The good news for expatriate parents thinking of emigrating down under is that schools and education in Australia are regarded highly and respected significantly throughout the rest of the world. What’s more, many Australian universities are on a par with the leading tertiary educational establishments in the US and the UK meaning that skills and qualifications earned are easily transferable internationally.
If you’re thinking of moving to Australia and you have children or are planning on starting a family, this article contains the essential facts about schools and education for when you’re living in Australia.
As with the school system in the majority of developed nations in the world, there are certain compulsory stages of schooling that children living in Australia have to complete and certain ages that they have to attend school from and to! The average age that a child starts the first stage of schooling at, which is primary school, is five - although, depending on when their birthday falls in relation to the term times, some children start as early as four, others as late as six.
Primary school is generally followed by secondary school – although some states and territories have a middle school and then a secondary school. Finally, at the age of between 15 and 17, students graduate and can go on to tertiary education such as university or Technical and Further Education Colleges (known as TAFE).
The syllabus that children living in Australia are taught at school depends on the state or territory in which they live as does the leaving certification they endeavour to complete to go on to tertiary education or employment. Each state’s curriculum is based around the same standards and principles of schooling of course, and because so much about what is taught changes school year by school year, it makes sense for you to contact the education board in the state you will be living in to find out more specific details.
In addition to this, it’s important for parents to know that the governmental Department of Education, Science and Training administers the Australian Qualifications Framework which is the ultimate framework around which all school leaving certification is based, so that there is a level standard achieved across the entire nation. The only qualification to fall outside of this framework which is as well received and considered by would-be employers or universities is the International Baccalaureate.
Once you have decided in which state, and indeed in which specific location you will be residing, it is up to you to contact the local education board to find out about which schools within your catchment area your child is eligible for entry into. You will then have to contact that school directly and enrol your student child before finding out all about any additional requirements such as uniform or learning aids and materials that your child will require.
The good news about schools and education in Australia is that it is all free up to school leaving age. When it comes to tertiary education, costing and funding is a different matter. The onus of affordability can fall on the student or their parents, there are certain grants and bursaries available depending on the establishment, the course and even the state from which the student applying heralds, and finally, in certain circumstances there are employers who will fund the further education of a student who agrees to work for the employer for a fixed term following graduation.
To learn more about schools and education when living in Australia, visit the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training’s website.
