Education in Australia

The education and schooling system in Australia is one of the best in the world with emphasis placed on an holistic approach to learning.  Children are not encouraged to simply memorize facts and data taught to them; rather they are encouraged to develop self discipline and learn through questioning and research.

If you and your family are considering emigrating, and Australia is top of your list of countries to research, then you can rest assured that the quality of education in Australia that your children will be eligible for is first class.

Education is free and accessible to all children in Australia and all children are expected to remain in school up to the age of 15; in actual fact over 80% of all Australian children go on to higher education.  The entire education system is divided into five categories beginning with preschool to age 5, primary school to age 11, secondary or high school until at least age 15 and then either career based college training or university study.

State governments have the direct responsibility for all schools and primary and secondary level educational establishments in the given state, but they can sometimes receive extra financial support from the Australian Government particularly when it comes to funding specialist literacy or IT programs for example.  The Australian Government together with the state governments are then responsible for tertiary educational establishments such as universities or colleges.

Because of the cultural and ethnic diversity across Australia that is promoted and encouraged by the country’s active immigration policy, at least 25% of all Australian citizens are fluent in a second language and children who grow up in Australia come into contact with a mind broadening and experience enhancing mixture of races and religions which helps them to become open minded individuals.

This broad cultural exposure coupled with educational methods in Australia promotes able students who actively take responsibility to at least some extent for their own educational path.  As a parent it is partly your responsibility to guide your child to get the most out of the education system in Australia but you will be ably assisted by the schools in your local area.

In terms of the types of schools available to you and your child they fall into two categories in much the same way as in the UK or USA for example.  You have state schools that are funded via taxes through the Government but which sometimes require a small amount of extra funding for extra curricular activities, specialist equipment or text books.  Then you have private schools which in Australia are either run by the Catholic Church or are totally independently: these schools are fee paying and fees payable are determined on a school by school basis. 

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