=Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2016|chapter=COAG targets and headline indicators|publisher=[[Productivity Commission]]|date=17 November 2016|access-date=19 August 2019|page=4.18}}</ref>
* {{Note|f|[note f]}}: The initial target of 95% was set in 2008 with the aim to be achieved by 2013. The target was not achieved and was renewed in December 2015 with the aim to be achieved by 2025.<ref name="NIRA-p4.18"/>
* {{Note|g|[note g]}}: The 2018 [[NAPLAN]] data were unavailable at the time of publication of the ''2017–18 National Indigenous Reform Agreement Performance'' data report.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book|author1=Campbell, Craig|author2=Proctor, Helen|title=A History of Australian Schooling|date=2014|publisher=Allen & Unwin|isbn=978-1-74237-182-5}}
* {{Cite Q|Q107340726}}<!-- The State Schoolmaster -->
* Passow, A. Harry et al. (1976). [https://archive.org/details/nationalcasestud0000unse ''The National Case Study: An Empirical Comparative Study of Twenty-One Educational Systems''].

==External links==
* {{cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1819/Quick_Guides/SchoolEducation|title=School education: a quick guide to key internet links|work=Research Papers: 2018–2019|publisher=[[Parliament of Australia]]|date=21 August 2018}}
* {{URL|https://www.aqf.edu.au|Australian Qualifications Framework website}}
* [http://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=AUS Australia: Education GPS]—published by the [[OECD]]
* {{cite web|url=https://dfat.gov.au/aid/topics/investment-priorities/education-health/education/Documents/australian-education-system-foundation.pdf|title=The Australian Education System: Foundation Level|department=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Academy|publisher=Australian Government|date=2018|access-date=9 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619095910/http://dfat.gov.au/aid/topics/investment-priorities/education-health/education/Documents/australian-education-system-foundation.pdf|archive-date=19 June 2018|url-status=dead}}
* {{URL|https://www.abs.gov.au/Education |Australian Bureau of Statistics – Education}}

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[[Category:Education in Australia| ]]
[[Category:Higher education in Australia]]
[[Category:Public policy in Australia]]